42.4 mg/ml medicated shampoo with chlorhexidine, 200 ml for dogs and cats
Assessed clinical scopeDog · Complete label: bacterial, fungal, mixed and atopic skin lesions; superficial/deep pyoderma; Malassezia/dermatophyte wording; flea/interdigital dermatitis; interdigital cystic folliculitis; and post-clipping prevention · On the skin
Care settingVeterinary-selected whole-body or local rinse-off treatment after dermatologic diagnosis; home application is possible with exact weighing, contact-time and licking/eye control
vetman score
6.4/10
Situational / acceptable
Evidence confidence: Medium
Georgia: Yes, veterinary · № 000573 · Verified on 23 Oct 2026
A locally authorised chlorhexidine shampoo with meaningful canine class evidence for superficial bacterial and selected Malassezia disease, but no exact-product outcomes and a label far broader than the evidence. It is a useful diagnosis-led topical option, not stand-alone validation for deep infection, dermatophytosis, allergy or interdigital furunculosis.
Regulatory and scientific credibility6.5/10
The exact 200 ml dog/cat product has current Georgian authorisation and a reproducible manufacturer instruction, but the instruction has a blank registration field and no public exact-product regulator assessment. Exact EU/GB/US authorisation is absent; regulated chlorhexidine shampoos are formulation controls only.
Clinical efficacy5.5/10
Independent canine trials and ISCAID/WAVD guidance support 2-4% chlorhexidine shampoos for superficial bacterial and selected Malassezia disease. No exact CitoDerm trial was found, its contact time differs, and evidence does not validate the full deep-pyoderma, dermatophyte, atopy/flea or interdigital-furunculosis breadth.
Safety and tolerability7.0/10
Rinse-off chlorhexidine has low systemic exposure and chiefly local labelled reactions, but exact quantified target-animal, reproductive and repeat-course safety data are absent. Ocular, mucosal, ear/tympanic, ingestion, contact-allergy and damaged-tissue exposure require active control.
Clinical practicality6.5/10
The measured 0.5-1 ml/kg range, 5-7-minute contact and finite 3-4-week course are clear, and 200 ml is workable for many dogs. Whole-body wetting, massage, rinsing/drying every 3-7 days, variable coat demand and coordination with other topical products still create material workload.
Full-course cost-effectiveness-
Current Georgian per-course price was unavailable; price is excluded from the denominator.
Important safety and use flags
- Complete-label boundary: this score includes superficial and deep pyoderma, bacterial/fungal/mixed and atopic lesions, Malassezia/dermatophyte wording, flea/interdigital dermatitis, interdigital cystic folliculitis and post-clipping prevention. Stronger superficial-disease evidence is not scored alone.
- Evidence boundary: canine 2-4% chlorhexidine studies support superficial bacterial and selected Malassezia disease, but no exact CitoDerm trial validates its 5-7-minute contact, excipients or complete breadth. Deep pyoderma and interdigital furunculosis commonly need systemic/source-control care.
- Diagnostic boundary: use cytology for bacterial/yeast disease; culture rods, deep/recurrent/unusual or failing infection; perform appropriate fungal testing; and investigate allergy, fleas/mites, endocrine/immune disease, foreign material and conformational causes before repeating treatment.
- Exact regimen: wet the coat; apply 0.5-1 ml/kg; distribute and massage to foam; prevent eye contact and licking; rinse thoroughly after 5-7 minutes, comb and dry. Repeat every 3-7 days according to severity for 3-4 weeks; do not substitute comparator contact schedules.
- Response/escalation: reassess superficial bacterial disease by 2-3 weeks. Systemic illness, pain, draining tracts, deep or rapidly progressive lesions, treatment failure or recurrence requires prompt re-evaluation, source control and systemic/other targeted therapy when indicated.
- Disease distinction: dermatophytosis and Malassezia dermatitis are not synonyms despite the label parenthesis. Dermatophyte cure needs disease-specific testing, whole-coat/environment/in-contact control and often validated topical plus systemic therapy; atopy and flea allergy require cause control.
- External skin/coat only: avoid eyes/conjunctiva, mouth, mucosa, ear canals, body cavities and deep ulcerated tissue. Chlorhexidine can seriously injure the eye and middle/inner ear; rinse accidental exposure immediately and urgently assess persistent ocular, hearing or vestibular signs.
- Stop and rinse for hypersalivation, lacrimation, erythema, pruritus or worsening irritation. Consider hypersensitivity to chlorhexidine, propolis, fragrance or surfactants. Pregnancy, lactation and young animals require veterinary supervision; exact reproductive safety data are absent.
- Combination boundary: adjunct treatment may be necessary, but exact compatibility was not studied. Anionic soaps/detergents can reduce chlorhexidine activity and frequent shampooing can alter some topical ectoparasiticide duration; deliberately sequence products and avoid casual stacking.
- Practical/handler boundary: at the label range, 200 ml supplies 200-400 kg-total bodyweight per application, but coat and lesion extent change real use. Wear gloves for repeated treatment or dermatophytosis, avoid eyes/mouth, wash hands and disinfect equipment/environment.
Assessment sources+