Ketoconazole with Chlorhexidine Shampoo
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Ketoconazole with Chlorhexidine Shampoo during a consultation by Dr Noor in Perth.”
Ketoconazole with Chlorhexidine Shampoo
(kee-toe-kah-na-zole with klor-heks-ih-deen)
Description:
This is a medicated shampoo used on the skin. It is meant to help with fungus and bacteria on the skin.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Ketochlor®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals:
- a shampoo that contains ketoconazole 1% and chlorhexidine gluconate 2%.
- It comes in 237 mL (8 oz) and 473 mL (16 oz) bottles.
- For people:
- none.
This handout does not include every detail that exists about this medicine. It is meant to help with common questions, but it does not replace medical advice. If you need more details or have questions, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
Key Information
- This is a medicated shampoo that washes the coat and skin.
- It also helps remove smell and oily buildup linked with skin problems.
- Be careful if using it on areas with open sores or skin that is burned.
- Do not let your animal lick the shampoo.
- Keep the shampoo away from the eyes.
How is this medication useful? Ketoconazole with Chlorhexidine Shampoo
This shampoo (ketoconazole with chlorhexidine) is used for dogs, cats, and horses to help control skin problems that affect the surface of the skin.
You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicated shampoo is the best option.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how well this shampoo works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines may affect this shampoo.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives.
- This includes other products used on the skin, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products.
- Also share how much you give and when you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
- If your animal has had the same problem before, tell your veterinarian what was used last time and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine with your veterinarian.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist if your animal has had medicine side effects before.
- Examples include allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, diarrhea, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
- You usually need to use this shampoo multiple times before you notice changes.
- The strongest results may not show up until the shampoo has been used regularly for several weeks.
- However, you should see your animal’s signs improve little by little as the treatment continues.
- The benefit does not last long.
- It stops working within 24 hours.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No shampoo is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any special concerns for your animal.
This medicated shampoo SHOULD NOT be used on:
- Animals that have an allergy to it.
This medicated shampoo should be used WITH CAUTION on:
- Animals with open sores or skin that is burned.
If your animal has any of these issues, speak with your veterinarian about the possible benefits compared with the possible risks.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Most animals handle this medicated shampoo well.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
- If you notice any of the following, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Infections that do not seem to be getting better.
- Skin irritation that starts, or irritation that becomes worse.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
- Giving too much is not likely when it is used as a shampoo.
- If you are worried about an overdose because your animal swallowed the shampoo, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center for advice.
How should this medication be given?
To get the intended effect, use this medicated shampoo exactly the way your veterinarian prescribed.
It is helpful to read the prescription label each time so you confirm you are using it the right way.
- If your animal’s coat is dirty, your animal may need a regular bath first to remove dirt and debris before using the medicated shampoo.
- Your veterinarian can suggest a shampoo for that.
- Shake the bottle well before you use it.
- Wet your animal’s coat the way your veterinarian instructed.
- Put shampoo on your hands.
- Work it into your animal’s coat, starting at the base of the neck and moving to the base of the tail.
- Rub the shampoo over the body so it touches the skin well.
- Leave the shampoo on the coat for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Then rinse very well with water.
- Repeat if your veterinarian instructed you to do so.
- Use medicated baths as often as your veterinarian told you.
- Do not let your animal lick the shampoo.
- Do not let the shampoo get into your animal’s eyes, nostrils, or mouth.
- If your animal is not improving within the first 2 weeks, contact your veterinarian.
- Also contact your veterinarian sooner if the problem gets worse.
- If bathing is difficult for your animal, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for ways to make the process less stressful.
- This medicated shampoo may be used for different lengths of time.
- Make sure you understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep using it.
- You may need prescription refills before the full treatment is finished.
- Before you stop the medicated baths, speak with your veterinarian.
- There may be important reasons to continue.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
- If you miss a bath, give the medicated bath when you remember.
- After that, wait the same amount of time between baths that your veterinarian recommended before you bathe again.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicated shampoo in the original prescription bottle.
- Store it at room temperature.
- Keep it away from light.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist prepared a special custom-made version for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date that come with that product.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
- There are no special safety steps needed when handling this medicated shampoo unless you are allergic to it.
- Even so, it is a good practice to wash your hands after you handle any medicine.
- If you are allergic to the ingredients in the shampoo, wear gloves when you handle it.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not use products that are past their expiration date on your animal.
- If the shampoo is expired, do not pour it into the toilet.
- Do not pour it into the sink.
- If your community has a medicine “take-back” program, use that option.
- If there is no take-back program, combine the shampoo with coffee grounds or cat litter.
- This helps make it unappealing to children and animals and harder for people to recognize if they search through trash.
- Put the mixture into a sealable plastic bag so it does not leak.
- Throw it away with your regular household trash.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Some animal competitions may not allow the use of this medicated shampoo.
- Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine.
- Do not stop the medicated baths before your veterinarian tells you to stop, even if the infection looks like it is gone.
- Stopping too early can lead to long-lasting infections.
- Your veterinarian will want to examine your animal again to confirm the infection is fully gone.
- Do not skip these follow-up visits.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”
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