How to safely bathe a dog?
Before you begin, stock up on the basics: Choose a shampoo specially formulated for your dog’s skin. Read More
What human shampoo can I use on my dog?
Caden Glover
2025-09-03 17:57:15
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If you don’t have any doggy shampoo at home and your furry pal desperately needs to get clean, using human shampoo may seem tempting, but the reality is that you should never use human products on your canine friend, not even ‘gentle’ or ‘baby’ shampoos/bubble bath. Dogs and humans have very different pH balances. The pH of the outer skin of dogs’ ranges from around 6.5 (on a Maltese) to 8.0 (on a Labrador). In contrast, the pH of human skin ranges from 4.8 to 5.8 – significantly lower. Human bathing products are designed for to protect and moisturise the skin until the human acid mantle regenerates. However, they are not designed to support the regeneration of a canine acid mantle and they can disrupt the PH levels on your dog’s skin enough to cause irritation, dryness and flakiness. Without an effective acid mantle, your dog’s skin is also more vulnerable to viruses, bacteria, infection and other nasties. This means that doggy shampoo really is the best product for keeping your furry friend clean and healthy. Your vet should be happy to point you in the direction of the shampoo that best suits your dog. The best way to deal with any dirty dog scenarios is to keep at least a small bottle of veterinary-approved doggy shampoo at home that you can use, and as soon as the bottle gets low, replace it with another!
Antoinette Rolfson
2025-08-26 16:48:33
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It’s 9 p.m. on a Sunday, your dog has just rolled in something disgusting, and you have no dog shampoo on hand. Can you, in this case, bathe your dog with human shampoo? The short answer is yes. Today, many human shampoos are made from gentle, natural ingredients. If your own shampoo includes ingredients such as tea tree oil, aloe vera, or natural colloidal oatmeal, it’s less likely to do damage to your dog’s skin than a shampoo filled with chemicals. Acidity, or pH balance, varies among breeds, and your dog may have more acidic skin than other dogs. Frequency of use also affects reactions. Therefore, if this is a once-in-a-blue-moon thing, your dog will likely be perfectly fine.
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How do you bathe an unwilling dog?
To bathe an unwilling dog, gather the supplies you’ll need to wash your dog by wiping him down and w Read More
Sebastian Rath
2025-08-20 05:42:56
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If an emergency bath is essential, you’re out of pet shampoo, and clean, warm water isn’t working, you can use regular human shampoo as a very last resort. Look out for pH levels and try to choose a shampoo with a neutral pH range as close to 7 as possible. Human shampoos won’t harm your dog as a one-off but are definitely not recommended as a long-term bathing solution. Avoid human shampoos with added fragrance or colour, as these will be particularly harsh on your pet’s skin. Baby shampoo is generally a better option than regular shampoo as it is clear, odourless and gentle. If your dog has particularly sensitive skin, baby shampoo can be a good choice to combat this, as it contains milder ingredients than regular shampoos.
Most baby shampoos are water-based and only contain glycerin for smoothness, potassium acrylates copolymer as a thickening agent and sodium trideceth sulfate as a mild, low-irritation cleansing agent. Baby shampoo is a safe, one-off substitute for dog shampoo, but overall, it’s best to make a conscious effort to have your dog’s shampoo stocked up at all times.
Javier Zboncak
2025-08-12 19:44:55
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You may be able to find a baby shampoo with neutral pH levels that won’t dry or irritate the skin, but once again, baby shampoo is formulated for human skin – not dog skin. It’s best to avoid baby shampoo on dogs despite claims about being gentle. Homemade shampoos can give you the peace of mind of knowing what’s in your dog’s shampoo. However, it’s best to consult your veterinarian as there are many homemade recipes across the internet that may or may not be beneficial to your dog. Can you wash a dog with human shampoo, based on the information in this article, your safest bet is to stick with dog-specific shampoos. Always choose a shampoo that’s specifically formulated for dogs. The best shampoo for dogs is one that is specifically formulated for their skin and coat. It should also be gentle with no harsh chemicals. If your dog has especially itchy or sensitive skin, it’s best to consult your vet to determine the best shampoo for your dog.
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What not to do when bathing a dog?
Washing your dog too often can strip away the natural oils that help them maintain a healthy coat, l Read More
Should you leave your dog wet after a bath?
Air drying after a bath is also not recommended for dogs with thick, long or double coats — especial Read More
Tia Legros
2025-08-01 01:38:42
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If you must use human shampoo to clean your dog in a one off emergency, baby shampoo is the most suitable substitute. For dogs with more sensitive skin, either due to a condition or their breed, baby shampoo contains milder ingredients than normal human shampoo and is made for gentle skin. However, this is not a long term solution and it is essential that you stock up on dog shampoo to keep your dog healthy and safe. You should make a conscious effort to keep dog shampoo stocked at home and only use human or baby shampoo in emergency situations. If you are in doubt and are really desperate to wash your dog, simply use clean, warm water as a one off and remember to add dog shampoo to your shopping list for the future. Humans and dogs have very different skin types that require different types of shampoos and soaps due to their pH levels. Your dog’s breed will also impact their dog shampoo requirements as some have more sensitive skin than others.
Vern Cremin
2025-07-31 22:06:46
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If you are in a pinch and without pup-specific shampoo, Dawn dish soap or baby shampoos from Burt's Bees and Johnson's may be used. A common substitute for dog shampoo is baby shampoo, since it’s formulated to be gentle on the skin. Johnson’s or Burt’s Bees are both safe baby shampoos to use with your pup. Dawn dish soap can also be used for dirty dogs that need to be cleaned quickly for when you don’t have doggy shampoo on hand. Unscented baby wipes can be used on short-haired breeds and for surface-level dirt on the skin. Human hand soap should be avoided because it can be irritating to your dog’s skin. If your dog has particularly sensitive skin, rinse their dirty fur with water until you can get them a safe, dog-specific shampoo.
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In general, if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your dog – that’s a good rule of th Read More
What to do if your dog won't let you bathe them?
If he has muddy paws, focus there. If his neck is dirty or his face has food stuck in his beard, pla Read More