Why do dog shampoos contain so many ingredients? Are they safe?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This appears to be one of the better ones I’ve seen. Other than the last ingredient (dye- probably in minuscule amounts since its last on the list), this product appears to be made entirely from plant extracts and I would indeed call it “natural”.

The "hot" oils are most toxic to dogs. These include peppermint, cinnamon, oregano, clove, wintergreen, thyme and birch oils. Tea tree (melaleuca) oil is also very toxic to dogs. A dog's skin pH is more neutral than human skin pH, 7.5 compared to human 5.5. For this reason, most dog shampoos range between 6.5 to 7.5 pH to prevent dry skin or irritation. The addition of conditioners and emollients also helps.

Actually the active ingredient found in head and shoulders is "Zinc Pyrithione" and the safety of this was studied and published in a journal article titled Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol. 2002 Nov-Dec;15(6):434-41. It studied the safety of Zinc Phyrithione and Ketoconazole and also how efficient they were at treating canine seborrhea (dry skin). They both were deemed safe for use, avoiding any product going into the eyes, and Ketoconazole was found to be far superior for treatment of canine seborrhea than Zinc Pyrithione. So to answer your question, yes Head and Shoulders, with the active ingredient Zinc Pyrithione, is safe for use in bathing pets as long as none gets in the eyes or is ingested (zinc in large quantities can be toxic to all pets). But there are more effective options out there such as Ketoconazole based shampoo's.

The problem with human shampoos is that they contain fragrences and ingredients that can strip a dog's skin's natural oils and dry it out. I would use a gentle baby shampoo instead, or you can use Dawn dish soap to wash him.

Do not use shampoo that is expired or very old. Over the years the components could have gone through a chemical reaction and change which now may be detrimental to your dogs hair and skin. I suggest you throw this shampoo away and get some fresh dog shampoo.

I wouldn't recommend adding either of these essential oils to your pets shampoo because they don't provide any health benefits for your dog. Also there is no literature to suggest what is a safe dosage that can be applied to your pet, if at all. If your pet has some skin condition then I would encourage buying a shampoo that is already formulated and tested as safe for Boovs to have. The Duoxo shampoo line (available on line through amazon.com) is a safe and effective alternative that can help if Boovs has a certain skin condition. If he doesn't have a skin condition then a regular over the counter aloe based or oatmeal based puppy shampoo is adequate. The haircoat is most affected by what the pet eats than what is applied topically. Feeding a high quality puppy food such as Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, Evo, or Eukanuba are best. Best wishes with Boovs and his skin. Take care.

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach! Making your own shampoo May be difficult. Baking soda will not cause kidney failure but using improper ratios of ingredients could harm the skin. I would lean towards getting a shampoo such as Duoxo Calm for a maintenance shampoo. This particular shampoo will help strengthen the skin to keep it well hydrated and to prevent dandruff and itching secondary to dry skin. Iv san bernard is another product line that you can use that provides high quality natural shampoos. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me with any other questions or concerns you may have. I am also available via phone or text consultation.