During summer, dogs are more likely to get wet, muddy and covered in sand. Swimming in the sea, pool, lake, walks along dusty paths and playing in the grass can quickly leave their mark on the skin and coat.

This is why dogs are usually washed more frequently during the warmer months.

However, it is not only important how often you bathe your dog, but also which shampoo you use. A dog with healthy skin needs different care from a dog with sensitive skin or one whose coat has become dry and coarse due to frequent swimming.

Does Your Dog Need Shampoo After Every Swim?

After swimming in the sea, it is a good idea to rinse your dog with fresh water. This removes salt and sand from the coat, particularly from between the toes, the belly, groin and armpits.

After swimming in a pool, it also makes sense to rinse away any chlorinated water. Following a swim in a lake or river, check whether mud, algae or plant debris have become trapped in the coat.

If your dog is simply wet and the coat looks clean, a thorough rinse may be enough.

However, when dirt, grease, unpleasant odours or environmental residue have built up on the coat, water alone is usually not sufficient. That is when it is time to use shampoo.

 How Do You Know Which Shampoo Your Dog Needs?

Before bathing your dog, look at the skin and feel the coat.

If the skin and coat appear healthy and your dog is simply dirty, choose a gentle shampoo for regular grooming.

If the skin is dry or sensitive, or your dog often scratches after bathing, choose a shampoo that supports the skin barrier without removing too many of its natural lipids.

If the skin looks normal but the coat feels coarse, dull or static, or is difficult to brush, the hair itself needs additional care.

Based on this, you can choose between three shampoos.

Gentle Coat Wash for Regular Cleansing

Gentle Coat Wash is intended for dogs with healthy skin and coats that need a reliable shampoo for regular grooming.

It is a good choice for dogs that frequently get dirty during summer due to swimming, outdoor play, muddy walks, day trips or training sessions.

The shampoo gently removes everyday dirt without aggressively stripping oils from the skin. Its pH-balanced formula is suitable for regular use in puppies, adult dogs and senior dogs.

It contains honey extract and hydrolysed keratin.

Honey extract helps retain moisture in the skin and coat, which is especially important during periods of more frequent bathing. Hydrolysed keratin adheres to the surface of the hair, reduces friction between individual strands and helps leave the coat softer and easier to brush after washing.

Gentle Coat Wash is therefore suitable when your dog has no particular skin or coat concerns but needs good everyday care.

 Hypoallergenic Shampoo for Dry and Sensitive Skin

Some dogs develop dryness, a tight feeling in the skin or small white flakes after more frequent bathing. They may scratch, lick their paws or appear unsettled after washing.

This type of skin needs a gentle shampoo that does not remove too much of its natural protective oils during cleansing.

Pawital Hypoallergenic Shampoo is intended for dry, sensitive and reactive skin. It contains aloe vera, D-panthenol, also known as provitamin B5, and ingredients that help replenish surface lipids.

Aloe helps maintain a comfortable feeling on the skin, while panthenol supports hydration and the normal function of the skin’s protective barrier. Conditioning ingredients help reduce the feeling of dryness that may occur after washing.

This shampoo is particularly suitable when you notice:

* dry or tight-feeling skin,
* small white flakes,
* scratching after bathing,
* sensitivity to more frequent washing,
* skin that reacts quickly after contact with grass, dust or pollen.

For the best results, apply it to wet fur, gently massage it into the skin and leave it on for approximately five minutes. Then rinse thoroughly.

Regenerate Coat Wash for Dry and Stressed Coats

Dry skin and a dry coat are not the same thing.

A dog may have perfectly healthy skin, while the coat becomes coarse, brittle and dull due to sun exposure, seawater, frequent drying, brushing or clipping.

In this case, the hair shaft itself needs additional care.

Pawital Regenerate Coat Wash contains honey extract, silk proteins and hydrolysed wheat proteins.

Silk proteins help smooth the surface of the hair and improve shine. Hydrolysed wheat proteins support the flexibility and strength of the hair, while honey extract helps retain moisture.

Regenerate Coat Wash is suitable when the coat is:

* coarse or straw-like to the touch,
* dull,
* static,
* brittle,
* prone to tangling,
* more difficult to manage after frequent bathing.

It is also useful for long-haired dogs, after clipping or hand-stripping, and during periods when the dog swims frequently.

Its purpose is not to address sensitive skin, but to improve the softness, smoothness and manageability of the coat.

Which Shampoo Should You Choose?

The easiest way to decide is:

* **For regular care of healthy skin and coat:** Gentle Coat Wash.
* **For dry, sensitive or easily irritated skin:** Hypoallergenic Shampoo.
* **For a dry, coarse or damaged coat:** Regenerate Coat Wash.

If you are unsure, part the coat and examine the skin.

Small white flakes, a tight feeling and scratching after bathing are more likely to indicate dry or sensitive skin. If the skin looks normal but the coat feels coarse and is difficult to brush, the issue is more likely to be the condition of the coat.

How to Wash Your Dog Properly

Brush your dog before bathing. With long or dense coats, this helps remove loose hair and loosen tangles that could tighten further once wet.

Then:

1. Wet the coat thoroughly with lukewarm water.
2. Apply a small amount of shampoo.
3. Gently massage it all the way down to the skin.
4. Follow the recommended contact time for the product.
5. Rinse the shampoo out thoroughly.
6. Dry your dog well.

With Hypoallergenic Shampoo, approximately five minutes of contact with the skin is recommended. Gentle Coat Wash and Regenerate Coat Wash should be worked into a good lather and rinsed out. The process can be repeated if necessary.

Take extra care to rinse the belly, armpits, groin and skin folds thoroughly. Product residue may cause irritation, so rinsing should always be very thorough.

 Dry Your Dog Thoroughly After Bathing

During summer, the surface of the coat may dry quickly while the skin underneath a dense coat remains damp.

First, dry your dog thoroughly with a towel. Pay particular attention to:

* between the toes,
* the armpits,
* the groin,
* skin folds,
* the area beneath the ears,
* the area underneath the collar.

If you use a dryer, choose a gentle airflow and a lower temperature. Air that is too hot may further dry out the skin and coat.

Gently brush long-haired dogs while drying, but do not pull forcefully on wet hair, as it is more prone to breakage.

Choosing the Right Shampoo Makes a Difference

Summer bathing is not only about removing mud and the smell of a wet dog.

The right shampoo cleans the skin and coat while also providing what your dog actually needs: basic care, support for sensitive skin or more intensive conditioning for a dry coat.

When the shampoo is matched to the condition of the skin and coat, the result is more than simply a clean dog. The skin will feel comfortable after washing, while the coat will be soft, well-conditioned and easier to manage.