So perhaps you’ve recently had your dog groomed or just used the last of your dog’s shampoo for their in-between grooming bath-and-blow out (tutorial available here), but low and behold, your dog found something pongy on your daily walk and you betcha, rolled right in it!

A stinky pooch and no doggy shampoo is not a fun place to be, so what is safe to use instead?

Well, first and foremost, we need to understand a few things about dogs’ skin. Without expecting all of our readers to have a degree in chemistry, we are about to take you through a quick crash course in pH levels.

pH refers to how acidic or basic something is and is represented on a scale between the values of 0 and 14, with 7 being neutral. For example, pure water sits as neutral at 7, lemon juice is acidic at 2, and common household cleaners like bleach and oven cleaner are basic and range from 13-14.

A dog’s skin sits at a fairly neutral pH balance of 6.2 to 7.4, in comparison, human skin, which, whilst having a much smaller range, actually sits on the slightly acidic side of the scale with pH balance of 5.5 to 5.6.

Unlike when your beloved footy team loses by 1 or 2 points, these scores aren’t as close as they might seem. When you move on the pH scale from one number to another, it’s actually at a value of 10 times 10 (or a 100 fold change). So really, that 2-point upset for your team was actually a 200 point thrashing, sorry about that!

pH plays an integral role in the barrier function of the skin. Human skin is about 10 to 15 cells thick, but the skin of our 4-legged friends is only 3 to 5, so the barrier function is incredibly important!

But let’s go back to the conundrum that started this science lesson that you didn’t ask for: a whiffy woofer.

Whilst it may seem convenient to reach for the human shampoo, the dishwashing soap, or anything else in the immediate vicinity to relieve the nostrils for even a split second, these products may not be safe for our pups!

We compiled a list of common household substitutes and what their pH levels mean for your dog:

pH levels obtained from product material safety data sheets (MSDS)

• Morning Fresh Dishwashing Liquid: 4.7 (approximately 200 times more acidic than the dog’s epidermis)

• Johnson Baby Head-to-Toe 4.8-5.8 (approximately 150 times more acidic)

• Coles White Vinegar 2.5 (approximately 450 times more acidic)

• McKenzies Bicarbonate Soda 8.5 (approximately 150 times more alkaline)

Yes, these numbers are quite alarming, and a quick google search will tell you they are unsafe to use, however we did find one study that aimed to debunk the ‘myth’!

And we’re nothing if not fair!

A 2011 study that was completed over a year, that found using human shampoo did not affect the canine skin barrier, but what is important to mention is that over half of the human shampoos tested in this study were at a pH range of 6-6.5 so please check the pH value of the shampoo before you use them on your pongy pooch!

Another important factor we found is that the yeast that is present in pyodermas (bacterial skin infections) such as Dermatitis, flourish in basic or alkaline pH conditions! So if you are tipping the pH scale, it can be safer to use a product on the slightly acidic side rather than the alkaline. This is because an alkaline product will lift and loosen the hair cuticle, whereas acidic products will close it.

Our conclusion? Always keep a dog shampoo at the ready in case of emergencies, we have plenty of ProGroom varieties available through our groomers store here! If you truly aren’t prepared, we fortunately find ourselves in a day and age where dog shampoo is now stocked at major supermarkets (what a time to be alive!), so it can be worth the trip for the safety of your dog and for your peace of mind!

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