Should You Use Dawn Dish Soap to Bathe Your Dog?
No, Dawn dish soap is not recommended for our pets. Even Procter & Gamble (the manufacturer) says it is not to be used on pets.
Many pet parents have heard or read that dawn dish soap can be used to bathe their pets and/or to kill fleas. This confusion likely came from seeing Dawn used on wildlife to remove oil from oil spills. This is however not a recommended practice. This is a life-saving emergency decision necessary to remove the greasy oil from delicate feathers and skin. It is not healthy or safe for our pets in non-emergency situations.
So why do we NOT recommend it?
Incorrect pH for animals. A dog’s pH is 7, a human’s is 6.6 and Dawn’s pH is 9. The wrong pH disrupts the skin and can leave it funeral to bacteria, parasites and viruses.
Dawn is a heavy degreaser and strips the skin and coat of their natural oils. Dry skin will be flaky and itchy and a dry coat will be brittle and break easily.
Canine skin is sensitive and thinner than a human’s. This is why it has a protective covering of fur.
Any damage to the skin will result in damage to the coat also.
Animal studies hint at potential organ damage from long-term exposure to artificial food dyes, including Blue No. 1 and Blue No. 2. The dyes have been found to accumulate in the body over time, potentially affecting the liver and other organs.
Why does Procter & Gamble not recommend it?
In a letter to a consumer from a Senior Customer Relations member of P&G Global Operations, they “do not recommend it as a pet shampoo”. They are proud of its use saving wildlife but say those animals may not have otherwise survived. They do not currently offer an Animal Shampoo and use of their human products would require their chemists to add Citric acid to adjust the pH balance to be suitable for animals. Furthermore, no testing has been conducted to determine if this product is safe for use on animals.
What should you use instead?
We recommend using a pet shampoo which is specifically designed to suit the needs of your dog’s skin and fur. They are formulated to maintain the correct pH balance, minimize irritation, and improve the health and shine of your dog’s coat. Natural ingredients and moisturizers not only protect your dog’s skin but help strengthen the coat and make it less prone to matting. Some of the ones we recommend can be found under the Shop link on our site.
