Bathing a Dog in Dawn Dishwashing Liquid

Dogs have very sensitive skin that is protected naturally by oils, dead skin and a coat of hair. Frequent washing can be detrimental to the health of a dog's skin. When you wash your dog, use a gentle detergent to protect the oils on the dog's skin. Dawn is a mild formula dishwashing detergent that you can use on dogs -- but don't use it frequently.

  1. Liquid Detergents

    • Liquid detergents in general are not suitable for dog skin. While Dawn is one of the more mild liquid detergents, it is also specifically designed not to damage human skin. The difference in pH between human and dog skin is anywhere between one to two points depending on the breed. A soap that is designed for human skin can irritate a dog's skin because of this difference in pH.

    Grease Removal

    • Dawn is an effective tool to remove grease and oil-based dirt from a dog's coat. In the same way it breaks up grease on dishes, it can do the same for a dog's coat. Dawn is often used to clean up birds and wildlife that oil spills affect. Depending on the thickness of the grease or oil, dilute Dawn in tepid water and scrub the oily spots.

    Fleas and Ticks

    • Almost any detergent can kill and drown fleas on a dog, and Dawn is no exception. You can use Dawn for an immediate remedy to a flea problem but not as a permanent solution. Dawn will remove the dirt and dander that fleas feed on, while killing eggs and adult fleas, but it will not keep new fleas from attaching and breeding in a dog's coat. You can use Dawn to remove a tick. Place a few diluted drops on the tick, and it will detach from the dog's skin.

    Regular Bathing

    • While gentler than most liquid detergents, Dawn is not the correct pH for dog skin, so don't use it to regularly bath your dog in. Eventually the loss of natural oils will affect your dog's coat and skin. It is much safer to use specialized dog shampoos for regular bathing.