You should never take shortcuts, use human products or homemade solutions to wash your dog. It's not uncommon for people to wash their dogs in dish soap, baby shampoo and even a concoction of household items like baking soda and vinegar, but scientific evidence points to this being very dangerous as they can cause serious irritation and damage to your dog's skin.

The reason why this is so damaging is your dog's skin has a different pH level and thickness than ours.

pH level
The pH scale shows a solution's acidity or alkalinity. Lower numbers are more acidic and higher numbers are more alkaline.
Water: Neutral
Dogs: 6.5 to 7.5 (more alkaline than humans).
Humans: 4.5 – 5.5 (more acidic than dogs).
Shampoos and soaps are generally formulated to mimic the pH of the skin. Human shampoos are made for our skin and some will be up to 200 times too acidic for your dog.
Thickness
When it comes to thickness, your skin is three times denser than your dog’s. (The skin of a dog is only 3 to 5 cells thick, and human skin is around 10 to 15 cells thick.)

Did you know that baby shampoo can be up to 150 times too acidic for a dog’s skin?

They may be your fur baby, but your dog’s skin is thinner, much more sensitive and less acidic than a human baby’s skin.

If you use your shampoo on your dog - even if it’s ultra-mild or baby shampoo - you risk disrupting the delicate pH balance of their skin and upsetting their skin’s acid mantle. It is not worth the risk, as use of these products can lead to irritation, itchy, dry skin, dandruff, sores, possible dermatitis and fungal infections, and can create an environment where bacteria, parasites and viruses can thrive.

That’s why you should avoid any human shampoo or any human product at all, including baby shampoo, when you are washing your dog.

Not all dog products are created equal - some come with their own chemical nasties and are more acidic than you’d expect. And not all dog grooming products are pH balanced for dogs, so check the labeling carefully.

Select specially formulated, gentle, quality products, pH balanced for dogs.

The smith&burton Canine Collection is expertly crafted from natural plant-based ingredients, free of harsh chemicals to be gentle on your dog’s skin. All products are pH balanced for dogs, specially formulated to balance the natural pH levels of your dog’s skin and coat, leaving your dog’s skin clean, healthy and hydrated, and free of residue that causes itching and irritation, or dryness and dandruff. The naturally effective ingredients also enrich and strengthen your dog’s epidermis.