The 10 Best Puppy Shampoos to Buy in 2024
Let’s face it, your puppy is going to get dirty and you, the adult in this relationship, are responsible for cleaning it. After all, as cute as they might be, you don’t want little paw prints on your floors, couches, beds, and anywhere else your non-stop ball of energy decides to take them, so a good puppy shampoo is essential for your household.
As you look at available options, you’ll see that there are dog shampoos and general pet shampoos on the market, in addition to designated puppy shampoos. This puzzle might leave you wondering if a special puppy shampoo is even necessary or if you can get by with a more general option.
Well, the truth is that much like puppy food, companies design puppy shampoo with a young dog’s needs in mind, and adult dog shampoos could damage a puppy’s skin, coat, and eyes. You don’t want that, and neither do we. Here are the key considerations, but you can skip ahead and look straight at the products if you just want to see what’s available.
- The Main Considerations When Buying Puppy Shampoo
- Top 10 Best Puppy Shampoos 2024
- 1. Best Overall Puppy Shampoo: Burt’s Bees for Dogs Shampoo & Conditioner
- 2. Best Premium Puppy Shampoo: Honeydew Lavender Oatmeal Pet Shampoo
- 3. Best Smelling Puppy Shampoo: TropiClean Hypoallergenic Puppy Shampoo
- 4. Best Budget Puppy Shampoo: Oster Oatmeal Essentials Gentle Puppy Shampoo
- 5. Wahl Gentle Puppy Shampoo
- 6. Isle of Dogs Tearless Puppy Shampoo
- 7. Earthbath Ultra-Mild Puppy Shampoo
- 8. Sofee & Co. Natural Dog Shampoo
- 9. BioSilk Puppy Tearless Shampoo
- 10. Veterinary Formula Solutions Puppy Love Shampoo
- A Guide to Buying the Best Puppy Shampoo for 2024
- Final Thoughts
The Main Considerations When Buying Puppy Shampoo
As you consider the abundant available puppy shampoo options, there are a few key factors you’ll want to consider and important things to keep in mind, from the obvious to the not so obvious.
Will It Clean Your Dog?
This might seem obvious, but the puppy shampoo that you select should do an excellent job of cleaning your dog. The product should lather up nicely and rinse away cleanly, as this ensures that dirt and anything else your puppy has gotten into is removed not only from its fur but also its skin.
Consider the pH Balance
Puppy owners don’t always consider the pH balance of a shampoo, but it’s an important concept. The gist is that dogs have near-neutral pH values and, therefore, require shampoos with neutral pH levels. This idea is particularly important for puppies because they’re still developing, and acidic shampoos could strip oils from their skin and coat, causing them to dry out and become itchy.
Acidic shampoo could also make the puppy’s coat look dull, and many standard pet shampoos on the market fall outside the ideal range. We’ve made sure to only recommend shampoos that are in a great pH range for your puppy. If you want to find out more, and why you shouldn’t use human shampoos on your dog, we have a discussion in our full guide.
A Product Made for Puppies
Going with a shampoo formulated for puppies is important because younger dogs have sensitive skin and should avoid exposure to harsher chemicals. Adult dog shampoos might include ingredients made for detangling or tick removal that could irritate your puppy’s skin, as well. We recommend choosing a puppy shampoo that uses natural, non-toxic ingredients and is free from sulfates, parabens, and alcohol. We go into more detail about this after our list.
Does It Have a Pleasant Scent?
The scent of your puppy shampoo won’t matter to your dog, but it may well matter to you. A good fragrance can make both bath time and non-bath time more appealing. There are also scent-free or low-scent options if you or your dog are sensitive to smells or the essential oils often used to create them. Keep in mind that although scent-free puppy shampoos will still eliminate odors, they won’t mask them.
Is It a Tear-Free Formula?
It won’t shock you to hear that puppies are in a state of continual motion, including during their baths. Because your puppy is unlikely to sit still, there’s a good chance some shampoo will end up in its eyes during the cleaning. A tear-free shampoo can minimize the irritation to your dog’s eyes, so the squirming and splashing become less of a worry.
Now we’ve covered the basics, let’s look at some great puppy shampoos. If you have more questions, we have a full guide below which goes into more detail. Now, the bath has been run, and the dog is dirty. Let’s get them clean.
Top 10 Best Puppy Shampoos 2024
1. Best Overall Puppy Shampoo: Burt’s Bees for Dogs Shampoo & Conditioner
Editor’s Rating:
Why we like it: It uses 99.7% natural ingredients, is pH balanced, and does an excellent job of cleaning.
Burt’s Bees makes a variety of products for humans, including lip balm, soap, shampoo, and makeup. The company now makes puppy shampoo, and it’s a high-end offering that scores well in every category.
First things first, Burt’s Bees for Puppies Tearless 2 in 1 does an excellent job cleaning your dog. The ingredients remove dirt and mud effortlessly, and the conditioner will leave your puppy’s fur feeling silky and smooth. The product doesn’t lather like some other shampoos on the market, so you’ll have to use a bit more of it when washing your puppy, but it rinses away clean.
A Look at the Ingredients
The main ingredients in this product include buttermilk powder, linseed oil, and water, all of which are natural and safe for your puppy. You’ll also find glycerin, honey, beeswax, and colloidal oatmeal in the shampoo. The product uses 99.7% natural ingredients, and there’s nothing in there that your puppy will dislike.
Fragrance
There isn’t much of a scent to Burt’s Bees for Puppies Tearless 2 in 1 because no perfumes or fragrances are added. There is a hard-to-notice natural scent, but most will notice no smell at all. You might find yourself with a temporary wet dog smell after using the shampoo, but that’s better for your puppy than an artificial scent.
Verdict
Burt’s Bees for Puppies Tearless 2 in 1 leads the pack for two simple reasons: it works well, and you can use it frequently. Shampoos with sulfates and added scents can cause irritation, particularly if you’re bathing your puppy multiple times per month. That isn’t a problem with this product, as the formula is gentle and safe for young dogs. As you know, puppies tend to get dirty, so if your dog has an insatiable appetite for rolling in the dirt or jumping in the mud, this is your best bet.
Pros
- No harmful chemicals
- Tearless formula
- Safe for frequent use
- Inexpensive
Cons
- No scent
- Have to use lots of it
Honeydew is a heavyweight in the dog shampoo industry, and its Natural Dog Shampoo with Colloidal Oatmeal is an outstanding option for your puppy. This shampoo isn’t formulated exclusively for puppies, but it’s gentle enough that not only do we recommend it, but we believe it’s one of the top options on the market for young dogs.
How Well It Cleans
The shampoo provides outstanding cleaning power, as it forms a nice lather and is easy to rinse, removing mud and dirt quickly and efficiently. The formula doesn’t include a conditioner, but puppy owners mention it leaving behind little to no residue and leaving their pet’s fur soft. The inclusion of lavender essential oil helps to minimize odor in puppies, too.
A Look at the Ingredients
Some of the main ingredients in this product include lavender oil, colloidal oatmeal, jojoba oil, and water. There’s also glycerin and sodium cocoyl isethionate, which is a derivative of coconut oil.
Fragrance
The smell of this shampoo is a selling feature for many, as the product is infused with lavender essential oil, giving it a pleasant fragrance. The scent isn’t overwhelming, and it lasts anywhere from a few hours to multiple days.
Verdict
Honeydew Natural Dog Shampoo with Colloidal Oatmeal isn’t a designated puppy shampoo, but we feel comfortable recommending it because it’s gentle on your dog’s skin and hypoallergenic. The shampoo is free from sulfates and parabens and offers a tear-free formula, so you can be confident that the ingredients won’t harm your dog. The product also has a beautiful smell, thanks to its use of pure lavender essential oil. The only drawbacks are that some puppies or people could react unfavorably to the oil, and the shampoo isn’t pH balanced for a puppy.
Pros
- Smells great
- Sulfate-free
- Lathers well
- Tear-free formula
Cons
- Not a 2-in-1
- Not pH balanced
3. Best Smelling Puppy Shampoo: TropiClean Hypoallergenic Puppy Shampoo
Editor’s Rating:
Why we like it: The coconut smell is heavenly, and it leaves a puppy’s coat feeling soft and fluffy.
TropiClean has cleaning products for all stages of your dog’s life, and its puppy shampoo is one of the best on the market because of its pleasant scent and hypoallergenic properties. It’s also pH balanced to meet the needs of your young dog.
How Well It Cleans
TropiClean Hypoallergenic Puppy Shampoo does a wonderful job cleaning a puppy’s fur and lathers up very well. The shampoo rinses away quite quickly and leaving the dog’s coat feeling fluffy. This shampoo also reduces dry skin on puppies thanks to its use of coconut and aloe leaf. All of this is excellent news for puppy owners who can’t keep their furry friends out of the mud because this product is sure to minimize the stress involved with each bath time.
A Look at the Ingredients
The principal ingredients in TropiClean Hypoallergenic Puppy Shampoo include coconut, mined salt, oats, aloe leaf, and purified water. Everything in this product is either a naturally occurring raw material or a naturally-derived ingredient.
Fragrance
The scent of this product is a gorgeous yet delicate coconut smell. The smell isn’t overpowering but provides sweet relief from the wet dog smell you’d otherwise be dealing with after scrubbing your puppy. The smell naturally occurs in the product, as well, as it comes from the coconut used in the cleansing formula.
Verdict
TropiClean Hypoallergenic Puppy Shampoo is a high-end product that shouldn’t cause an allergic reaction in your dog. Puppies suffering from skin problems benefit as this product reduces irritation that dog shampoos can commonly cause. The coconut scent smells great, and it doesn’t use any essential oil that could irritate your puppy’s nose. It’s also worth noting that the shampoo is pH balanced for puppies, minimizing skin irritation.
Pros
- Smells great
- pH balanced
- Natural ingredients
- Hypoallergenic
Cons
- Contains sulfates
4. Best Budget Puppy Shampoo: Oster Oatmeal Essentials Gentle Puppy Shampoo
Editor’s Rating:
Why we like it: It’s a cost-efficient, great smelling puppy shampoo that is safe for your dog’s skin.
Oster is a huge corporation that’s famous for its small kitchen appliances like blenders, coffeemakers, toasters, and toaster ovens. So what do they know about puppy shampoo? It turns out they know quite a bit, as Oster Oatmeal Essentials Gentle Puppy Shampoo is an excellent product with an affordable price tag. Here’s how this product stacks up.
How Well It Cleans
The Oster Oatmeal Essentials Gentle Puppy Shampoo lathers up exceptionally well and quickly removes mud and dirt. The product is mild enough for use on puppies as young as eight weeks old and soothing to the skin. This shampoo can prevent flaking of the skin, as well.
A Look at the Ingredients
The primary ingredients in this product include oatmeal, rosemary, wheat protein, and water. It also contains aloe vera and coconut. All of the elements are biodegradable, and the shampoo doesn’t contain alcohol, parabens, or dyes.
Fragrance
This shampoo smells like baby powder, so it’s inoffensive without being overwhelming. The scent lasts for many hours, which means your bounding bundle of fur will smell clean and fresh for the rest of the day.
Verdict
Oster Oatmeal Essentials Gentle Puppy Shampoo is gentle enough for frequent use and a great budget option for puppy owners. The product’s baby powder scent is soothing without being overpowering. This shampoo is also safe for your puppy’s skin, but contains potentially harmful sulfates and could irritate your puppy’s eyes.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- pH balanced
- Soothing for a puppy’s skin
- Smells great
Cons
- Contains sulfates
- Not tear-free
Editor’s Rating:
Why we like it: The shampoo has a beautiful scent and is formulated to clean a puppy’s coat and skin gently and without irritation.
Wahl makes grooming products for humans and dogs, so moving into shampoo seems like a logistical next step. You can’t go wrong with Wahl Gentle Puppy Shampoo because it uses high-end ingredients and smells great.
How Well It Cleans
Wahl Gentle Puppy Shampoo does a great job of cleaning and tends to lather up very nicely. The product is more watery than other options, however, so you could end up having to use a bit more for a thorough scrubbing. Once on the puppy, the product washes away cleanly and leaves behind a pleasant smell.
A Look at the Ingredients
The main ingredients found in this product include cornflower and aloe extracts, glycerin, and water. The shampoo uses cleansers derived from refined coconut oil, as well. Unnatural ingredients like artificial coloring, a freshness assurer, and synthetic fragrances are also part of this shampoo.
Fragrance
This product has a very gentle cornflower and aloe scent. The shampoo does a great job covering up the dreaded wet dog smell without being overpowering.
Verdict
This shampoo has a pleasant, subtle scent that often lasts for days and does an excellent job of cleaning puppies’ coats and skin. The product is safe for dogs of all ages because it’s pH balanced, and it won’t dry out the skin because of its alcohol-free formula. One issue is that although the shampoo manufacturer claims the product allows up to 70% more baths per bottle than its competitors, the shampoo’s watery consistency makes that unlikely because you’ll probably have to use more of it.
Pros
- pH balanced
- Alcohol and paraben-free
- Gentle formula
- No tears
Cons
- Watery consistency
- Not all natural
Editor’s Rating:
Why we like it: It’s a tear-free formula that makes the puppy’s coat clean and fluffy.
Isle of Dogs doesn’t refer to the Wes Anderson movie from 2018, but rather the Wisconsin-based company that offers a wide range of inner wellness and outer beauty products for dogs. They sell many different shampoos, and their Tearless Puppy Shampoo is a great choice for young dogs who love mucking it up.
How Well It Cleans
Isle of Dogs Tearless Puppy Shampoo lathers very well, partly due to its use of cosmetic foaming agents. Puppies feel and smell very clean after use and, moreover, this shampoo makes the puppy’s coat fluffy and shiny.
A Look at the Ingredients
The ingredient list for Isle of Dogs Tearless Puppy Shampoo is where things begin to fall apart slightly because it contains polyquaternium-7, DMDM hydantoin, polysorbate 20, and lauramide MEA. While these ingredients are deemed safe for use, they could cause a reaction in your young dog, particularly if it doesn’t have past exposure to them. The product also contains natural ingredients like decyl glucoside, coconut oil derivatives, and purified water.
Fragrance
Officially, this shampoo smells like cotton and fresh orchid. What does that mean? The smell is best described as similar to the outdoors on a warm spring day. The scent is floral and strong. Most people will enjoy it, but others will find it overpowering.
Verdict
As its name suggests, Isle of Dogs Tearless Puppy Shampoo is safe for use on your puppy’s face, as it shouldn’t cause eye irritation. It also gives off a fresh smell that will leave your dog with a pleasant scent for days to come. Despite being sulfate and paraben-free, this product isn’t all-natural, as it contains chemicals like polyquaternium-7 and colorants like FD & C Blue #1 and D & C Red #33.
Pros
- Tear-free
- No sulfates
- Cleans well
Cons
- Artificial coloring
- Contains some chemicals
- The smell is too strong for some
Editor’s Rating:
Why we like it: It’s an all-natural product that smells great and is tear-free for washing your puppy’s face.
With a name like Earthbath, you’d expect an all-natural product, and this one doesn’t disappoint. It’s also perhaps the best smelling product on this list, at least if you like cherry soda. Here’s what else you should know about it.
How Well It Cleans
This shampoo does a solid job of cleaning their puppies. The product lathers well and removes mud and dirt at a high level. There are some mentions of the product being oily, however, making it more difficult to rinse.
A Look at the Ingredients
Ingredients found in this product include aloe vera, glycerin, coconut-based cleansers, purified water, and wild cherry essence. It also uses natural preservatives. This product is 100% natural and biodegradable, keeping chemicals and other harmful toxins away from your puppy.
Fragrance
Perhaps the main draw of this product is the fragrance. The cherry scent leaves their puppy smelling great. It’s enjoyable enough that it’s often worth using this shampoo on your puppy as they grow into doghood.
Verdict
This product has a pleasant cherry smell, and its all-natural ingredients make it safe for your puppy. The product is also tear-free, so it won’t cause any irritation to your dog’s eyes when washing its face. At the same time, you might find the shampoo hard to rinse from your dog’s coat because it’s a bit oily. There are also reports of the product causing skin problems like flaking on some puppies.
Pros
- Smells great
- All-natural
- Tear-free
Cons
- Could cause skin problems
- Difficult to rinse
Editor’s Rating:
Why we like it: It’s an all-natural shampoo with many ingredients that are beneficial to the health of your puppy’s skin and coat.
Sofee & Co. is small and family-owned, which is always a nice bonus when buying an item. The company also makes some of the best dog shampoos on the market, and even though they aren’t specifically for puppies, they’re gentle enough to be used on them.
How Well It Cleans
This product does an outstanding job of cleaning the puppy’s skin and coat while moisturizing, softening, and deodorizing, as well. The shampoo offers a great lather and leaving the fur soft and manageable.
A Look at the Ingredients
Ingredients in this product include kernel oil, seed oil, hemp oil, wheat protein, aloe leaf juice, and water. There are also various leaf and bark extracts, glycerin, and coconut derivatives. You’ll be happy to learn that this product is 100% natural and doesn’t include any sulfates, mineral oils, dyes, or parabens either.
Fragrance
This product comes in three different scents: English rose, pomegranate, and white pear. The fragrance is top notch and is one of the things that makes this shampoo stand out.
Verdict
Overall, this shampoo has a great yet subtle smell, a gentle formula, and all-natural ingredients. This product contains no sulfates and is safe for your puppy’s skin, leaving behind a soft, fluffy coat and no irritation. The drawback is the price, as it’s the most expensive product on this list by a fair amount, the bottles are small, so they don’t last as long either. If that’s not a problem for you, this is an excellent product that is well worth trying.
Pros
- All-natural
- Gentle and mild
- No sulfates
- Smells good
Cons
- Expensive
- Small bottles
Editor’s Rating:
Why we like it: It’s a great-smelling shampoo that lathers well and is pH balanced for dogs.
BioSilk generally makes beauty products for two-leggeds, some of which you might find in your own bathroom. The company’s transition into shampoos for four-leggeds is noteworthy because they use the same ingredients as their human formula while balancing the pH levels for a puppy.
How Well It Cleans
This shampoo works quite well, lathering up and rinsing quickly while cleaning a puppy’s skin and coat thoroughly. Your puppy’s coat will be soft and fluffy after use and it won’t irritate their eyes.
A Look at the Ingredients
BioSilk for Dogs Silk Therapy Puppy Tearless Shampoo uses ingredients you won’t find in other dog shampoos. These ingredients include silk, soy, and milk proteins, honey, chamomile, aloe vera, water, and vitamin E. The product also contains mild cleansing agents, added fragrance, and panthenol, which is an alcohol-based moisturizer.
Fragrance
The scent that this product gives off is great for puppy owners, as it’s a floral fragrance that smells like Jasmine leaves.
Verdict
BioSilk for Dogs Silk Therapy Puppy Tearless Shampoo is a reliable product that uses many of the same ingredients found in their personal hygiene products. At the same time, the shampoo is pH balanced for dogs and safe for puppies. The main problem is that the shampoo isn’t all-natural and could cause skin problems in some dogs.
Pros
- Tearless
- No sulfates
- pH balanced
Cons
- Might cause itchy skin
- Not all natural
This shampoo from SynergyLabs has many outstanding qualities and is always worth considering. However, the ingredients the product uses leave a bit to be desired, which is why it lags slightly behind the rest.
How Well It Cleans
This shampoo is effective at cleaning, leaving them with a clean, fluffy, and soft coat. The product lathers nicely and washes away easily, although it’s a little thin and runny when applied.
A Look at the Ingredients
Ingredients found in this shampoo include disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl betaine, acrylates copolymer, and glycerin. It also uses artificial FD&C yellow #6 color, along with natural pigments. As a result, the product isn’t 100% natural.
Fragrance
You could compare the scent of this product to baby powder. While some puppy owners like this scent, saying it smells fresh and clean, others do not. The smell lasts for over a week in some cases, as well.
Verdict
Veterinary Formula Solutions Puppy Love Extra Gentle Tearless Shampoo is a very good shampoo that will clean your puppy thoroughly, is tear-free, and offers a long-lasting scent. The product is also pH balanced and leaves behind a soft and healthy coat. Unfortunately, the product isn’t all-natural, and some find the smell a bit too strong.
Pros
- pH balanced
- Tearless
- Leaves a soft and shiny coat
Cons
- Thin consistency
- Strong smelling
- Not all-natural
A Guide to Buying the Best Puppy Shampoo for 2024
There are countless puppy shampoos on the market, and there’s no catch-all product that works best for every dog and in every household. Before making your final decision on which shampoo to try on your puppy, you’ll have to consider all of your options and the following information.
Why Sulfates and Parabens Are Bad
There has been a lot of talk about sulfates and parabens here, so you should know why you don’t want them in your puppy’s shampoo.
Parabens are preservatives that provide anti-bacterial properties for cosmetic products. Sounds good, right?
Unfortunately, the issue is that parabens could be carcinogenic, meaning they might cause cancer. A 2015 study determined that parabens could cause swift growth of cancerous cells, and their presence seems to tie in with cosmetic product use. There has been an increasing drive in the cosmetics industry to keep away from these, but due to their fast, effective – but aggressive – cleaning capabilities, they are still frequently used in products.
Will parabens give you or your puppy cancer? Probably not, but if you have the choice between a product without parabens and one that contains them, going with the former is a smart idea.
Sulfates are also preservatives that frequently come in hair and skincare products. They are generally safe, as long as you don’t have a sensitivity to them. Over one percent of the population is sensitive to them, however, and reactions range from dermatitis to asthma attacks.
As a result, much like with parabens, you’re better off without sulfates in your life, and keeping them away from your puppy is also worth the little bit of extra effort.
Scented or Scentless – Which Is Best for You?
You might have noticed that while most puppy shampoos are scented, some are not, and others only have the natural scent provided by their cleansing or moisturizing properties.
So why does this matter?
It comes down to a few different aspects, the most important being whether your dog has dry, itchy, or flaky skin. In this case, scented shampoos are best avoided. Go for something like Burt’s Bees if this is the case for you. If your dog’s skin is generally robust, then it’s more on you and your preference.
You’ll find very few puppy owners who love the smell of wet dog, and scented shampoo can cover this odor. This fragrance leaves these people happier with the product because the scent should last at least for as long as the dog is wet.
At the same time, whenever a fragrance is added to a product, it is more likely that your pet will react to it. Essential oils, for example, could cause a rash on some puppies with particularly sensitive skin, even if the shampoo itself is hypoallergenic. Your puppy could also be sensitive to the smell, creating anxiety whenever it’s time for a bath, and making your life more difficult.
Some people are sensitive to smells, too, and if you find the fragrance overwhelming, bath time won’t be much fun for you either.
Are Natural Ingredients Important?
Most of the top puppy shampoos use natural or naturally derived ingredients because they’re generally better for your puppy’s skin. At the same time, some cheaper products use ingredients that could irritate your puppy’s skin, coat, or eyes.
You don’t have to use a 100% natural puppy shampoo, especially as they’re usually more expensive, but the fewer harsh chemicals you expose your puppy to, the better. Remember that your puppy could have sensitive skin, and a rash can be painful for a young dog.
In short, we’ve tried to list puppy shampoos that are mostly natural and don’t contain unnecessary chemicals and other toxins. These chemicals might make your life a little easier short-term, but aren’t healthy for you or your dog and could do long-term damage.
Pro Tip: Test your shampoo on a small section of your puppy before using it for the first time. That way, any irritation will be small and isolated, making it easier to treat.
How Much Puppy Shampoo to Buy
The amount of shampoo that you need depends on a few factors. First of all, your puppy’s size could influence the amount of shampoo you need because larger dogs will require more to clean them. At the same time, small dogs tend to get dirtier because they’re closer to the ground and, therefore, the mud.
Your lifestyle is another factor because the more you take your dog out, the more chances it will have to get dirty. If you spend much of your summer camping or hanging out at the beach, you’ll probably need more shampoo than someone who spends most of their time at home.
The good news is that you can use puppy shampoo on a full-grown dog. If you buy too much, don’t worry because we’re sure your dog will have plenty of bathing opportunities even as it gets older.
Can I Use Dog Shampoo on a Puppy?
We’ve spent a lot of time going over puppy shampoos, but what about using a dog shampoo or a general pet shampoo on a puppy?
The short answer is yes, you can use dog shampoo on a puppy, but it’s a little more complicated than that.
We’ve included a couple of dog shampoos on this list that we recommend for use on your puppy, and the reason is that they don’t contain strong chemicals, perfumes, or dyes, all of which can irritate your young dog. Puppies are very sensitive to these additives and could have a reaction.
Puppy shampoos, on the other hand, are milder, gentler, and contain fewer toxins. Many puppy shampoos are tearless, as well, and designed to wash away cleanly without leaving any residue behind.
You’re better off using a puppy shampoo on your young dog, but if you choose to go with a dog shampoo, make sure it’s a gentle, all-natural formula that won’t irritate your pup – like the ones on our list.
Can I Use a Human Shampoo?
No, you should never use a human shampoo on any dog, and a puppy in particular, because it’s not formulated for their skin. It all comes down to the pH level, which is the balance between alkaline and acid.
Generally, puppies have a pH level of about 7.5, which means that their skin is more alkaline than acidic. Since human shampoo is formulated for human skin, which has a pH level of about 5.5, it’s too acidic for your pets.
Using a product that is too acidic could strip away natural oils from your puppy’s coat and skin. When this occurs, your puppy could suffer from inflammation, an eroding of the epidermis, or even an infection.
It’s also important to note that many puppy shampoos aren’t pH balanced for dogs, which could lead to the same problems. Choosing a product with a proper pH balance is a good idea, especially if you’ll regularly bathe your puppy.
How Often Does a Puppy Need a Bath?
Dogs, and even curious little puppies, do a pretty good job of keeping themselves clean. Most experts recommend only bathing your puppy about once a month because overdoing it removes oils from their coat and could dry out their skin.
Of course, a once-a-month bath schedule might not be feasible if your puppy loves the mud or you live in a rainy climate. Choosing a gentle puppy shampoo is essential because it will protect your dog’s coat and skin if circumstances cause unscheduled baths to become a regular part of your dog care routine.
At What Age Can I Start Bathing My Puppy?
The age that you begin bathing your puppy depends on your dog’s needs. There’s no need to wash a puppy when it’s still with its mother, as she will keep it clean. Once the puppy is about six weeks old, you can bathe it, but you’ll want to avoid using shampoo until it’s about eight weeks of age.
Some puppy shampoos will give a recommended age on the bottle, which you should always follow.
Final Thoughts
A great deal goes into choosing the best puppy shampoo to meet your needs because you’ll have to consider things like pH balance, the frequency with which you bathe your dog, and any allergies your puppy experiences.
Remember that just because a shampoo is hypoallergenic, doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to have a reaction. All puppies are different and, therefore, each will respond differently to these products.
By selecting a shampoo with the best possible ingredients and which has been formulated with a puppy’s comfort and safety in mind, you can minimize the risk and make bath time a more enjoyable experience for your four-legged friend.
