Please, please refrain from coloring your dog’s fur with human hair dye in 2018. We really shouldn’t have to say this, but it seems necessary.
First off, why dye your dog’s hair? Second, human hair dye contains chemicals, including bleach, that should never come in contact with your pet’s fur or skin. Advertisement.
The tragic situation of Violet, a Maltese mix discovered in Florida who was dyed purple with human hair dye, resulting in life-threatening injuries, including chemical burns, has brought this into stark relief.
The pup was discovered by employees of Pinellas County Animal Services (PCAS) in Largo, Florida, who posted about it on their Facebook page. Warning: the photos are grim. No, seriously. Related Stories.
When Violet was discovered, she was “limp and listless,” with her eyes swollen shut and clearly burnt on her body. Before gently wrapping her in a stylish leopard print bandage and waiting to see if she would survive the night, the staff gave her painkillers, fluids, and washed off as much of the purple dye as they could. Advertisement.
When she did, they proceeded by shaving her fur to reveal the true extent of the damage. To their horror, her skin started sloughing off. The toxic chemicals’ burns on her body were much worse than they had anticipated.
To remove the hair’s natural color, regular human hair dye frequently contains ingredients like hydrogen peroxide and bleach. Animals naturally lick their skin and fur to clean themselves, which allows them to unintentionally ingest and spread these substances all over their bodies. Advertisement.
After three months of additional pain medication, antibiotics, IV fluids, anesthesia, skin treatments, scab removal, numerous bandage changes, and concern that Violet might lose her hair or become permanently blind, the last bandages were removed, and Violet was shown to be making a full recovery.
In fact, she was taken in by a household that specializes in “beautifying” animals—using, of course, pet-specific products.
“Pet makeovers are great; the animals always look happy when they get a new hairstyle, their nails are cut, or they get a bandana or bow on.” They prance around flaunting themselves and have such pleasant scents and soft textures. Great stuff, right?” they wrote.
But kindly refrain from using human-grade hair dye to highlight your pet’s style. Let’s all agree to this: Under no circumstances should you use human hair color on your pets. Because an animal’s natural instinct is to lick, the toxic chemicals in hair dye can cause a wide range of external injuries to your pet, including burns, blindness, and poisoning or internal burns. Just don’t. ”.
What if your veterinarian approves the dye?
What if you intend to protect your dog’s eyes with a sterile ophthalmic ointment to prevent potential irritation, what if your dog has no known skin allergies, what if your professional groomer has been dying dogs’ hair for ages? What if your veterinarian has been using dyes on dogs for years and can attest to the safety for usage?
Is it then safe to dye your dog’s hair?
The truth is that even though “non-toxic” or “pet-safe” hair dyes are probably safe for your dog, they can still irritate their skin or harm them when ingested. Again, you must understand that there is always a chance that your dog will react negatively to the dye, even if it has been deemed by others to be “safe.” Please be aware that there is not enough data on the long-term effects of “non-toxic” dyes on animals if you intend to dye your dog frequently (say, a few times a year). Even though these dyes are “non-toxic,” that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t have negative long-term effects. My guess is that you would not be at ease knowing that over time, you may have contributed to your dog’s chronic or potentially fatal illness.
What about “pet-safe” or “non-toxic” hair dyes?
Is it safe to dye your dog’s hair given the rise in “non-toxic” (or even vegan) dyes like Kool-Aid, food coloring, color sprays, color gels, and even chalks? And what if you only trust a skilled professional dog groomer with this task?
There is NO GUARANTEE that these “non-toxic” dyes, which have flooded the market, will be safe for your dog. Your dog may or may not be more sensitive to “non-toxic” or “pet-safe” dyes, depending on skin sensitivity, allergies, healing or open wounds (if any), and general health and temperament. In conclusion, each dog may respond differently to dye exposure.
To date, official “dog-safe” dyes don’t exist. It’s not like the FDA has approved a list of dyes that are deemed safe for dogs (or other animals). Consequently, the dyes you have could be safe for your dog to consume if they are used correctly. The real question is: Are you willing to jeopardize your beloved furry family member’s health and safety in order to garner some attention from total strangers?
Stop immediately if your dog exhibits any signs of anxiety, such as licking of the lips, tongue flicking, yawning, ears back, and others; otherwise, you risk associating this activity negatively, which could cause stress to build up over time and result in more severe anxiety issues in your dog.
When coloring your dog’s hair, whether by yourself or a professional, you must make sure they are at ease and not displaying any signs of distress.
Owners are increasingly coloring their dogs’ hair as a fun trend. But is dog hair dye safe, or should it be completely avoided?
Nevertheless, use caution if your dog has a tendency to roll on your carpets or couches as a result, you might end up with some brightly colored furniture. For a more lasting appearance, use pet hair sprays and semi-permanent pet dyes, which typically wash out after about 8 washes.
Having said that, many dogs are up for some pampering of any kind, so you might find that your dog is more than willing to participate in this newest trend and proudly display their new colorful appearance at the dog park with their friends.
FAQ
What happens if I accidentally got hair dye on my dog?
Pinellas County Animal Services posted on Facebook that “Chemicals in hair dye are TOXIC and can cause a wide range of external injuries to your pet, including possible burns, blindness, and because an animal’s first instinct is to lick, it can cause poisoning or internal burns.”
What hair dye brands are safe for dogs?
- Opawz Dog Hair Dye Gel. Opawz Dog Hair Dye Gel is a gentle formula with ingredients that are safe for dogs, and it gets top marks from us.
- Top Performance Dog Hair Dye Gel. The gentle yet potent coloring of Top Performance Dog Hair Dye Gel makes it stand out.
- Petway Petcare Pet Paint Spray.
Is hair bleach toxic to dogs?
Numerous household products, including bleach and ammonia, contain dangerous chemicals. Toxicity from ingesting any of these items by your dog could lead to issues with the respiratory and digestive systems. To avoid any mishaps, it’s crucial to keep all household items hidden from your pet.
What hair dyes are pet safe?
We Recommend OPAWZ Semi-Permanent Dyes – Contains No Ammonia or Peroxide To Safely Dye A Cat’s Fur Semi-permanent cat colors that are gentle and safe wash away over time in about 8 washes For best results, apply to clean, dry cat hair of a light color or white.