What about the PH level? I have never had good results with human shampoo on dogs - I really think its very drying to their skin. It can be especially bad for a dog who already has a dry skin issue.

Originally Posted by puppymamma

What about the PH level? I have never had good results with human shampoo on dogs - I really think its very drying to their skin. It can be especially bad for a dog who already has a dry skin issue.

pH is not important. If it were, you'd have to test the pH of your water before using it. After all, we use much more water than shampoo.

There's also a huge difference in skin pH between different breeds. German Shepherds have the highest pH of any dog breed, while Labs have the lowest. Yet you never see shampoos labeld "Do not use on German Shepherd dogs" or "For use on Labrador Retrievers only".

The #1 reason for the skin to appear dry after shampooing is shampoo residue left by insufficient rinsing.

I used to work for a pharmaceutical company that manufactured pet shampoo. I can tell you with great confidence that "dog shampoo" is simply a marketing ploy to separate you from a little more of your hard earned cash.

[rayter]

Originally Posted by vetgroomer

Coal tar is one of the first known human carcinogens. As a general rule, anything that causes cancer in one species of mammals will also cause it in other species of mammals.

Oh really? Didn't know that. Argh, my friend's recommendation isn't right!!! Thanks for sharing this.

Originally Posted by vetgroomer

pH is not important. If it were, you'd have to test the pH of your water before using it. After all, we use much more water than shampoo.

There's also a huge difference in skin pH between different breeds. German Shepherds have the highest pH of any dog breed, while Labs have the lowest. Yet you never see shampoos labeld "Do not use on German Shepherd dogs" or "For use on Labrador Retrievers only".

The #1 reason for the skin to appear dry after shampooing is shampoo residue left by insufficient rinsing.

I used to work for a pharmaceutical company that manufactured pet shampoo. I can tell you with great confidence that "dog shampoo" is simply a marketing ploy to separate you from a little more of your hard earned cash.

wow very interesting and a lot of great points. Can't say im surprised that its a marketing ploy, once you say that it all makes sense.

I remember being at the vet, and this lady was telling the vet that she gave her dog human eye drops and just a small amount. They said to her "everything we give to dogs is the same exact things we humans take" I think many just assume at first they make different antibiotics for example for dogs.

I have a question and hoping you can help me. What is the best thing to use for tear stains? I have looked this up a lot and i keep hearing contradicting things. I have probably heard of a dozen different things to do and each thing you have others saying not to do that. He is just a puppy so at first I slowly have been getting him used to having his ears touched, eyes cleaned, being brushed and all those things. He has stayed for me to clean his ears, he was ok during a bath but once i get close to his face he squirms like crazy. he is so tiny too and his face is so small so with him squirming im afraid of getting it in his eye. Also why at the moment i just use warm water on a cotton ball. He has a lot of fur and you cant see it right away but recently he has crust that he wont let me get near. Last night he actually stood calm for a bit but at this point it wont come out with just water. He had a viral infection last week and was tearing a lot so im guessing this is what caused it. Ive been trying everyday to moisten it little by little but its still there. He was just at the vet and had shots and had to go a few times before so i dont want to keep taking him there, poor little thing. I have to go again in 2 weeks for a follow up so even more so why i dont want to go yet. I cant take him to a groomer yet bc he doesn't have all his shots so they won't take him. I have to wait another month, but i dont want him to sit there with all that eye crust.