Malaseb R shampoo for dermatitis in dogs and cats (miconazole, chlorhexidine)

How does Malaseb R shampoo help with dermatitis in dogs and cats?

Malaseb shampoo for pets

Malaseb is a medicated shampoo containing miconazole nitrate and chlorhexidine gluconate. It treats skin conditions involving yeast and bacteria and can be used alongside other prescribed medicines for ringworm.

As a dermatitis treatment for pets, Malaseb combines cleansing with antifungal and antibacterial action. Washing removes excess skin oils, scales and debris, while its active ingredients act on microorganisms on the skin and coat.

How the two ingredients work

Miconazole nitrate is an antifungal medicine. It interferes with the production of ergosterol, a substance fungi need to maintain their cell membranes. This disrupts fungal growth. Its activity includes Malassezia yeast and dermatophytes, the fungi responsible for ringworm.

Chlorhexidine gluconate is an antiseptic that damages microbial cell membranes. It acts against bacteria, including staphylococci associated with skin infections, and also contributes activity against yeast.

Together, these ingredients make Malaseb a pet antifungal with additional antibacterial action. Reducing microbial overgrowth helps relieve the irritation that accompanies these infections.

What research shows about yeast-related dermatitis

Malassezia yeast can live on healthy skin in small numbers. When it multiplies excessively, it can contribute to itching, redness, greasy scaling and an unpleasant skin odour.

The review Evidence-based veterinary dermatology: a systematic review of interventions for Malassezia dermatitis in dogs found good evidence supporting topical treatment with a combination of 2% miconazole nitrate and 2% chlorhexidine gluconate. The findings support its role in dog dermatitis treatment when Malassezia overgrowth contributes to the skin problem.

Why contact time matters for antifungal treatment

The study In vitro efficacy of shampoos containing miconazole, ketoconazole, climbazole or accelerated hydrogen peroxide against Microsporum canis and Trichophyton species examined activity against fungi that cause ringworm.

Researchers tested fungal material and infected cat hairs under laboratory conditions. Miconazole-containing preparations showed antifungal activity with a 10-minute contact time. These findings help explain why medicated shampoo should remain on the coat before rinsing. For ringworm, shampoo helps reduce infectious material on the coat and is commonly combined with an oral antifungal prescribed by the veterinarian.

Package details: 250 ml

The shampoo provides multiple washes. The amount needed for each bath depends on the animal’s size and the length and thickness of its coat.

Active components:

• Miconazole nitrate: 2%.
• Chlorhexidine gluconate: 2%.

Therapeutic effect:

Malaseb is used to treat seborrhoeic dermatitis associated with Malassezia yeast and bacterial overgrowth. This type of dermatitis can cause greasy skin, flaking, itching and odour.

In dogs and cats with ringworm, it supports treatment by reducing fungal contamination of the coat.

Dosage and administration:

A usual schedule is bathing twice weekly until symptoms improve, followed by weekly use or another schedule prescribed by the veterinarian.

Wet the coat thoroughly with clean water. Apply enough shampoo to produce a lather and massage it through the coat so that it reaches the skin. Leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

Keep your pet supervised and comfortably warm during bathing. Follow your veterinarian’s instructions for the amount, frequency and treatment duration, particularly when treating ringworm.

Contraindications and precautions:

Do not use Malaseb in animals with a known allergy to either active ingredient or other shampoo components.

Keep shampoo out of the eyes, mouth and ear canals. If it enters the eyes, rinse thoroughly with clean water and contact the veterinarian if irritation persists.

Prevent licking or inhalation of the foam during bathing, and do not allow grooming until the shampoo has been thoroughly rinsed away. Contact the veterinarian if increased redness, itching or another reaction develops.

Wear gloves when applying the shampoo and wash your hands afterwards. Keep the bottle out of children’s reach.