Is It Safe to Spray Color on a Dog's Hair?

Dyeing your dog's hair to match your outfits is either harmless fun or cruelty, depending on how it's done. Colored hair styles for dogs are a fashion statement that's dividing pet owners. Those who enjoy decorating canine hair argue it's safe to spray color on a dog's hair, if you use non-toxic products. Those against this practice say many hair dyes contain harmful chemicals.

  1. First Time Nerves

    • Pet owners who dislike the idea of dyeing dog hair say the process makes a nervous dog even more unhappy. The "jitters" any canine groomer or owner feels about coloring a dog's hair will undoubtedly be passed on to the animal. This makes an already messy process many times harder. In these cases, it's probably not safe to spray color on your dog's hair at home. Ask an experienced professional grooming parlor to do the job, making sure they use only non-toxic products, like those specifically designed for dogs.

    This Could Get Messy

    • Canine bath times are messy affairs. Soap suds fly all over the place and you also get soaking wet. During the process of coloring your dog's hair, dye will be distributed liberally wherever the soap suds usually land. If you plan to dye a dog's hair inside your house, remove vulnerable furnishings like chairs and curtains before you begin. Outside locations are the best and safest for spraying color on a dog's hair.

    "Sit, Boy"

    • Dog hair dyes require fifteen minutes to "set." Can you keep your dog relatively still for that long? Pets cannot lick their coats during this time, because the end result will be patchy. The licking response is a natural instinct of dogs to anything that touches their coats. A dog's eyes and ears are vulnerable to irritation from coloring, even when the products used are non-toxic, such as food dyes or soft drink powders. Dog grooming parlors use professional restraint systems that solve these problems.

    Safety Precautions

    • Many owners and even some groomers falsely think products they use to dye their own hair must be safe for use on pets. Bleaches and dyes in these products can burn your scalp and do at least that much damage to a dog's skin. Vets see cases of irritation, scabs and sores caused by human hair products applied to dogs. Ask your local vet about approved dyes that will not harm your pet and seek his help immediately if your pet shows signs of illness after having color sprayed onto his coat.