What wipes can I use on my puppy? A Step-by-Step Guide

Can you use dog wipes instead of bathing your dog?

The simple answer is no. Baths help clean out bad odor, dirt, germs, and ticks inside the fur. While wipes can remove surface-level dirt, they can’t reach deep within the fur or intricate areas.

Dogs also need baths to remove scaling, dryness, and revitalize their fur. Dogs bathed using dog shampoo help maintain their pH levels, give their coat shine, and prevent skin infections. In addition to regular shampoo, we recommend using a hypoallergenic conditioner to counter after-shampoo dryness

Different breeds will require different products. Dogs with dense fur need shampoos with special ingredients to clean up their fur. Similarly, the frequency of baths can also vary between a few times a month to once every few months. However, these instructions are for dogs with healthy skin and coat. Dogs with skin conditions require medicated baths and prescribed shampoo/conditioners.

Can you use baby wipes for your dog?

Most people assume that since they’re made for sensitive skin, they must be safe for dogs as well. However, that’s not always true. Baby wipes contain certain chemicals that may not be safe dog your dog’s skin/fur. In fact, most baby wipes in the market aren’t safe for dogs and cats.

While we don’t wholeheartedly recommend this, you can get away with using baby wipes for dog fur sparingly. If you do have to use them though, try buying ones that are odor-free, chemical-free, and designed for sensitive skin.

Pro tip: avoid using them around your dog’s face and eyes, as these areas tend to be more sensitive to harmful ingredients. We recommend choosing one from this list of safe baby wipes.

What are the risks of using baby wipes for dogs?

While they have a similar function, dog wipes and baby wipes are made with very different materials. Let’s see why baby wipes are harmful to dogs:

Different pH levels: The pH level of human skin is 5.5, much lower than the pH levels of dogs. Baby wipes disrupt the natural pH level of a dog’s skin. This can cause irritation, rashes, and makes the skin susceptible to bacterial infections.

Harmful Chemicals: Baby wipes use various chemicals for quick absorption and drying, fragrance, and other benefits. These chemicals may be safe for babies but aren’t good for your dog’s skin. For example, propylene glycol, derived from anti-freeze, is toxic for dogs.

Dogs lick their skin: This shouldn’t come as surprise, but unlike babies, dogs lick their skin and may ingest some chemicals used in baby wipes.

Using DIY solutions to clean your dog is a much better option. We recommend using plain towels and running water. They’re easy to use and best utilized when your dog gets dirty but doesn’t require a bath. For instance, these wipes are excellent dog paw cleaners after playtime in the backyard. They can also be used as wipes for dog fur when you need to clean surface level dirt/mud.

In fact, you could do one better by adding dog shampoo to the water. This will help keep a healthy skin and remove excess oil and germs. However, the best dog wipes are designed specifically for dogs. They can be disposed of easily, use ingredients that maintain healthy skin/fur, and keep your dog’s pH levels in check.

Can You Use Baby Wipes on Dogs? Answered!

Do your dog’s paws get covered in dirt or mud after taking a walk? Do you clean your dog’s sanitary areas regularly? If yes, then what do you use to clean them?