The protocol at her salon requires this mixture to sit on every pet ’ s coat for 10 minutes to “ kill any fleas ” that may be present .
Upon investigating the ingredients in this mixture , we found that on Proctor and Gamble ’ s own website ( the manufacturer of Ivory dish soap ), it is clearly stated , “ Ivory soap is more caustic than some of our milder soaps , such as Dove .” It further stated that the pH level had been determined to have a value of 9.5 , a value that is caustic for both humans and pets . Per their customer service department , they also stated that Ivory dish soap was not safe for use on pets and could be harmful if ingested .
Many groomers also feel safe using Dawn dish soap , simply because it is used in emergency situations for wildlife . The thing to remember is that Dawn is being used to remove synthetic oil that has covered the skin of wildlife and can cause death . Although groomers encounter some sad cases of neglect at times , the pets most often visiting a grooming salon are not in a life or death situation . Also , the oils and grease accumulated on the skin of pets is not the same as synthetic oil that would accumulate on the skin of wildlife during an oil spill .
Let ’ s begin by examining the pH levels in canines versus humans . The barrier zone for safe pH levels in canines is 7.0-7.52 . The barrier zone for safe pH levels in humans is 5.2-5.5 . While this may not look like a drastic difference upon first glance , it is enough of a difference to matter . When moving the pH scale from one number to another , it indicates a change of 10 times 10 , or a 100 fold change . For example , a pH of 5 is 200 times more acidic than a pH of 7 . Additionally , a pH level of 9.5 is 250 times more alkaline to the epidermis than a pH level of 7 . Remember , the lower the number , the more acidic … the higher the number , the more alkaline .
Another vast difference between feline / canine skin and humane skin is the thickness of the epidermis , the outermost layer of the skin . In a human , the epidermis is approximately 18-20 cell
layers thick . The canine epidermis is approximately 8-10 cell layers thick . Feline skin can be as low as 6 cell layers thick ! While canine skin can be thicker overall , the epidermis is very thin and susceptible to bacterial infection if it is stripped away with improper ingredients not correctly pH-balanced for their skin . If a pet were to have a reaction to a non pet labeled product and was examined by a veterinarian with a diagnosis of a skin problem caused by the groomer ’ s product , the groomer is liable for the damages . The resulting damage may not show up immediately either . The damaged skin my rear its ugly head weeks later . Of course , that ’ s when the pet owner will visit the veterinary office , and the vet discovers the nature of the bathing products and legitimately blames the groomer for the damaged skin .
Products such as dish soap are never to be used in esthetic services . Esthetics , by definition , is a branch of anatomical science that deals with the overall health and well being of the skin , the largest organ of the body . It is the responsibility of professional pet groomers to always know the ingredients of the bathing products that are used , as well as the benefits ( or damage ) they can cause .
With the mixture in question … Ivory dish soap , water , and Groomer ’ s Choice conditioner …. the pH factor is 250 times too high to be used on a dog ’ s skin . What this high alkaline mixture is doing over time is over-drying and eroding the epidermis potentially causing dermatitis or infection .
A wise pet groomer will never put himself / herself in a compromising position by using poor judgment , such as using a mixture of dish soap as a shampoo . There are many other products available , specifically labeled for use on pets , which are safe and much more effective .
We at Epi-Pet pride ourselves on helping educate the grooming community . We are not just a manufacturer , we are an educational company . Knowledge is your friend . Know your product ingredients !