Maybe your dog decided that rolling around in the mud in the garden would be soooo much fun, and now they’re at your back door, dripping and looking quite pleased with themselves. Maybe you’ve found a stray kitten and they are filthy. Maybe your cat got underfoot and got something sticky spilled on them in the kitchen. Whatever the case may be, you don’t have any specific dog (or cat) shampoo on hand and you’re scratching your head, wondering how to best clean your furry friend. You’re probably asking yourself, well, can’t I just use regular shampoo on cats and dogs?
Why it’s not a great idea to use regular shampoo on dogs and cats
It all comes down to how human shampoos are formulated. Firstly, they have all kinds of additives, artificial colours, and fragrances that are simply not suitable for use on our pets, as they can be extremely irritating to their skin and most likely smell great to us but awful to them. Secondly, the pH of our skin is much different than theirs; while the average pH of human skin is 5.5, it’s around 7.0 for dogs and cats (but this can vary between 5.5 and even 9 for certain breeds!). The pH scale goes from 0 to 14, generally speaking, with a lower pH being more acidic and a higher pH being more basic. Let’s take a look at exactly what this means for our pets.
So, what will happen if I use regular shampoo on my dog or cat?
Someone told me I can use baby shampoo on my dog, is that true?
While better than regular shampoo, since baby shampoo is made with less fragrances and designed to work on more sensitive skin, it is still formulated for the pH of the human skin. If you absolutely need to bathe your pet and you don’t have access to specially formulated pet shampoo, but you do have baby shampoo, it is probably the best alternative. So, the short answer is yes, you can wash your dog with baby shampoo, once, and only if it’s an emergency situation. If your dog is just dirty, not greasy or sticky, then it’s actually best to just use warm water and forgo regular or baby shampoo (if you don’t have dog shampoo on hand, which is the ideal situation). But be sure to buy a good dog shampoo as soon as possible. Our furry friends always seem to be getting into something, and if you own a dog, you should definitely have a special dog shampoo for them. Baby shampoo is unsuitable for this frequent use.
Using baby shampoo on cats
The same guidelines apply as with dogs, with one notable difference: if you do baby shampoo on your cat, you need to absolutely make sure you rinse off every bit of shampoo residue, as a cat will lick themselves all over in an attempt to get dry. If there is any residue left on their coats, they could ingest it and potentially become ill. They are also prone to the same dry, itchy, skin that can lead to rashes and serious skin problems if bathed too often with baby shampoo.
A word of caution: What to avoid
In addition to regular shampoo, there are certain products that should never be used to wash your pets. These include concentrated dish detergent, soap, body wash, and of course human conditioner. These products should be avoided at all costs when bathing your pet!
Why is using dog or cat shampoo so important?
In addition to being specially formulated to respect the natural pH of our pets’ skin, shampoos like DOUXO S3 CARE® have additional benefits. They preserve the natural flora of the skin, provide hydration and lock in moisture. They are also made to take care of fur, helping to untangle and prevent mats and leaving the fur silky and soft. Human hair and pet fur is quite different, so this one is important! Lastly, they are formulated with a hypoallergenic fragrance that is pleasant to both us and them.
Takeaways
We hope that this has given you a better idea of what to use to bathe your furry friend and what not to use. Remember:
- Never use regular shampoo, soap, detergent, body wash, or regular conditioner on your dog or cat.
- Baby shampoo can be used in a pinch but is not suitable for regular bathing.
- A specialised dog or cat shampoo is a must for pet owners.
If you use the correct products, your pet’s skin will thank you!
