You might be aware of the fact that human cosmetics have certain criteria and regulations they need to follow. But did you know that the same strict regulations aren’t applied to your dogs’ grooming products despite the fact that canine skin is actually more sensitive than human baby skin and up to 5 times thinner? Crazy, we know.

Even though many people care deeply about their pets, not many people look into the origins of the products they put on their pet's skin. Because of this, the top three disorders suffered by dogs in the UK are all skin conditions. As Erin McDaid, Head Vet at WagWorks Fulham, says “the painful problems I frequently treat with the skin or coat are often easily preventable, simply by taking the right measures to look after your dog’s skin”. 

Your dog’s skin has a specific alkaline pH and a layer of sebum (or oil) that needs to be maintained so it can effectively protect your dog from allergens, bacteria and yeast. A dog’s skin pH level should be around 7.52 but the pH can also vary a bit depending on the dog breed. 

A (vegan) nutritious diet for your dog will, in part, ensure healthy skin, but avoiding certain ingredients commonly used in dog skincare products is equally important. Let’s take a look at some of the ingredients commonly found in dog care products that can be quite harmful:

• SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate): an agent that makes your shampoo foamy and is very drying for the skin and coat, stripping the important natural oils. Natural alternatives such as Coco Glucoside made from coconuts are much better.

• MIT (Methylisothiazolinone): a preservative that was banned for human use because of frequent allergic reactions.

• Lanolin: a sheep-derived moisturizer that can cause reactions in sensitive skin.

• Alcohol: certain alcohols damage the skin’s protective layer which can lead to inflammation, dryness and flaky itchy skin.

• Perfumes and fragrances: known as the leading cause of dermatitis, allergies and inflammation. 

Apart from the toxic ingredients that can be found in dog skincare products, many products are first tested on dogs and other animals before being offered on the market. These lab tests are often all but harmless. 

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Knowing all of the above, what criteria should you apply to choose the best skincare products for your dog?

First, look for products that are as natural as possible; try to find a percentage on the label because even if a product contains only 10% natural ingredients it can still claim to be natural. If you can, go for organic products which are higher in nutrients and usually better for the planet too.

Try to find products with nourishing active ingredients like argan oil, aloe vera, coconut oil, oat extract, willow bark extract, lavender essential oil, and cedarwood essential oil. These high-quality ingredients also respect the natural skin pH of dogs and have healing effects. 

And of course, check labels for ‘Vegan’ claims as well as ‘Cruelty-free’ claims as sadly one doesn’t guarantee the other. While you might already be familiar with vegan dog food companies and the benefits of vegan diets for dogs which various studies have proven, you might not know of many brands selling vegan grooming products but they are definitely out there. From shampoos to conditioners and fragrances, the number of companies offering these products is increasing. WashBar, Ethique, and The Fanciful Fox are a few companies making sustainable and cruelty-free soap bars.

One great company offering a very wide variety of strictly vegan and cruelty-free canine skincare products is Wild For Dogs. Founder Laura Sarao has applied her background in skincare to create high-quality, organic products to care for dogs' delicate skin. Instead of toxic or inflammatory ingredients, Wild For Dogs products are made out of botanical extracts and essential oils, like willow bark and cedarwood. Wild For Dogs also uses eco-friendly packaging materials avoiding plastic and biodegradable labels. 

For more grooming tips, specific to your dog’s coat, you can download the Wild For Dogs FREE Grooming Guide. And if you’d like to support both Wild For Dogs and Surge at the same time, for every product bought at Wildfordogs.co.uk, 50p will be donated to Surge.

Tati von Rheinbaben is a global citizen with a bachelor’s in molecular biology and a master's in environmental engineering and science. After an internship at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany and an internship at The Not Company in Chile, Tatiana started working for Surge.

Laura Sarao is the founder of Wild For Dogs. After more than 12 years in the skincare industry, Laura was shocked by the ingredients and quality of the grooming products available for her new puppy. Positive she couldn't be alone in her desire for safe and effective products, Laura felt compelled to create a product range that was truly natural and organic - as well as sustainable, vegan and cruelty-free.

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