Health & WellbeingWhat oils are safe for dog shampoo? Is it too harsh for their skin?
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.
Updated on September 24th, 2025