You saw your dog coming over to you with dirt all over his face, and you are wondering if you can use the baby wipes to clean up his face since you have run out of dog’s wipes?
In short, the answer is “No”.
You see, dogs have sensitive skin that is of different PH level as compared to humans.
Their skin is more alkaline with a PH level of 5.5 to 7.2 as compared to human skin which is 4.8 to 6.0 (acidic).
This makes products which work perfectly well on human’s skin unsuitable for your dog.
Thus, if you use baby wipes on your dog (even if the wipes are unscented and non-alcohol), he will likely be irritated by the wipes.
The sting will make his skin itchy.
This also explains why, when you use human shampoo on your dog, you will see a similar skin irritation reaction on his coat.
On top of that, baby wipes also contain humectants (like propylene glycol and glycerine) which put your dog at risk from toxic effects if he eats it by licking his coat or paw which you had cleaned using the wipes.
For this reason, you ought to use only dog’s wipes on your dog or apply some mild hypoallergenic shampoo on a damp cloth and gently clean your dog face, coat and paw with it.
Table of Contents
What Kind of Wipes Are Safe for Dogs?
This brings us to the next topic : what are the types of wipes that you can safely use on your dog?
Generally, any commercial dog wipes such as “Pogi’S Pet Supplies Grooming Wipes” are safe to be used on your dog as they have been specifically manufactured to be gentle on the dog’s skin.
This means that they are made with non-toxic and hypoallergenic ingredients. The wipes also have no fragrance.
Having said that, you should also do your diligence to read through the ingredients used in the dog wipes to ensure that they are indeed safe.
Keep a lookout for the following ingredients that must NOT be present in the wipe.
1. Propylene Glycol: – It is used to retain moisture on the skin, but can cause skin irritation and organ toxicity in dogs.
2. Methylisothiazolinone (MIT or MI) and Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI): – Isothiazolinones are a family of preservatives used to control bacteria, algae and fungi growth. They are known to cause allergies and skin irritation in dogs.
3. Phthalates: – Phthalates can disrupt the endocrine systems in dogs. So.watch out for any “FRAGRANCE” in the product label.
4. Formaldehyde: – The preservatives in this class are effective against bacteria, but they can irritate the skin and cause allergies. Keep a lookout for “Diazolidinyl urea” or “DMDM hydantoin” on the product label.
How Do You Make Homemade Dog Wipes?
Of course, the other alternative is to DIY your homemade dog grooming wipes.
Making your own grooming wipes for your dog is surprisingly easy and quick.
In comparison to many commercial wipes which make use of chemicals that can potentially irritate and dry out your dog’s skin, you can choose your favorite natural dog shampoo when making your own wipes.
Things you would need:
3 cups of WARM plain water, 1 teaspoon of Dawn dish soap, 2 teaspoons of coconut oils, 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide
Mix all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir well to ensure that the coconut oil is melted in the warm water and all the ingredients are well mixed.
Get a Tupperware container that comes with an airtight lid. Place a few pieces of paper towels (you can cut them to your preferred size) in the container and pour the mixture into it.
Make sure that the solution is adequate to damp the towels in the container.
There you go, now you have the perfect wipes ready for use on your dog.
Make sure that you store them at room temperature in an airtight container.
Can I Use Baby Wipes on My Dog’s Bum?
You may be wondering if it would be okay to use baby wipes on your dog’s bum when he poops since you already use them on your baby, and it’s working well.
This is a “NO- GO” as it is going to cause serious irritation to your dog’s anal spot and cause him to bite on his bum and tail.
I am sorry to say this, but you cannot use anything else in place of the dog’s wipes on your pet. It is a one – way ticket to disaster.
Your dog can get himself poisoned if he licks his butt that you had cleaned up using baby wipes as these wipes contain the chemical “propylene glycol” that can be harmful for your dog.
If you are not able to clean your dog’s butt with the right kind of wipes, you can try to clean it with a paper towel damp with Dawn dish soap solution.
You should avoid using baby wipes in place of the dog’s wipes on any parts of your dog as they may contain chemicals that can irritate his skin.