Being a man’s best friend, dogs are the most incredibly loyal animals that protect and comfort us with their unconditional love. They also help in promoting an active lifestyle and providing companionship.
Owning a dog is a major responsibility with its rewards. To enjoy those rewards, you have to fulfill your responsibilities as a pet parent. And one such responsibility is to keep them clean.
Gain laundry detergent is not suitable to be used on dogs. Although sniffing a laundry detergent is not really damaging to your dogs, consuming even a small amount will poison them. This may result in vomiting. These detergents are also easily digested, which raises the risk of using them.
Read on to know more.
Is Gain Detergent Toxic to Dogs?
You may feel that washing your dog with laundry detergent would be an easy way to clean them, but it can cause serious implications to their fur and skin.
The first and foremost thing to understand is that laundry detergent is for laundry and not dogs.
Gain detergent is really toxic to dogs as it contains chemicals that can cause vomiting, drooling, and diarrhea. This can happen when the dogs ingest the laundry detergent. It can also cause skin infections.
Can I Wash My Dog With Gain Laundry Detergent?
The answer to this question would be a straight ‘no’. Gain laundry detergent contains a lot of chemicals that can cause your dog to become sick if it is taken in by the dog.
Laundry detergent is suitable to remove dirt and grease from clothes. This, when used on dogs, can cause a lot of skin infections and irritations to your dog.
Just like we use dedicated shampoos for ourselves and not detergents, dogs also have shampoos to wash them.
Instead of using detergents, one can use a dog shampoo that is purely made for the purpose of washing your dogs.
What Laundry Detergent Is Safe for Dogs?
Laundry detergents with natural plant-based products are safe to use to wash your dogs. Given below are a few examples.
- The best dog-safe detergents include Seventh Generation Free and Clear. This contains a combination of plant-based cleaners and triple enzymes. This can not only get rid of stains but also be gentle on everyone, including your pets and the environment. It is also clinically tested and does not contain synthetic fragrances or dyes.
- Tide Purclean is another product that can be safe for your dogs. This uses 75% plant-based ingredients which is not only safe for your dogs but also for the environment.
Other such detergents that can be used are Detergents and Wipes Dropps, Better Life, Biokleen Natural Laundry Detergent, Nature’s Miracle Laundry Boost, and ECOS Pet Laundry Detergent.
Is All Laundry Detergent Safe for Dogs?
No, not all laundry detergents are safe for dogs. Only those detergents that contain less amount of chemicals are safe for dogs.
Laundry detergents with plant-based ingredients are less harmful to your dogs due to the ingredients used in them. They will also contain materials that are mild and hence cause fewer reactions.
Those detergents that do not contain anything that can be harmful or cause allergies to your dogs are safe to use.
Allergies can cause irritations in your dogs and make them have itchy skin. This will also increase the risk of chronic skin and ear infections.
These ingredients are present in those products mentioned previously. They can be a safe way to use detergents on your dogs as well as feel good about them.
Is Gain Safe for Dog Toys?
Toys, though don’t form a part of your dog’s body, will eventually be held in their mouth. This will cause the chemicals to be ingested by them.
Gain is a detergent that contains a lot of chemicals and hence is not suggested to be used even on your dog toys. They can be problematic for dogs and cause several infections.
Therefore, Gain is not safe for dogs or dog toys.
You can always use a detergent that is dog-safe to clean and sanitize their toys. Most of the toys can be washed in the washing machine itself, using a mild detergent.
There are other natural ways that can be used to wash your dog’s toys like using baking soda or white vinegar which are not harmful.
You can also create your own natural detergent from the products available at home like vinegar.
Instead of Gain, you can use the products that use natural plant-based ingredients in their detergents.
It can be found in Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent, Tide Free and Gentle Laundry Detergent, or Nature’s Miracle Laundry Boost.
Should You Wash Your Dog Every Day?
Dogs love to roll about in the mud, making them dirty. But it is not advisable to bathe them every day (unless recommended by a vet).
Baby wipes can be used to remove dirt or mud from their fur instead of bathing. This will not be harmful or cause irritations.
Bathing once or twice a month for a healthy adult dog is sufficient to keep them hygienic. Except, if they have any skin infections, they will need regular washing with the recommended soaps.
Don’t forget to rinse them well and dry them using soft towels. Let them dry naturally under the sun or with minimal heat after their warm shower.
Conclusion
Although it is not advisable to wash your dog with laundry detergent, there are various different options for cleaning your pet if he or she becomes dirty. Not just washing your dogs using these detergents, but even washing their toys or blankets with them will be harmful.
Hence, if you are a pet parent, ensure that you only use pet-safe detergents and cleansers. Using the tips mentioned above, you can properly care for your dogs by keeping them safe and clean while avoiding the use of chemicals.
I hope this post was helpful in determining whether or not you may wash your dogs with laundry detergent.
RELATED: