Bathing your dog is a way of keeping their fur clean and preventing foul odors. That is why it’s crucial to choose a proper shampoo. Since our pups rely on us to provide them love and care, you need to ensure the shampoo you select suits your dog’s needs.
Dog shampoo can expire, and once it does, it could potentially harm your pup. So, if you’re a dog parent, you probably already have dog shampoo at home. But did you ever check the expiration date on the shampoo bottle? If not, it might be time to do so.
Since dogs don’t require frequent baths, many of us forget when we bought the shampoo or want to use the whole bottle before throwing it away. That can cause issues, so we wanted to explore the topic further. Keep reading the article to be more informed about dog shampoo and its expiration date.
How Long Does Dog Shampoo Last?
Once you purchase dog shampoo, as long as it’s unopened, it can last up to 3 years, depending on the manufacturer.
When you open the bottle, that timeframe drastically changes, and the shampoo expires quickly. Oxygen changes the composition of the chemicals in the bottle once you open it. Once you open the bottle, most dog shampoos will last for only 12–18 months. Of course, the expiration dates may vary, so we strongly suggest always checking the bottle.
There are organic shampoos that last longer, commonly up to 36 months, while medical shampoos, like the ones for fleas, have a very short lifespan. Due to the usually stronger chemicals, those shampoos only last for about 6 months, or even less.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re looking for the perfect pet shampoo. The Hepper Colloidal Oatmeal Pet Shampoo is a great place to start because of its all-natural, pet-safe formula that is pH balanced for your pet’s skin. Made with soothing ingredients like oatmeal and aloe vera, this shampoo is also free of phthalates, sulfates, dyes, and soaps. It will leave your pet clean, moisturized, and smelling like a day at the spa!
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Can you continue using expired dog shampoo?
The expiration date is on the bottle for a reason, so even using it a couple of days after it expires can lead to severe problems. A few days after the expiration of the shampoo, it might be fine to use but just less efficient at cleaning, but it could also cause an infection or skin irritation.
Honestly, using an expired shampoo bottle is not worth the potential risk, so it’s best to follow the guidelines on the bottle. So, do not buy shampoos that have expired, and throw out the shampoo bottle you have at home once the expiration date passes.
Where to Find the Expiration Date?
The location of the expiration date will probably be different on each shampoo bottle, although it’s commonly on the side/bottom/back of the bottle. The expiration date should be easily visible on the bottle so that you or any other dog owner knows how long it will last.
Unfortunately, you can easily come across a shampoo bottle with no label and expiration date. Of course, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t purchase shampoo, but you should be careful and try to find more information about the product.
No expiration date on the shampoo bottle
If you encounter a shampoo that you would like to purchase for your pup but it doesn’t have an expiration date, you can do a couple of things to find more information about it.
Primarily, try to reach the manufacturer to find out more details, so either check out their website or give them a call. If the product doesn’t have the expiration date on the label, but it has a batch code, you should be able to check it to see how long the bottle lasts.
If none of these work, you could follow the general guidelines of dog shampoo lifespan and throw the shampoo away after 12–18 months of use.
How to Know if Your Dog’s Shampoo Has Expired?
You should be able to notice expired dog shampoo easily. Of course, it’s best to first check the label on the bottle, but there are other indicators that the shampoo is no longer usable. Commonly, the texture and the smell of an expired shampoo will be noticeable.
Here are some ways to check if the shampoo is still good or not:
Check the consistency. When the shampoo is more watery than usual, it likely expired.
Check the smell. If the smell of the shampoo changes, it’s probably going bad.
Check the cap. If there are bacteria, changes in color, or fungus, you shouldn’t use the product.
What happens if you use expired dog shampoo?
If you use expired dog shampoo, your dog will likely suffer from many skin conditions. These are the most common issues you’ll encounter after using an expired shampoo on your pup:
Check the consistency. When the shampoo is more watery than usual, it likely expired.
Check the smell. If the smell of the shampoo changes, it’s probably going bad.
Check the cap. If there are bacteria, changes in color, or fungus, you shouldn’t use the product.
- Check the consistency. When the shampoo is more watery than usual, it likely expired.
- Check the smell. If the smell of the shampoo changes, it’s probably going bad.
- Check the cap. If there are bacteria, changes in color, or fungus, you shouldn’t use the product.
Fungus
Itching
Inflammation
Dry, red, flaky skin
In worst cases, the symptoms can be more severe and cause serious health problems if not treated promptly. So again, our advice is never to use expired shampoo on your furry friend to prevent all of these issues from occurring in the first place.
Fungus
Itching
Inflammation
Dry, red, flaky skin
Fungus
Itching
Inflammation
Dry, red, flaky skin
See Also: 5 DIY Dog Shampoos With Coconut Oil You Can Make Today!
Do Not Use Human Shampoo on Dogs
If you ever wondered if you can use your shampoo on your dog, the answer is no. Of course, nobody can forbid you to do that, but it could also cause health problems with your pup.
There’s a reason why there are both dog and human shampoos. Would you ever use dog shampoo? If not, it’s obvious you shouldn’t use yours on the dog. The chemicals that human shampoos contain are more complex and not dog-appropriate. Our furry friends have different pH levels and softer, sensitive skin, so human shampoo could create issues.
If you use human shampoo on your pup, it will likely cause redness, skin irritation, and possible infections. Our dogs need carefully picked out products that will moisturize their skin and give it the necessary care.
How to Choose a Dog Shampoo
When purchasing dog shampoo, you should consider the components and find something that works for your dog. There are a couple of do’s and don’ts when purchasing dog shampoo.
Do’s
Go for natural ingredients
Go for soap-free shampoos
Don’ts
Choose a shampoo that has dyes or paraben
Buy a shampoo without checking the ingredients
Use human shampoo for your pup
Choose scented shampoos
Try to look for shampoos for your dog’s particular breed because they will have the best effect on their skin and fur. Also, if your dog is still a puppy, choose a puppy-appropriate shampoo that is gentler and has a no-tear recipe.
Go for natural ingredients
Go for soap-free shampoos
- Go for natural ingredients
- Go for soap-free shampoos
Choose a shampoo that has dyes or paraben
Buy a shampoo without checking the ingredients
Use human shampoo for your pup
Choose scented shampoos
- Choose a shampoo that has dyes or paraben
- Buy a shampoo without checking the ingredients
- Use human shampoo for your pup
- Choose scented shampoos
You could also make a DIY homemade dog shampoo.
- See Also: If I Have No Dog Shampoo, What Can I Use? 6 Alternative Options
Safe dog shampoos
There are easy ways to recognize safe dog shampoos. The safest products are the organic ones that have natural components. They commonly go through rigorous testing to verify that there are no GMO ingredients or any other harmful substances. Here is a list of ingredients you can find in dog shampoos that are safe for your dog:
Olive oil
Coconut oil
Avocado oil
Aloe Vera
Babassuamidopropyl betaine
Balsam fir essential oil
Beeswax
Calendula
Castile soap
Citric acid
Coco-glucose
Decyl Glucoside
Vegetable Glycerine
Guar Gum
Glyceryl stearate
Panthenol
Rosemary
Shea butter
Sea salt
Sodium cocoate
Sodium Bicarbonate
Xanthan Gum
Vitamin E
Ingredients to avoid
You can find an appropriate shampoo for your dog in almost any pet store. Before purchasing it, read the label to ensure no harmful substances are in the shampoo. Here is a list of ingredients to avoid when buying a dog shampoo:
Olive oil
Coconut oil
Avocado oil
Aloe Vera
Babassuamidopropyl betaine
Balsam fir essential oil
Beeswax
Calendula
Castile soap
Citric acid
Coco-glucose
Decyl Glucoside
Vegetable Glycerine
Guar Gum
Glyceryl stearate
Panthenol
Rosemary
Shea butter
Sea salt
Sodium cocoate
Sodium Bicarbonate
Xanthan Gum
Vitamin E
- Olive oil
- Coconut oil
- Avocado oil
- Aloe Vera
- Babassuamidopropyl betaine
- Balsam fir essential oil
- Beeswax
- Calendula
- Castile soap
- Citric acid
- Coco-glucose
- Decyl Glucoside
- Vegetable Glycerine
- Guar Gum
- Glyceryl stearate
- Panthenol
- Rosemary
- Shea butter
- Sea salt
- Sodium cocoate
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- Xanthan Gum
- Vitamin E
Paraben
Dyes
Bronopol
Sodium benzoate
Diazolidinyl urea
Imidazolidinyl urea
Isothiazolinone
Glycol
DHDH or DMDM hydantoin
Sulfate
Dish soap
Triethanolamine
Cocamide-MEA
Alcohol 40
Paraben
Dyes
Bronopol
Sodium benzoate
Diazolidinyl urea
Imidazolidinyl urea
Isothiazolinone
Glycol
DHDH or DMDM hydantoin
Sulfate
Dish soap
Triethanolamine
Cocamide-MEA
Alcohol 40
- Paraben
- Dyes
- Bronopol
- Sodium benzoate
- Diazolidinyl urea
- Imidazolidinyl urea
- Isothiazolinone
- Glycol
- DHDH or DMDM hydantoin
- Sulfate
- Dish soap
- Triethanolamine
- Cocamide-MEA
- Alcohol 40
Types of Dog Shampoo
There are various types of dog shampoo, which are commonly categorized according to their functions and components. These are the most common types of dog shampoo:
Antibacterial shampoo
Antifungal shampoo
Skin maintenance shampoo
Antipruritic shampoo
Tearless shampoo
Moisturizing shampoo
Tick/flea shampoo
Conditioning shampoo
Medicated shampoo
You can choose the particular shampoo depending on the needs and breed of your dog.
Antibacterial shampoo
Antifungal shampoo
Skin maintenance shampoo
Antipruritic shampoo
Tearless shampoo
Moisturizing shampoo
Tick/flea shampoo
Conditioning shampoo
Medicated shampoo
- Antibacterial shampoo
- Antifungal shampoo
- Skin maintenance shampoo
- Antipruritic shampoo
- Tearless shampoo
- Moisturizing shampoo
- Tick/flea shampoo
- Conditioning shampoo
- Medicated shampoo
Dog Shampoo Storage Tips
To prolong the lifespan of the dog shampoo, you should follow some dog shampoo storage tips. The perfect conditions for storing will depend on the product’s ingredient list. It’s always best to follow instructions labeled on the bottle, but you can also follow these guidelines:
Keep the dog shampoo in a dry place
Keep the shampoo bottle away from heat and direct sunlight
Store the shampoo at room temperature
Do not open the bottle until you need to use it
These recommendations can vary per the type of shampoo, so read the label carefully, or check the manufacturer’s website.
Keep the dog shampoo in a dry place
Keep the shampoo bottle away from heat and direct sunlight
Store the shampoo at room temperature
Do not open the bottle until you need to use it
- Keep the dog shampoo in a dry place
- Keep the shampoo bottle away from heat and direct sunlight
- Store the shampoo at room temperature
- Do not open the bottle until you need to use it
Final Thoughts
As dog parents, we are responsible for everything that happens to our canines. That’s why we should provide them with proper care, including taking care of their appearance and health.
That’s why you should never use expired shampoo on your pup. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so always check the packaging, and throw away the shampoo bottle if you’ve noticed it’s expired. You’ll make your pup healthier and safer by using products that are still valid.
See Also:
- Can You Use Cat Shampoo on a Dog? Is It Effective for Cleaning?
- 4-Legger Dog Shampoo Review: Our Final Verdict
- Arm & Hammer Dog Shampoo Review
Featured Image Credit: Vershinin89, Shutterstock
