The necessity and choice of pet wipes
In daily life, we buy wet wipes to clean body parts or the home environment. Wet wipes provide great convenience to our lives. With the gradual increase in pet-raising families and the development of the pet industry, cleaning products for people and pets are gradually becoming homogeneous.
Can I use human wipes for pets? the answer is negative. The main reason is that the skin thickness and pH of humans and pet cats/dogs are different. Secondly, pets are more sensitive to alcohol, fluorescent agents and other ingredients.
Skin thickness varies: the average thickness of the skin of cats and dogs does not exceed 1 mm, the thickness of the adult scalp is approximately 1.476 mm, the thickness of the skin on the cheek is approximately 1.533 mm, and the thickness of the skin on the nose is approximately 2.040 mm. In other words, the skin of cats and dogs is much thinner than the average adult skin and therefore more fragile.
Skin pH is different: Generally, the pH value of adult skin is stable at around 5.5, which is slightly acidic; the pH value of pet skin is between 6.8-7.4. The pH value of wet wipes will be as close as possible to the applicable objects according to different applicable objects to reduce damage to the pH of the skin. Therefore, given that dogs and cats have a different pH than humans, human wipes cannot be used on pets.
Ingredients vary in sensitivity: Due to differences in skin thickness, dogs and cats are more sensitive. Some ingredients in human wipes, such as alcohol, can destroy the protective film on the surface of pet skin. Low-concentration alcohol can play a role in sterilization and disinfection. However, if wet wipes with high alcohol concentration are used for a long time, the alcohol will take away the skin. Moisture, so it can easily dry out the skin, and sensitive skin may have an allergic reaction to alcohol.
Currently, there are various types of pet wipes on the market. How to choose a wet wipe that is easy to use and safe?
①Ingredients
Generally, the main ingredient of pet wipes is water, with some mild ingredients such as plant extracts and surfactants. It should be noted that pet wipes must not contain alcohol, fluorescent agents, bleach, formaldehyde and other ingredients that may cause irritation to pet skin.
②pH value
Since the pH value of pet skin is between 6.8-7.4, the pH value of the pet wipes solution should be as close to this range as possible to reduce damage to pet skin caused by differences in pH. For the pH data of wet wipes, you can ask the brand, and there will usually be a third-party test report.
③Function
There are many types of pet wipes on the market, most of which are moisturizing or wiping care wipes, and some have outstanding antiseptic functions. You can choose the wet wipes that suit your pet and daily needs by comparing the selling points of product packaging.
④ Professionalism
For wet wipes with special bactericidal functions, considering the addition of some bactericidal ingredients, you should ask whether licking them by pets will be harmful. Professional brands will have third-party test reports on oral non-toxicity, non-irritation to skin, and sterilization rate.