Your Dog’s grooming is a very essential part of keeping its
coat hygienic and healthy. After all, would you be comfortable having
fleas on your dog? If you aren’t already doing that, you need to pay
attention to your dog’s coat and fur to ensure good health and hygiene.
So, what shampoo do you use for cleaning your dog? Some shampoos made for humans can do the job, but the big question is, are they good enough for your dog? Though it may seem like quibbling, this question can actually have some far-reaching consequences.
Let us begin with some comparison of people’s and dog’s skin. There is a highly crucial component of the skin known as the acid mantle, a slightly acidic oil layer covering it. It serves as a barrier that protects the skin’s topmost porous layer – the stratum corneum – from contaminants like bacteria or viruses in the environment.
The stratum corneum also keeps the outer body hydrated through absorption of water and preventing excessive evaporation. Bathing with a soap or shampoo washes away this acidic oil layer, so most human shampoos have moisturizers to replace this protective layer.
The normal pH range for a human skin is 5.2-6.2, meaning it is acidic. Shampoos and other skin products are specifically formulated to maintain this pH balance. In comparison, a dog’s skin pH ranges from 5.5 to 7.5, depending on its breed, resident climate, gender and anatomical size. This means that dogs’ skins tend towards more alkalinity than human skins. This means that if a human skin shampoo is used on a dog its acid mantle is disrupted, creating a breeding environment for bacteria, parasites and viruses.
Many a times, because of a smell resulting from a proliferation of parasites and bacteria, several pet owners wash their dogs multiple times using human shampoos without being aware that those shampoos are the cause of the smell problem. This makes the problem even worse due to additional imbalances of the skin’s acid mantle and pH level.
In addition, if a shampoo makes a dog’s skin feel dry, it will scratch the skin creating more abrasions for more bacteria and viruses to invade and attack. This process of escalating the problem makes it quickly become a vicious cycle of health and hygiene problems for your dog. If you would use a shampoo that aids in the maintenance of your own scalp’s pH balance, why would you not also concentrate on doing the same for your dog’s skin?
Dog shampoos should be within the neutral range, i.e. around 7. Since most shampoo manufacturers do include the pH level on a shampoo’s label – with so many others clearly stating if a shampoo is pH-balanced for dog skin – look out for actual dog shampoos when you go out to do a purchase.
What Else Should You Look Out For in Dog Shampoos?
- Always read shampoo labels keenly read to make sure that the shampoo you are purchasing has no artificial colors or fragrances added to it.
- Also look out for natural skin moisturizers such as vitamin E or aloe Vera; honey or tea-tree oil even if your dog doesn’t have a sensitive skin. Some natural pleasant fragrances made of lavender, chamomile, eucalyptus or citrus are do also double as insect repellents.
In conclusion, I would like to say that your dog doesn’t really need shampoo washes so regularly, good cleaning every few months is enough – though you can give your dog water baths in between. A single dog-shampoo bottle can last one year, even if you shampoo the dog monthly. So always go for good dog stuff so that the next time your dog places a paw on your lap for that friendly embrace, you won’t mind.
So, what shampoo do you use for cleaning your dog? Some shampoos made for humans can do the job, but the big question is, are they good enough for your dog? Though it may seem like quibbling, this question can actually have some far-reaching consequences.
Let us begin with some comparison of people’s and dog’s skin. There is a highly crucial component of the skin known as the acid mantle, a slightly acidic oil layer covering it. It serves as a barrier that protects the skin’s topmost porous layer – the stratum corneum – from contaminants like bacteria or viruses in the environment.
The stratum corneum also keeps the outer body hydrated through absorption of water and preventing excessive evaporation. Bathing with a soap or shampoo washes away this acidic oil layer, so most human shampoos have moisturizers to replace this protective layer.
The normal pH range for a human skin is 5.2-6.2, meaning it is acidic. Shampoos and other skin products are specifically formulated to maintain this pH balance. In comparison, a dog’s skin pH ranges from 5.5 to 7.5, depending on its breed, resident climate, gender and anatomical size. This means that dogs’ skins tend towards more alkalinity than human skins. This means that if a human skin shampoo is used on a dog its acid mantle is disrupted, creating a breeding environment for bacteria, parasites and viruses.
Many a times, because of a smell resulting from a proliferation of parasites and bacteria, several pet owners wash their dogs multiple times using human shampoos without being aware that those shampoos are the cause of the smell problem. This makes the problem even worse due to additional imbalances of the skin’s acid mantle and pH level.
In addition, if a shampoo makes a dog’s skin feel dry, it will scratch the skin creating more abrasions for more bacteria and viruses to invade and attack. This process of escalating the problem makes it quickly become a vicious cycle of health and hygiene problems for your dog. If you would use a shampoo that aids in the maintenance of your own scalp’s pH balance, why would you not also concentrate on doing the same for your dog’s skin?
Dog shampoos should be within the neutral range, i.e. around 7. Since most shampoo manufacturers do include the pH level on a shampoo’s label – with so many others clearly stating if a shampoo is pH-balanced for dog skin – look out for actual dog shampoos when you go out to do a purchase.
What Else Should You Look Out For in Dog Shampoos?
- Always read shampoo labels keenly read to make sure that the shampoo you are purchasing has no artificial colors or fragrances added to it.
- Also look out for natural skin moisturizers such as vitamin E or aloe Vera; honey or tea-tree oil even if your dog doesn’t have a sensitive skin. Some natural pleasant fragrances made of lavender, chamomile, eucalyptus or citrus are do also double as insect repellents.
In conclusion, I would like to say that your dog doesn’t really need shampoo washes so regularly, good cleaning every few months is enough – though you can give your dog water baths in between. A single dog-shampoo bottle can last one year, even if you shampoo the dog monthly. So always go for good dog stuff so that the next time your dog places a paw on your lap for that friendly embrace, you won’t mind.
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