Skin Sensitivity

• Compared to humans, dogs have really sensitive skin. The skin on a dog is between 3 and 5 cell layers thick. On the other hand, the skin on a human is between 10 and 15 cell layers thick. While human shampoo products are designed to be safe for human skin and scalps, they can be much too harsh for dog skin. Even sensitive skin formulations may be too harsh on dog skin, simply because human skin is three times as thick.

PH Balance

• A dog’s skin is about 7.5 while human skin is about 5.5 (to put it in perspective, water is about 7.0) Therefore, a dog’s skin is more alkaline so ideally a dog’s shampoo should be between 6.5-7.5 or it could be irritating to the skin. Highly acidic shampoos may also diminish the hair’s protective qualities, removing valuable oil from the coat and skin. the result is dry, irritated skin and a dull coat. Of course it’s a vicious cycle because the dog will scratch which only makes the problem worse.

Ingredients

• Dog’s have different problems that humans do. The ingredients in dog shampoos are specifically formulated to be dog safe and beneficial to their skin and coats. Dog shampoos often contain pyrethrin and pyrethroids, which are insecticides for treating fleas and ticks. These shampoos also commonly contain salicylic acid, menthol, colloidal oatmeal, aloe vera and hydrocortisone, all of which provide antipruritic properties to relieve itching and allergies. Humectants such as lactic acid and glycerin help to rehydrate sensitive skin, and emollients such as almond oil and coconut oil add beneficial oils to the skin and coat. Using human shampoo is not beneficial for the dog because it does not contain the right ingredients, and some commercially available human shampoos may even contain chemicals that are harmful to the dog.