Q.
I have five dogs, and I regularly give them all baths, cut toenails, clean ears, etc. There is a groomer in my area that uses Dawn dish soap to wash the dogs so this is what I have been using lately. I also read in a book that you should add a small amount of dish soap to your regular dog shampoo. Have you heard of using dish soap as a shampoo? If so, is it better to use pure soap or just a small amount added to your regular dog shampoo?
A.
You have your work cut out for you, keeping all those dogs clean! I can tell you are a devoted dog owner. I must admit I am a bit surprised that a professional dog groomer would use a detergent made for washing dishes, pots and pans to wash dogs. There are plenty of wonderful dog shampoos on the market that are safer and more effective than dish soap. Dawn is great at cutting grease and I have even recommended it in a pinch to make up a home remedy for de-skunking dogs, but over time, it will dry them out and it lacks the proper pH balance for canine skin and coat.
A quality dog shampoo does not contain the harsh chemicals present in household cleaning products and will safely clean, moisturize, and add sheen to your dog’s coats. There is no need to add anything to them. Their effectiveness is the result of careful research and formulation by their manufacturers.
There are even dog shampoos on the market that combat doggie odor, make white coats sparkle, condition dry coats, and make long hair tangle-free, strengthen damaged coats, soothe irritated skin, combat excessive shedding, preserve wiry texture in terrier coats, and treat sensitive pets that need a hypo-allergenic tearless product.
But do hang on to your Dawn detergent in case you should ever need it for an emergency de-skunking treatment! The home remedy is as follows:
- 1 quart 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
- 1/4 cup baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
- 1 teaspoon Dawn dish detergent
Wet the dog and work the mixture through the coat. Leave lather on for about ten minutes, and then rinse thoroughly. Discard any leftover remedy as it becomes combustible when stored in a closed container.
Kathy Salzberg, NCMG, is a Certified Master Groomer and writer who has been grooming pets since 1976. With her daughter Missi, she owns The Village Groomer in Walpole, Mass. She has also written extensively on pet care for several consumer magazines and authored three books on dogs and careers with pets. Kathy lives with her pets on Cape Cod.
Feature Image: nBtwntheBlinks/iStock/Thinkstock
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