Can you wash a dog with baby shampoo?

It may be tempting to reach for baby shampoo as a quick alternative to dog shampoo. Before you do, though, let’s think about it – is baby shampoo really a safe alternative for puppies. Baby shampoo tends to have a much more gentle formula than adult shampoo, which is why using regular adult shampoo is a big no-no for puppies and babies alike. Because baby shampoo does not have strong fragrances or harsh chemicals, you may think it is suitable for puppies. However, it will still strip your puppy’s skin of its protective barrier and potentially damage the pH balance of their delicate coat. We all know it can be easy to run out of the essentials, but it is vital that you do not use baby shampoo on your puppy, even in a pinch. The only truly suitable way to bathe your puppy is with a specially formulated puppy shampoo which can adequately clean and protect their coat and skin.

Can I use baby shampoo on my dog? 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. Human shampoos won’t harm your dog as a one-off but are definitely not recommended as a long-term bathing solution. Look out for pH levels and try to choose a shampoo with a neutral pH range as close to 7 as possible. Avoid human shampoos with added fragrance or colour, as these will be particularly harsh on your pet’s skin. Dogs and humans have very differing pH balances, with dogs’ balance being 6.2 to 7.4, which is more neutral, whereas human shampoo is tailored to a more acidic mantle. As human shampoo is tailored to a more acidic mantle, using it on dogs can disrupt theirs, leaving their skin dry and flaky and, more seriously, vulnerable to parasites, bacteria, and viruses.

Baby shampoos can be found at drugstores and big-box retailers for an affordable price, ranging from $4 to $12 depending on the brand. Baby shampoos are a great option to use when washing your dog as they are made with mild and tear-free ingredients that won’t cause your dog’s oils to be stripped away. There are a few must-haves and must-avoids when it comes to the ingredients in baby shampoos for dogs. Baby Shampoo for Dogs Must-Haves include Tear-Free, Soap-Free, Paraben-Free, Phthalate-Free, and Hypoallergenic ingredients. When choosing a baby shampoo for dogs, select one that has a small ingredients list and includes ingredients that you can pronounce such as coconut oil, olive oil, and chamomile essence. You can try using Johnson’s baby shampoo on your dog or Aveeno baby shampoo on your dog, as these are both affordable tear-free and paraben-free options.

Vets don't recommend using human shampoo on dogs. 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. Unfortunately, you need a lot of it to get a good lather going, so it’s not practical for frequent use on your pup. Human skin is more acidic than dog skin and human shampoos are made to support this acidity. If you use a human shampoo on your pup, you may begin to alter your dog’s skin pH, making them prone to flaking, dryness, and infection.

Baby shampoo should only be used on dogs only in emergencies, as it is formulated for humans and may disrupt a dog’s skin pH balance. Using human shampoos like baby shampoo too frequently on dogs can strip natural oils and lead to dryness, itching, or infections due to their thinner, more sensitive skin. Though baby shampoo is mild for humans, it’s not meant for dogs and can create issues with their skin, because a dog’s skin pH is different from a human’s. Baby shampoo is formulated for the more acidic pH of human skin, not the more neutral skin of dogs, which makes even the mildest human shampoos potentially too harsh for a dog’s skin. In an emergency situation, a gentle, mild baby shampoo can be a temporary substitute until you can get more dog shampoo. Before using a baby shampoo, make sure it’s fragrance-free or lightly scented, hypoallergenic, and tear-free, stick to a very small amount of shampoo, rinse thoroughly, and monitor your dog’s skin afterward for any signs of irritation. Using shampoos made for humans can throw off the pH balance of your dog's skin, it can strip away their natural oils, causing dryness, itching, flakiness, and in the worst cases, infections. For regular grooming, always opt for dog-specific shampoos that match canine skin pH and avoid harsh ingredients to maintain healthy skin and coat.