Why you shouldn’t use human shampoo on your dog
Recently we were interested to read about a new TikTok trend, where dog owners are using purple shampoo on their dogs. The #purpleshampoochallenge first emerged a couple of year ago when people were showing off the amazing results they were getting by using purple shampoo on their hair. Designed for blondes, it can eliminate yellow tones and give a healthy platinum-blonde shine, it’s also often used by older folks to help them achieve a more pleasing tone of silver. Now, for some reason, the trend has moved over to using purple shampoo on dogs to change the tone of their fur and reduce yellow tones, because people can't seem to get enough of a before and after video!
However whilst some of us may think this is harmless fun, it could actually be harmful to pets as the chemicals in human shampoo can irritate your dog's skin.
Although most of us think of our dogs as robust and ready for anything, their skin is actually quite sensitive. Using your usual human shampoo on a dog can cause their skin to become dry, flaky and itchy which In turn will make them more vulnerable to bacteria, parasites and infections.
Collie photo by Ayla Verschueren on Unsplash
Use dog shampoo on your dog
Human shampoo contains harsh toxins that may cause your dog to itch. Purple shampoo contains large amounts of citric acid, which is found in lemon juice. This is used to lighten the hair – which is great for blondes but not so great for your dog.
Dogs groom themselves by licking their fur and it is not a great idea for them to swallow the residue left on their coat from human hair-products which are not intended for this purpose. There are plenty of dog-friendly shampoos on the market designed especially for you pooch and different kinds of coat, there is even a canine shampoo designed for brightening your dog’s coat in the same way that purple shampoo does, just without all the drama.
Small dog Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels
Keeping your dog clean
Dogs don’t actually need washing as often as you may think and they are pretty good at keeping themselves clean, but some breeds do need washing more than others. So It’s important to get into a good routine of cleaning your dog if they need it.
If you return from a walk and your dog is very muddy then wash them down as soon as possible. Don’t over-wash them and always make sure that you use a shampoo that has been designed for your dog. If it’s an emergency (eg they rolled in something nasty) and you need to wash your dog right away, then use some baby shampoo as these are formulated to be mild and won’t contain any of the nasty chemicals that can dry your dog’s skin.
You don’t necessarily need to wash your dog to give them a glossy, healthy coat either, a healthy glow comes from within so make sure you feed them a good balanced diet with plenty of protein to make them shine inside and out!
Brushing them frequently also helps to keep their coat clean and healthy and reduces the need for washing them quite as much. Perhaps it could be time to start a TikTok trend based around the right way to care for your dog’s coat, rather than hopping onto yet another potentially harmful trend!
P.S. If you're looking for a dog bath, dog dryer or grooming equipment, check out our shop.
Main photo by Autri Taheri on Unsplash