I mean, both are designed to clean, when it comes down to it.
And they both clean in the same way.
True. But when you compare dog wipes vs baby wipes, one important difference comes to the forefront.
And it is that difference that leads us to recommend using each product only for its intended target.
Keep reading to learn what the key difference between baby wipes and dog wipes is, and why it means you should not use these two products interchangeably.
Contents
Dog Wipes Vs Baby Wipes
We will begin our comparison of baby wipes vs dog wipes by looking at each product individually, before comparing them directly. Then we will discuss the advantages of each and finally, we will help you decide which one to use on your pup.
Dog Wipes
Dog wipes are wipes specially formulated for a dog’s sensitive skin. They help keep your dog’s coat clean and fresh between baths. Because they are formulated specifically for dogs, they are pH-balanced for a dog’s skin.
Canine skin pH is more alkaline than human skin pH, with a range between 5.5 and 7.2. Dog skin epidermis is also a lot thinner. It consists of 8 to 10 cell layers, while human skin epidermis is 18 to 20 cell layers thick.
Dog wipes remove debris, oils, and grime from your dog’s coat. You can use dog wipes to clean your pet’s eyes, ears, paws, backside, belly, intimate areas, and pretty much everywhere else on its body. This can help your dog smell fresh and clean.
Dog wipes are strong, soft, and durable. They are free from sulfates, alcohol, chlorine, parabens, and other chemicals often found in human wipes.
Dog wipes are usually infused with lavender/tea tree/peppermint oils, vitamin E, aloe, or cucumber extracts. These ingredients hydrate your pup’s skin and also eliminate tough, stuck-on dirt.
They do so without irritating your pet’s intimate areas. They are also safe for use around the dog’s eyes, ears, mouth, and behind.
Baby Wipes
Baby wipes are specially formulated for a baby’s sensitive skin, to be used between diaper changes. They are fragrance-free, thick, yet soft, and won’t harm your baby’s private areas.
High-quality baby wipes are pH balanced for a baby’s skin. Human infant skin pH is slightly higher than adult human skin pH. It lies between 5 and 5.5. Newborn skin pH is even more alkaline with a range of 6.34 to 7.5.
High-quality baby wipes are free from chlorine, parabens, sulfates, alcohol, phenoxyethanol, and dyes. They are also dermatologically tested and hypoallergenic.
Baby wipes can be safely used for cleaning a baby’s bottom and the genital area between diaper changes. You can also use them on the baby’s face, around the eyes and the mouth, inside the ears, and for cleaning your baby’s hands.
Differences Between Puppy Wipes And Baby Wipes
Baby wipes and dog wipes are designed for different purposes. Baby wipes are suitable for wiping a baby’s bottom and private region after changing the diaper and for cleaning its mouth, eyes, ears, nose, and hands.
Dog wipes help freshen your dog’s coat between baths. You can use them on the dog’s mouth to clean the drool, around the eyes to eliminate boogers and tear stains, and on the paws to remove dirt, pollen, etc.
Dog wipes are formulated for a dog’s skin pH while baby wipes are formulated for a baby’s skin pH. Canine skin pH is usually higher than human skin pH.
Some dog wipes contain ingredients like tea tree oil, lavender oil, peppermint oil, chlorhexidine, alcohol, moisturizers, etc. which, while safe for canine skin, may not be suitable for sensitive baby skin.
Similarly, some baby wipes could contain mild detergents, glycerin, and surfactants that could cause an adverse reaction on a dog’s skin. Many baby wipe ingredients could be harmful to dogs if licked or ingested, even in small quantities.
Similarities Between Baby Wipes And Dog Wipes
There are several similarities between baby wipes and dog wipes. First, they are both used for more or less similar purpose: to clean up messes. One is used for human babies while the other is for fur babies. They help clean feces, urine, drool, boogers, and other body fluids.
Second, both are disposable. You can discard both types of wipes after each use. Both types are available in various sizes and varieties. Some are scented; others are unscented.
Hypoallergenic dog wipes and baby wipes are suitable for sensitive skin and are free from chemicals, parabens, and alcohol. Also, the wipes in both categories contain more or less the same ingredients such as water, mild detergent or cleaning agents, glycerin, aloe vera, etc.
Despite their similarities, we recommend never using baby wipes and dog wipes interchangeably. This is because dog wipes could contain ingredients (essential oils, alcohol, moisturizers, etc.) that could cause an adverse reaction on a baby’s delicate skin.
Similarly, baby wipes could contain ingredients like amphoteric surfactants which could be harmful to a dog if it licks them. Some ingredients in baby wipes could even cause skin irritation or itching on a puppy’s skin.
Dog’s skin pH is more alkaline than human skin. Also, their epidermal layer is extremely thin and they tend to absorb products easily. Therefore, the wrong products, even if they are made for gentle baby skin, could harm your pet.
Advantages Of Using Baby Wipes
Baby wipes are generally stronger than dog wipes. Some of them even have fragrances. Many baby wipes contain glycerin, mild surfactants, or detergents.
They are useful in cleaning the baby’s private areas between diaper changes. They are formulated especially for a baby’s skin and usually don’t cause any skin allergies or rashes.
Baby wipes can also be safe to wipe a baby’s mouth, eyes, face, and hands. In the event you have run out of dog wipes, you may use baby wipes to gently wipe behind the dog’s ears and paws. But do not make it a habit of using baby wipes on dogs all the time.
Advantages Of Using Dog Wipes
Dog wipes are designed to be used all over the dog’s body to keep it clean and odor-free between baths. Dog wipes are specially formulated for a dog’s delicate skin and contain ingredients that are safe, even if the dog accidentally licks them.
You can use dog wipes to wipe dirty paws, under the tail, inside the ears, and also the eye area. Dog wipes are also convenient to carry on trips when you want to keep your dog fresh and smelling good when you don’t have access to water or bathrooms.
Can You Use Baby Wipes On Dogs? (Or Vice Versa)
Dog wipes and baby wipes are both essential items. As a responsible adult, you should use the right product designed for the right “baby”.
Although both types of wipes are essentially used for the same purposes of cleaning, deodorizing, and disinfecting, the ingredients in either type could harm the type of baby for which they are not intended.
Bottom line: you should only use baby wipes for babies and dog wipes for dogs. In an emergency, you can use baby wipes for wiping dogs in an area where they cannot lick themselves. Always observe your pet’s skin and discontinue use immediately, if any allergic reaction occurs.
Baby Wipes Vs Puppy Wipes: Final Thoughts
Baby wipes and dog wipes perform essentially the same function in essentially the same way. But they are designed with different types of skin in mind.
Dog wipes are formulated for dog skin and baby wipes are formulated for baby skin. For that reason, you should not use the two products interchangeably. Use each only for its intended target.
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