It’s happened to the best of us. Life is busy, and you ran out of dog shampoo, and you may or may not have forgotten to buy it the last two times you went to the store. Now your beloved but not-always-so-bright pup has decided that today would be a great day to lay down in a mud puddle. ‘Luckily’, you think, ‘I have cat shampoo. The cat almost never gets dirty. But is this really a good idea?’ Let’s find out!
So, CAN I use cat shampoo on my dog?
Since you probably have a dirty dog waiting on this verdict, the short answer is yes, if you don’t have anything else. Remember that you should never use human shampoo, conditioner, soap, body wash, or undiluted detergent on your dog or cat. Our pets have a less acidic skin than humans, so the products for each species are pH-balanced accordingly. Furthermore, human shampoos might contain some ingredients unsuitable for your dog’s skin. Using regular shampoo or other products for humans can really irritate our pets’ skin and leave it susceptible to infections. So, if the choice came down to your shampoo or Fluffy’s to wash your dog, you’d definitely want to choose the latter. ‘But if I can use cat shampoo on my dog’, you might say, ‘can’t I just use it all the time and just have one shampoo’? Below we’ll show you what the pros and cons are of doing this and how you can have only one bottle for both.
Benefits of using cat shampoo on a dog
The main issue most owners are concerned with in this situation is safety. Fortunately for you, cats’ skin is much more sensitive than dogs’ skin (contrary to popular belief, this is not due a difference in pH, but rather just the sensitivity of the skin itself!). They are also much more likely to lick off any shampoo residue while grooming themselves, so these products have been formulated accordingly. This means that cat shampoos are generally milder than dog shampoos, so they are safe for our canine friends. The reverse, however, is not always true. You should never use dog shampoos on cats, especially the ones containing parasiticides; there can even be some ingredients in these products, like permethrin, that are toxic to cats!
Drawbacks of washing a dog using shampoo for cats
While safe, doing this is not ideal for several reasons. First of all, having been formulated for more sensitive skin and a different kind of coat, cat shampoo is generally not the best for getting the dirt and grime out of dogs’ fur. Dogs also tend to have longer, thicker coats and some breeds have an undercoat that cat shampoo might have a bit of trouble penetrating. So cat shampoo might not remove grease and dirt from your dog’s skin. It can be used if you have nothing else, but definitely shouldn’t be used long-term.
When you shouldn’t use cat shampoo for your dog
An exception to the general rule that cat shampoo won’t hurt your dog is when that shampoo is a prescription or medicated shampoo. This is generally also true for using one dog’s medicated shampoo on another, unaffected dog. In this case, the ingredients used are different for each species, and depending on the condition, the shampoo might do more harm than good. It’s better not to risk it without first consulting your veterinarian.
There is an alternative: dual-use shampoos
If you are both a cat and dog owner, it might be a good idea to look into a shampoo that can be used on members of both species such as DOUXO® S3 CARE shampoo that is perfectly safe for both species. This will make knowing when it’s time to buy more shampoo easier, as you won’t have to monitor two different bottles, and is generally more convenient and takes up less space in your already-cramped bathroom. These universal shampoos are your best bet for protecting your pets’ skin, respecting their natural skin microbiota, nourishing their fur, and getting them to smell nice for a change.
DOUXOⓇ S3 Care - for every day use
DouxoⓇ S3 Care has been developed for routine bath times and is formulated for dogs and cats. It is soothing, hydrating and cleansing, leaving your pet’s skin happy and the fur shiny and soft. It also has been shown to be well tolerated on both normal and irritated skin.
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Douxo® S3 Care is safe and well tolerated in cats and dogs.
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Soap, sulphate, paraben, colourant, phthalates and nanoparticle FREE
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An adjusted pH to promote a rich and diverse microbiome (bacteria, fungi and other microbes that live on the skin)
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Hypoallergenic fragrance selected by pet owners: Coco+Vanilla - fragrance of summer - 97% of owners love the texture and smell!
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Thanks also to the close collaboration with pet owners during the process to select the fragrance and ergonomics of the packaging, DouxoⓇS3 is designed with maximum customer satisfaction
