Hi guys, has anyone used hydrogen peroxide mixed with a whitener compound to shift stubborn stains out of a white coat????? If so where can you buy it from????? Cheers, Clare

Don't know about shifting stains but you can buy it from most chemists. Just ask at the pharmacy counter :)

Cheers shaynlola. I met a few westie people while I was walking the dogs oday and they said mixed with a white compound (20% hydrogen peroxide)it works wonders for shifting stubborn stains on a white coat. I was a bit shocked as when I think of peroxide I think of bleached hair and I don't want to irritate the dogs skin, but I have tried everyting from hibiscrub to barcanbonate of soda!

Ditto what Gwen has said.  it doesn't remove the stain just bleaches the whole lot, it can cause skin burns, brittle and broken hair ..not the way to go as far as I am concerned.   At this time of the year their feet are wet so they get more stained.  I show mine and their feet are a bit discoloured just now but will try and keep them a bit dryer over the next few months.

Hi Clare,  Whislt it alsmost certianly will shift the stains, it is doing so by bleaching.  So if you are planning on using it on a dog you show, be aware you are acting against the KC regualtions.  IF you get coat tested, it will certianly show up!  Next, it may well irritate the skin, both yours and the dogs, so do a tiny patch test first to make sure neither of you are goign to have a bad reaction.  Also bear in mind that it "opens up" the follicles on the hair, making it much more porous, so it is even more prone to staining in the future. 

bye
Gwen

Hi I agree totally with Gwen,

Hydrogen peroxide could cause problems if in contact with your dogs skin!  I was a hairdresser and used hydrogen peroxide for all colours and bleaching.  If this gets in contact with your skin or your dogs, it will send your skin a white colour and will give a buring pins & needles sensation.  This may only last 20-30 minutes, but it could most definately cause other problems if yours or your dogs skin reacts to it.

I also suggest a test patch.  If you try it on yourself, you need to place the test on the inner part of your arm. This is the part which will be the most sensitve and will show the best result!  Please do a test  before using it on your dog

Bellamdale.

Hydrogen peroxide could cause problems if in contact with your dogs skin!  I was a hairdresser and used hydrogen peroxide for all colours and bleaching.

Depends on the STRENGTH of it. The vet I worked for always used it for dogs with skin problems and I use it to this day for wounds etc -on both animals and myself. In Sweden you'd buy 30 % strength for hair but 3 % strength for skin.

Agree Goldmali  but the 3% for wounds and gargling isn't mixed with bleach  and can be bought over the counter at the chemist. This is Ok to use but you must dab it on the hair and not near the skin as even this small 5 can cause irritation. Feet are the worst thing in most breeds when they start chewing it becomes or can become a habit.

I would not use this either on my dogs, just use chalk it takes most of the dirt out, but as Blue said a lot of staining just now is to do with the weather as you cant keep their paws dry when out. One of mine has a bit of staining, the other is o.k.

Hi guys thanks for the replys, I was just looking on the internet and I saw that you can buy Hydrogen peroxide food strengh and it can be used as a  mouth wash, and for antibacterial properties etc I don't know if there are different types but I reckon I'll steer clear! Its not his feet that are stained its a stain on his back that just won't shift! Kind regards, Clare

Oh gosh that is worse. Leave it well along.  generally it is very common for them to get a colour patch down the middle of their back it is known as a dorsel slick.  you have to remember that the super white pictures you see of westies s not really how they always look when they get up to their normal westie antics ;-)

Cheers Blue!

No, they are not normally as white as snow, LOL, especially after a run on the beach and in and out of the water, or, finding the nearest bit of poo and rolling in it, westies love being dirty, and digging.

Just use a shampoo for white dogs which if its a good one will bring out the staining using no chemicals.

Can you recommend any decent ones?? Thanks, Clare

TO be honest ( and I don't mean to discredit what Jen has said)

I wouldn't even use the whitening shampoos on a westie personally. I think the coat is quite harsh and this whitening shampoos dry it out even more.

I think Hibscrub is very good for washing the stains on feet etc, and just a mild shampoo like polytar from boots. Always rinse and rinse the coat throughly.

Cheers Blue, I have some hibiscrub handy. Thanks