Dogs aren’t the cleanest animals on the planet. It’s not uncommon for your dog to come inside smelling like poop or an animal carcass. Your dog probably enjoyed rolling in it!
As gross as it is, these are things that canines do instinctively. But now your pup smells undesirable, and you can’t have them stinking up the house. This can only mean one thing: The dog needs a bath.
There are plenty of dog shampoo options available to help clean your pup. But what do you do if all you have is baby shampoo? Giving a healthy dog (with no skin issues or allergies) a bath with baby shampoo on a one-off occasion shouldn’t be a cause for major concern and is considered acceptable. Overall, though, it’s best to use dog shampoo on your dog.
Can I Use Baby Shampoo on My Dog?
The skin pH of most adults is slightly acidic, ranging from 5.0 to 5.5. However, the skin pH of infants is more alkaline than that of adults, generally ranging from 6.34 to 7.5.1 Canine skin often has a pH of 5.5–7.2, though some anatomical sites might have a different pH.2
Shampoos intended for babies are pH compatible with a dog’s skin in most instances (exceptions always exist). In addition, most baby shampoos are formulated differently than adult shampoos and are designed to minimize irritation and tears and provide a more gentle experience as a whole.
Although the deciding factor of safety will come down to the complete analysis of all the ingredients on a shampoo, most baby shampoos are considered safe for healthy dogs with no skin issues or allergies, and they are considered safe to use for rare occasions where you’re out of dog shampoo (or when you rescue a dog that needs a bath).
However, they shouldn’t be used on dogs on a regular basis. They also shouldn’t be used on pups with skin issues or those with allergies. Dogs on medication might also not respond well to shampoo intended for human babies. For such pups, it’s best to seek your veterinarian’s opinion.
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Will Baby Shampoo Soothe My Dog’s Skin?
Baby shampoo might not work if your dog suffers from skin allergies, dry skin, hot spots, or other skin conditions. It may cleanse your dog, but it’s unlikely to soothe their skin. Remember, it’s still a human shampoo intended for human use.
If you plan on using baby shampoo to wash your dog, know that it must be a one-time occurrence. Otherwise, you risk irritating your dog’s skin. Canines have different skin care needs, just like humans do. If baby shampoo works for one dog, that does not mean it will work for yours.
Still, sometimes push comes to shove, and you need to use what you have. If all you have on hand is baby shampoo, make sure it’s unscented. You can also dilute the shampoo to avoid aggravating your dog’s skin.
Also, try testing the shampoo on a patch of your dog’s skin and wait a few minutes if you have the time. If you don’t notice any irritation, you know it’s okay to use it on the rest of your dog’s skin.
Does Baby Shampoo Kill Fleas and Ticks?
Most shampoos can kill fleas on your dog, and a bath in general is a great way to remove fleas and their feces, eggs, and other debris from your dog’s fur. Even a bath with just water alone can help dislodge fleas from your dog’s coat to a certain extent.
Ticks are long-term feeders and bury their “snouts” into your dog’s skin when they feed on their blood. They may not be dislodged as easily with a bath. The prevailing advice is to remove a tick using tweezers rather than other remedies to detach them.3
However, if the dog in question is heavily infested with ticks, your priority should be to take them to a veterinarian promptly instead of giving them a bath or removing the ticks on your own. A heavy infestation can be accompanied by other health issues and complications.
- Anemia — This condition is due to a heavy parasite burden (ticks consume blood).
- Paralysis — The saliva of certain ticks can paralyze dogs.
- Blood parasites — Ticks can transmit myriad blood parasites to dogs when they feed on them.
Due to these complications, the dog in question might be too immunocompromised or weak to be able to handle a bath. The stress would cause to their body in be in such a state that it might make their condition worse. It is therefore best to let your vet handle such infestations. Infested dogs may need to be hospitalized for a period of time and have their blood screened for specific parasites or diseases.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes, we don’t have what we need when we need it. That’s okay! Baby shampoo is a safe alternative if you don’t have dog shampoo. It matches your dog’s skin pH levels, is gentle, and can be tearless, depending on the brand.
Even though it won’t do much to help with fleas and ticks, it can effectively clean your pup. It’s always best to use dog shampoo, so we encourage you to buy some. But if you have a smelly dog in desperate need of a bath, you can break out the baby shampoo and start scrubbing!
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Featured Image Credit: SashkaB, Shutterstock
