Can I use baby shampoo on my puppy, how about conditioner and do we need “everything free” products?
These are questions we often get asked. First of all, we definitely recommend only using products formulated for pets.
Shampoo For Puppies
While your fur baby is young, choosing a shampoo formulated for puppies is ideal. Puppies have very delicate skin. Exposure to unsuitable ingredients is detrimental for the maintenance of the skin’s healthy pH balance. Unbalanced skin pH could begin to create a lifetime of skin problems.
Puppy shampoos support skin health while cleansing and conditioning the coat. This avoids compromised dry skin, prone to sores and bacterial infections.
A great choice is Fido’s puppy and kitten shampoo. This product is specially formulated to use on puppies, kittens and small domestic pets. With a unique soap-free hypoallergenic formulation, it washes your pet without stripping the oils from the coat. The best part; it leaves your pet with a gorgeous lingering, baby powder fragrance.
Shampoo For Dogs
Once your fur baby has grown, there is a wide range of shampoos to choose from targeting different needs:
- Brightening white coats
- for frequent washing
- to repel insects and fleas
- for medicated skin conditioners or
- with a variety of herbal and other refreshing fragrances
See the ABCs of choosing the best shampoo here.
Conditioning
Conditioners are great for replacing any moisture and natural oils lost from your pet’s skin and coat. Most dogs love a gentle massage so adding a minute to apply conditioner and massage your pet is a great idea. If you choose not to condition, then it’s extra important that you select a non-drying soap-free shampoo with gentle surfactants. More about this next.
“Free”
As I’m sure you have noticed, the “free” revolution is in full force. And sometimes it gets pretty poor publicity in the media. Gluten-free, additives free, cruelty-free to name a few, are labelled mere fads. If you are reading this you probably want to make it your business to be woke, especially where your pet is concerned. So, let’s investigate a few “frees” pertinent to your furry friend.
Soap-free
This means not containing soap. Soap is one of the earliest developed surfactants.
Soap = fats (animal or vegetable) + water + lye (sodium hydroxide, a strong alkaline solution).
Soap promotes removing dirt, dust and grease. Great for a dirty pet in theory, but it can also leave your dog with very dry skin. Dry skin can lead to an oil overproduction as the skin tries to compensate for lost oils. This is an undesirable cycle to encourage with a puppy. Excessive oils can create unpleasant odours and dry compromised skin is prone to dermatitis and parasites. So, soap-free is a good “fad” to buy into to keep your puppy’s skin healthy. Modern and gentle surfactants are available nowadays. Try a high-quality soap-free shampoo that’s effective and safe for your puppy or dog.
{Young couple taking selfie with their dog}
Cruelty-Free
Cruelty-free labelling means ingredients or components of a product are not tested on animals. Human Society explains the European Union began paving the way against animal testing for cosmetics in 2013. They banned animals testing and the marketing of cosmetics tested on animals. Since the following countries have passed similar laws, to ban or limit cosmetic animal testing:
- India
- Israel
- Norway
- Switzerland
- Australia
- Guatemala
- New Zealand
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Turkey
- several states in Brazil
- California
The USA as a whole is yet to follow suit. Cosmetic companies in the United States that test on animals cannot legally sell their products in any of the above-listed countries.
You can do your part to contribute to promoting cruelty-free if you want to. Avoid products made in China. Here legislation still supports mandatory animal testing. Also avoid products produced elsewhere that still test on animals by choice. To learn more about supporting cruelty-free check out Cruelty-Free International.
Paraben-free
Paraben-free refers to the absence of Paraben. Paraben is a preservative used to extend the shelf life of a product. It minimises the growth of bacteria, mould and yeast. Used in many pet and human pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, it’s also in processed foods such as beer and in one study, red wine topped the list!
There is widespread discussion on the safety of parabens and how much needs to be ingested or absorbed before it may disrupt hormone function. Literature particularly associates parabens with cancer and reproductive toxicity. As humans and pets have unique bodies and circumstances, it is hard to quantifying toxicity levels. Awareness is always beneficial though. So where possible choose products with gentler preservatives.
Fragrance-free
Fragrance-free products are free from artificial and natural fragrances. This is often chosen to minimise skin or sensory irritation. Sometimes fragrances per se irritate animals or humans. For other people, natural fragrances are preferred over artificial ones. Natural fragrances often come from herbal formulas or essential oils. A popular oil for pet grooming products is tea tree oil. This oil has a fresh fragrance and helps to repel insects when your pup is frolicking in the grass.
Your pet will thank you
There’s lots to take in about adulting with a pet! With a one-step-at-a-time approach and all that love you have for your pet, your efforts will surely be returned with plenty of puppy love, wet kisses and energetic tail wags.
