Baby Shampoo on Dogs: Is It Safe?

Most baby shampoos can be a great substitute for regular dog shampoo when your dog’s coat needs some extra protection without the added chemicals. Baby shampoo, such as Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, is often used on a baby’s skin and hair because of its great pH balance. You can even purchase specific pH balance baby shampoo for delicate skin.

What shampoo is best to use on dogs?

When asking for veterinary advice, you will find that it is suggested that you buy a brand of shampoo from a line of less affordable dog products. These products, usually advertised as being supported by veterinary dermatologists and the like, are one of two types of products from the pet industry.

Either they will be a shampoo product that is full of natural ingredients, great for dog skin conditions, and doesn’t contain too many harsh chemicals. Or they’re at the other end of the spectrum, and they have far too many chemicals. We aren’t here to provide veterinary advice, but we can certainly point you towards affordable shampoos that have a good pH level and don’t contain masses of artificial colors, fragrances, and other ingredients that may give your dog dry skin.

Where possible, it’s best for dog owners to use shampoo that won’t cause skin irritation. When a dog suffers from the skin of a fragile nature, choosing the right dog shampoo is a must.

Dogs With Sensitive Skin

Following veterinary guidance is a great start for looking after your dogs, but not all dogs are the same. Your dog may have hardier skin that can be washed in many different shampoos, while other dogs of the same breed may need to have specific shampoos for bath time.

There are plenty of great shampoo products out there that you can use when your dog is having a bath. Pick a mild formula that is produced for dogs, rather than anything that is made for humans to use. Feel free to contact your vet, who may have some suggestions if you find yourself overwhelmed with figuring out what to wash your dog in.

One of our favorites is the Oatmeal Pet Wash by Pro Pet Works. This is a great shampoo for dogs that can relieve them of any dry or itchy skin, while also soothing your dog’s skin.

Shampoo formulated for skin that is easily irritated would also benefit the following:

• Dogs that have allergies
• A pooch with sensitive skin
• Dogs that have infections
• Pups that need to be cleaned in a gentle way

You can also use these gently formulated shampoos to bathe puppies for the first time.

Other shampoos may not be suitable to get your dog clean if they have extremely sensitive skin. Your pup will benefit from gentle shampoos with no added fragrances, which are formulated for dogs that have skin conditions. Because of this, the best shampoo to use to bathe your dog on a semi-regular basis would be baby shampoo. Find out more about puppy shampoo here.

However, if your dog does have a skin condition, a medicated dog shampoo would be a better choice.

Can You Use Baby Shampoo on Dogs?

Is baby shampoo safe for dogs? The short answer is yes, but let’s look at a specific kind of dog that greatly benefits from the use of baby shampoo usually meant for small humans.

If you have a hairless dog like a Chinese Crested dog breed, it’s better to use baby shampoos on their minimal coat because it’s softer on their skin and it’s less irritating. When you put shampoo on your dog, you’re introducing a protective barrier that their skin and coat can use to remain healthy. Mild shampoos with neutral or near-neutral pH levels are perfectly fine to use on hairless dog breeds.

Still got that one question on your mind, you know the one – “Can I use baby shampoo on my dog?” Well, there certainly aren’t any restrictions because this formula of shampoo is as good as many other dog shampoos and is kind enough to use on baby human skin, as well as dog skin.

Hairless Dog Breeds That Baby Shampoo Are Suitable For:

• American Hairless Terrier
• Argentine Pila
• Bolivian Hairless Dog
• Chinese Crested
• Mexican Hairless
• Peruvian Inca Orchid

Dogs that have short coats, like Chihuahuas, should also use non-irritating shampoos. Most human shampoos, especially adult human shampoo, will be too harsh for these dog breeds.

The Benefits of Using Baby Shampoos on Dogs

When using human shampoos on a dog’s skin, be sure that you are only using baby shampoos. When dog owners use baby shampoo, they can use brands like Johnson baby shampoo frequently – compared to normal human shampoos that will dry out and irritate your dog’s skin.

Remember to only bathe your dog once a month, at most. Dogs are very clean creatures and will take care of their own hygiene. The only time you should wash your dog more than this is if they get particularly dirty and you should not use any brand of human shampoo to wash your dog more than once a month. If you need to bathe your dog more often, avoid human shampoo.

Why Use Baby Shampoo for Dogs

• Gentle enough to be used on puppies
• Soothes irritated skin
• Doesn’t dry out the skin
• Harmless formula
• pH balance available in some baby shampoo brands
• Little to no risk of allergy

How to wash your dog using baby shampoo

To wash your dog using Johnson baby shampoo or another similar brand of dog shampoos, make sure you choose an unscented, clear shampoo before you get started. This will ensure that there isn’t anything obvious in the shampoo that wouldn’t be in a dog shampoo product.

Step 1: Set-up

Using your indoor bathtub will give an area for your dog to be washed that is easy to clean afterward. It’s also much kinder than washing them outside where you may not be able to control the water temperature.

Step 2: Dilute

Dilute whichever shampoo you’re using with water before you put it on your dog.

Step 3: Soak

Using warm water, soak the fur of your dog or wet their skin if they’re hairless.

Step 4: Massage

Massage the shampoo into your dog’s fur and/or skin. Keep the shampoo away from their eyes.

Step 5: Rinse

Use more warm water to rinse the shampoo out off of your dog.

Step 6: Dry

Dry off your dog with a towel and give them a treat for good behavior. Head over to our review of dog towels for more choices.

Can You Use Dry Shampoo on Dogs?

Human dry shampoo cannot be used on dogs, but there are dog dry shampoos on the market that are suitable for “washing” your dog’s fur between their monthly cleaning.

Dry shampoo is a great way to get rid of the dirty dog smell that your pup may accumulate in the period of time between their baths. It can also absorb oil from your pet’s coat.

Why is Regular Human Shampoo Harmful to a Dog’s Skin?

Regular shampoo made for humans is not formulated to be friendly to a dog’s skin or its coat. There are lots of chemicals in human shampoo that just aren’t needed in dog shampoo, and using a human shampoo could irritate your dog’s skin in minutes. It’s better to use a shampoo that is kind to a dog’s skin, rather than risk using a shampoo that can hurt them.