Washing Your Pet: PH Level of the Coat, Difference from Human Products and Many More
Pet Bars are Baaaackkkk!! (improved formula)
Want to learn what makes a pet cleanser different from normal soap, human shampoo, dish washing liquid, etc. and why you shouldn't wash your pet with either of them)?
Read on:
Pet skin is much thinner than human skin (even the paws). It is about 3-5 cells thick, while human skin is 10-15 cells thick - so it damages and reacts easier. It also has a different PH than ours - our body skin's PH level is about 7:40, and our scalp's PH is about 4.5-5.5. Pet skin PH level varies between 4.5 to 7, with most in the higher range of 6-6.5. Last but not least, pet fur is much denser than human hair and is structured differently: one main hair grows out of a follicle, surrounded by a few smaller ones. All that creates a different microflora than ours and requires a special care.
Diving in:
All pets are different and different kinds, breeds, and even colors of pets have different PH level of their coat, but most and on average need a cleansing product with a PH level of about 6 (which is lower than most soap and slightly higher than a good human shampoo). The ph level of a pet's coat and right cleanser also depends on sex, health conditions, etc.
Dish washing liquid (8-9 PH) and soap (9-10 PH) are a NO - too harsh for coat and thin pet skin and can contribute to microflora imbalance and various skin damage/diseases. Also, they de-grease coat too much (and lack in conditioning ingredients) which disturbs coat's lipid balance. It is much harder to wash off soap properly, which frequently gets left over on pets' coat and skin and reacts with other substances. Sometimes can even burn a thin pet's skin.
Oils and licking considerations:
Pets like to self-groom , which means oils inside better be suitable for pets when ingested. Try avoiding cocoa butter, avocado oil, macadamia nut oil, almond oil and apricot oil in your pet's grooming products due to chemicals inside these oils tested to be unsafe for pet ingestion. But jojoba, meadowfoam, coconut and olive squalene oils (along with mango butter) are safe.
So what's inside our updated bar?
- Gentle surfactants (cleansers): Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sulfosuccinate, Cocobetaine, as well as naturally derived vitamins and conditioners (cetyl alcohol, behentrimonium chloride, pro-vitamin B5, caprylic triglycerides (from coconut oil), neem oil (eww, the smell, but antibacterial!) - covered up by a tad of lavender and fur needle oil:)
* This is of course not a medical/vet advice. Seek professional advise on pet coat conditions/disease.
* Do not apply essential oils directly on pet (or human!) skin undiluted.
What do you wash your pet with? What is your feedback?