Dawn dish soap is completely non-toxic and often marketed as extremely gentle. Because it is made to clean the dishes you eat off of, it is known to be pretty safe. Therefore, if you wash your dog with it, they will probably not experience any serious harm.
In fact, dawn soap can be an effective cleaner in many situations. It is particularly effective against oil, which is partially what it is designed to clean up. Therefore, if your dog is sprayed by a skunk or covered in oil, dawn can do a pretty good job—even better than your average dog shampoo.
However, dish soap is a bit too tough for most dogs’ skin. While many dogs will not have a problem with one bath with Dawn, they may experience skin irritation and dryness with regular use. Some dogs are so sensitive that they may experience extreme dryness right away.
Dawn is simply not designed for dogs and use on skin. It is not the correct pH for a dog’s skin and contains some harsh chemicals that can be irritating.
In an emergency, it would likely be fine (as it is completely non-toxic). However, we would not recommend it beyond that.
Will Dawn Dish Soap Kill Fleas?
Dawn dish soap is regularly suggested online as a flea-killing alternative to more expensive parasite preventatives. But does it actually work? The answer is yes, but again with a catch.
Bathing your dog in Dawn should kill any adult fleas on their body. Fleas can usually float in water, but the chemical reaction caused by Dawn soap interferes with the flea’s exoskeleton, causing them to sink and drown. Veterinarians in animal shelters often use Dawn to kill fleas on puppies and kittens too young for other flea control medications.
However, Dawn provides no lingering protection or repellant against further flea infestation. You can kill all the fleas on your dog, and they could immediately become infested again from fleas in their environment. Dawn is also ineffective against flea eggs or immature fleas. Complete flea control requires breaking the life cycle of the flea by destroying these stages as well. We don’t recommend relying on washing with dawn soap to treat your dog’s flea problem.
For more effective flea control, veterinarians recommend using prescription flea and tick prevention year-round once your dog is old enough. Many different products are available, and your vet can help you choose the one that will work best for your dog.
Is It Safe to Wash Your Dog With Dish Soap?
The quick answer is no, it’s not safe to wash your dog with dish soap.
Risius Family Veterinary Service, a vet clinic in Eldridge, Iowa, warns that “bathing in dish soap often leads to a skin infection.”
“Skin infections in pets can be very itchy and painful,” the vet clinic adds. “This may require a visit to your veterinarian for tests and possibly antibiotic treatment. So, the money you saved by using an inexpensive dish soap may end up costing you more in the end.”
How Often Can I Use Dish Soap to Wash My Dog?
Every dog is different, just like every human is different.
Simply take a walk down the shampoo aisle of your local grocery store and check out all the options. You’ll find hypoallergenic dog shampoos or shampoos formulated for oily hair, dry scalps, broken ends and so much more.
Dogs’ needs are no different — meaning that using soaps like Dawn on some dogs might be fine occasionally, but using it on others might not be.
If you try it but you start to see signs of dryness or irritation, it’s time to go back to an actual dog shampoo.
FAQ
Is dish soap safe to use on dogs?
What type of Dawn can you use on dogs?