Be selective about the products you use on your four-legged friend. (Photo: Provided)
You may share your couch, backyard, and living space with your pet, but there’s one thing you should never share with them, and that’s your shampoo.
With all the options on store shelves these days, it can be overwhelming to buy the right product for your pet.
That’s why the vet team at Bob Martin has put together some tips on how to choose the best shampoo for your furry companion.
Tips on dog and cat shampoo
Dogs and cats need their own shampoo made specifically for them, and the obvious reason according to the Bob Martin team is that they are covered in fur and we are not.
Human shampoos were developed to maintain the acid in our skin’s pH balance, while pet shampoos are designed to do the opposite and keep their skin pH neutral. Human hair and skin care products can therefore cause an imbalance in the pH levels of dogs’ skin which can lead to infections.
Your luxury hair care and body wash products may leave your own hair and skin feeling clean and moisturized, but they can dry out or irritate your pet’s skin.
(Photo: Artem Beliaikin/Unsplash)
The same goes for baby products. Although the pH balance is better, the ingredients are not necessarily suitable for the pet’s fur.
Pets generally don’t need to be bathed more than once a month (unless there’s been a muddy incident, of course), as too much waxing will strip their fur of natural oils. These oils are important as they protect their skin and keep their fur in a healthy condition.
Shampoos for dogs and cats are designed to contain no harsh ingredients or chemicals, and the Bob Martin team believes there are many affordable products available.
Consider the following when buying pet shampoo
- Gentle remedies with ingredients that are soap-free, hypoallergenic and moisturizing.
- Products with a pH value (between 6.5 and 7.5) that are specially made for a dog’s delicate skin. A pet’s PH is about 7.5, and a person’s skin is about 5.5.
- Choose something that is easy to rinse off and won’t leave an oily or unpleasant residue on your pet’s fur.
- Choose a shampoo that matches your pet’s age, as mature dogs need to be washed more often.
- Pet owners who don’t want to bathe their four-legged friends or can’t keep them in the bath long enough to rinse them off, can use Bob Martin Rinse Free Shampoo as an alternative.
