Is Baby Oil Safe For Dogs

Your dog’s skin is just as delicate as your baby and needs the same care and attention. 

This makes you wonder if you can use baby oil on your dog since that works so well for your infant.

This is certainly NOT recommended because baby oil contains chemicals and fragrance that can be toxic to your pet.

Baby oil is not considered safe for dogs because it can cause irritation on your dog’s coat since it is a mineral oil that is derived from petroleum. Your dog can suffer from Pneumonia when inhaling it (because it contains hydrocarbons) and it can be fatal for him if he consumes the oil in a large quantity.

Baby Oil Can Irritate Dog’s Coat

Though baby oil has been used for a long time to cleanse and moisturize your baby’s skin, it is a different story when it comes to using them on your dog.

You see, on the standard pH scale of 0 to 14, dog skin has a pH of about 7.5 whereas human skin has a pH of about 5.5.

This difference will make baby oil not only ineffective for your dog, but also harmful.

Baby oil can cause irritation on your dog’s skin since it is a mineral oil that is derived from petroleum.

Petroleum has been known to cause irritation in the eyes, nose and mouth of dogs, so it is recommended to keep it out of his reach. 

So, what should you use instead?

What Oil Can I Put On My Dog?

There are many natural oils that will help keep your dog’s skin healthy, such as virgin coconut oil, olive oil and almond oil.

And most important of all, they are not toxic to your dog even if he ingests them.

Virgin Coconut Oil

Virgin coconut oil is a healthy oil that is loaded with nutrients and antioxidants.

When applied topically on your dog’s skin, it will help boost their immune system and reduce inflammation.

It works great in relieving any allergies and itchy skin that your dog has.

This oil offers a wonderful healing effect on skin problems such as mange, dry skin and skin infections.

It has strong antibacterial and antifungal properties which make it very useful for the treatment of skin disorder.

You will also observe an improvement (enhance his hair’s shine and minimize the risk of fur shedding) in your dog’s fur condition as the oil contains lauric acid which can penetrate into his hair shaft easily.

It is also commonly used to treat and prevent flea bites.

You can buy organic coconut oil in most grocery stores, or you can make it at home.

To make homemade coconut oil, mix one part of coconut oil with two parts of lukewarm water.

Almond Oil

Almond oil is another great oil for keeping your dog’s skin healthy.

They are rich in vitamin E and antioxidants and are also known to have anti-inflammatory properties.

You can use almond oil to treat your dog’s dry and irritated skin or to coat his hair with it.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is also another good alternative for treating your dog’s skin.

It has many benefits and is packed with antioxidants. 

It helps to provide relief from itching and has anti-inflammatory properties.

You can use the oil to help soothe your dog’s skin after bathing and to keep his skin moisturized and hydrated.

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Pneumonia Can Result From Inhaling Baby Oil

Hydrocarbons are deadly when inhaled, and since baby oil falls under the hydrocarbon category, this makes it potentially dangerous for your dog.

This is especially so since dogs possess a much more sensitive smell than humans.

When your dog inhales the baby oil, it can cause aspiration pneumonia.

Aspiration pneumonia is a type of respiratory infection that can occur when your dog inhales something that irritates the lining of the lungs or the airways. 

This can be a direct result of ingesting or inhaling something harmful or toxic.

If left untreated, this condition can be life-threatening.

Toxic If Ingested

What happens if my dog licks baby oil?

Baby oil contains many other chemicals, some of which can be toxic to your pet if ingested. 

Your dog is going to lick his paws and coat for reasons such as boredom, allergies, infection or arthritis issues.

And when he does that, there is a high risk that he will ingest the baby oil that is applied to him.

The toxic effects of the baby oil may only show up after a day or two, so you might not be aware that he is gradually building up his toxicity through ingesting the baby oil that you are applying on him.

This means that you might not notice any changes in your dog’s behavior or health until he is in pain, vomiting or having diarrhea.

The following are the considerations that you have to keep in mind.

Did your dog consume a lot of baby oil or just a bit of it?

If he just ingests a bit of the oil, it is usually quite harmless.

But if he has consumed large amounts of the oil, you will need to take him to see a vet immediately.

He may start to show symptoms of vomiting, feel lethargic and weak and even develop a fever.

How old was your dog? Is he a young puppy or a senior dog?

For a young or senior dog, his immunity is weaker, and he may not be able to fight off this “poisoning” and start developing complications.

You will likely see him developing diarrhea or start vomiting.

So make sure you take him to see a vet as soon as possible. 

Does your dog have any underlying health concerns?

If your dog already has other underlying health issues such as diabetes, heart problems, liver or kidney disease, it is more likely that he will be more susceptible to complications of this “poisoning”.

You should seek veterinary care immediately. Your vet will determine the severity of the poisoning and apply the right treatment.

When did your dog consume the oil? Is it more than a day or less than an hour?

As the effect of ingesting the oil will not be instant, it can take up to a day or two for your dog to show his discomfort.

So you may need to keep a lookout for any abnormality when you find your dog has licked the baby oil from his coat. 

Your dog’s condition and the severity of the poisoning should be taken into consideration when making a decision if you should bring him to see a vet immediately.

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Can I Put AD Cream On My Dog Instead?

You may also wonder, since there is a risk in applying baby oil on your pet (if he ingests it), how about using some other alternative, such as ad cream when your dog has skin disorder?

Is this going to be dangerous for him as well? 

In short, the answer is “Yes”, if he ingested too much of the ointment.

The first thing to know about ointments is that they are not meant to be swallowed or licked.

These ointments contain a chemical called benzocaine, which is a topical anesthetic.

It numbs the area where the ointment is applied, which can make your dog feel better. 

If your dog licks the ointment off his paw, it can sting his tongue and gums. 

There is a chance that your dog will get sick (vomiting and diarrhea) from licking ointment if he ingests too much of it.

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