Dyeing your dog’s hair is a bad idea

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By Ashley Bennett

Hair dye and pets do not mix. You may have seen photos online of dogs that have had their hair dyed and noticed that some people think that it is cute. It is far from that for dogs because it can undermine their health and safety due to the toxic chemicals in the dye. Dyeing any animal’s hair or fur is wrong for a number of reasons.

Hair dyes are designed for people

Hair dye is actually intended for human consumption only. There are no hair dyes specifically made for dogs. Officially, there are no completely safe dyes for animals, period, as there have been no studies to show if there are any long terms effects. Since there are people that have reported health problems using hair dye, it is only natural that a dog may have some of the same reactions. Their skin also may be more sensitive to the harsh chemicals, like ammonia or hydrogen peroxide, frequently found in human hair dyes.

Health risks

The process of dyeing a dog’s hair can cause a number of health risks. Unlike people, who only dye the hair on one portion of their bodies, a dog must have its entire body covered in hair dye. There is a potential for the dye get into the dog’s mouth, eyes, and ears, which can be harmful. People who have had their hair dyed understand that the dye can and does cause some burning, itching, and skin irritation.

Imagine how it would feel to have these chemicals poured all over your body and have an increased risk of chemical burns and skin irritation. Some dogs can experience allergic reactions to hair dye as well. There is also a potential that the dog may attempt to lick his coat during or even after the process, and possibly ingest some of the hair dye, which is toxic to both humans and animals. This could cause an emergency situation if the dog ingests hair dye, leading to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and some other serious health issues.

Psychological ramifications

People tend to dye their hair for cosmetic reasons, but dogs have no understanding of this concept. Pets do not understand why they are being subjected to this type of treatment, nor do they like it, because it is unnatural for them. The dog has no control over how it looks and it cannot do anything about it. Truthfully, most people do not like to see dogs covered in hair dye either.

Dyeing your dog’s hair is not recommended under any circumstances because it can be physically and psychologically harmful to your dog. The chemicals in the dyes can cause skin irritation, chemical burns, and even nausea and vomiting if ingested. Psychologically, a dog cannot process what has been done because it is an extreme and unnatural process that is out of their control. All dogs already have beautiful coats of hair with colors ranging from white, auburn, tan, black, and everything else between. Why not enjoy their natural beauty?

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