Human Shampoo?
Is Human Shampoo OK for Dogs?
The simple answer is NO it is not, and there are some good reasons for it.
It’s because a dog’s skin is far more sensitive than human skin. Most of a dog’s skin is protected by their coat. Their fur does what our hair does not, it protects the skin. Our skin is 10 to 20 layers of skin cells thick because we don’t have fur, but a dog’s skin is only 3 to 5 layers thick. It is much thinner than ours and we have an extra, protective layer in our skin called the acid mantle.
Most human shampoo is too harsh for a dog’s thinner, more sensitive skin and can disrupt the natural pH balance. It can strip the epidermis layers of all the good bacteria and oils and leave their skin open to nasty bacterial infections and inflammation. It can cause the coat to become dry and the skin to flake making it very itchy and miserable for your dog, and a dry flakey coat is also more prone to knots and matting causing further irritation for your dog. Stripping the coat reduces the natural protection your dog has from fleas as well as the protection you may have used for them to prevent flea infestations.
A small difference in pH is a big change in real terms. The difference between a pH of 5 and a pH of 6, is 100 times more, meaning that a pH of 5 is 100 times more acidic than a pH of 6. The majority of human shampoos have a pH within the range of 6-7. Your dog's shampoo should be around pH7.5.
Another factor to consider is exposure time. At home when we shampoo our head, we do not leave the shampoo in contact with our skin for as long as shampoo gets left over a dog’s entire body as they get lathered up.
Shampoos formulated for canine hair are designed to clean well and are often geared toward specific jobs or coat types. Human hair shampoos are less likely to have ingredients for whitening, promoting deshedding, or serious deodorizing. Most human shampoos are designed for daily or weekly use and may not clean a dirty dog well.
You might get away with using a very mild pH human shampoo in a pinch, but you will find it is so much better to use shampoo that is specifically formulated for the type of coat your dog has and as groomers WAG are trained to recognize these coats and choose the best shampoo for your dog.
There are many benefits to having a professional mobile groomer, like WAG the Dog, wash and groom your fur buddy for you. With our expertise, experience, and specialized equipment, we can ensure that your dog's coat is cleaned and dried properly. Plus, our mobile service makes the process convenient and stress-free for both you and your dog. While using human shampoo on your dog at home can be done as a last resort, it is not recommended as it may disrupt the natural balance of your dog’s more sensitive skin and cause more serious problems.