Can you use baby shampoo on dogs? And, is homemade dog shampoo better? This are two questions I hear quite often, and here are the answers.
No to baby shampoo and Yes to homemade shampoo.
Believe it or not, baby shampoo is too harsh for your Morkie.
That’s because a dog’s skin is MUCH thinner than ours, and second, the pH level of his skin is different from ours.
(Remember grade 9 science? The pH level of the skin refers to how acidic or alkaline it is. On a scale of 1-14, 1 is the most acidic and 14 is the most alkaline. 7 is neutral.)
A dog’s skin has a pH balance of 7.5, compared to our skin, which has a pH balance of 5.5. So you can see our skin is more acidic.
If you buy shampoo, pick “certified organic”
Why choose organic? Since cancer is the primary cause of death for dogs over the age of 2, it makes sense to minimize your Morkie’s exposure to harmful or questionable environmental factors.
One thing – it must say Certified Organic.
Just organic on its own, or green, or pure, or dog-friendly, bla bla is all marketing bullsh*t. lt’s gotta say Certified Organic.
Or make your own dog shampoo - it's easy
BUT HERE’S AN IMPORTANT TIP:
Don’t use regular dish soap as the base for dog shampoo
Lots of recipes for homemade dog shampoo call for dish soap as the base – often Dawn and Joy brands by name.
But dish soap is not good for your Morkie. That’s because it’s too harsh. These dish soaps are good quality but have plenty of chemical ingredients. Plus the PH level in most commercial grade dish soaps isn’t balanced to a dog’s skin.
Instead, use an all-natural, clear dish soap, or Castile soap for homemade dog shampoo. Both are clear, clean and unscented. And both are a better match for a dog’s ph level.
Dog Shampoo for Dry Skin
Dogster.com offers this recipe for dogs with dry or sensitive skin:
- 2 cups of water
- 1/2 cup of Castile soap or all-natural, clear dish soap
- 1/2 cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons of glycerine
- 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel
(You can get glycerine at most drugstores, along with aloe vera gel. Pick 100% pure.)
Apply to your wet Morkie and massage in; rinse well.
Simple Dog Shampoo Recipe
A good basic shampoo.
- 1-2 tablespoons of solid, unscented Castile soap, shredded with a cheese grater (or use 1-2 tablespoons of liquid, unscented Castile soap or an all natural dish soap)
- 2 cups of hot water
- 1/2 cup white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
Mix soap and water with a spoon until the soap shreds are dissolved. Add white or apple cider vinegar. Shake well before each use. Rinse well.
