Why Is Triclosan In Your Dog's Shampoo After the FDA Ruling?

As you have likely heard, after years of concerns about antibacterial ingredients, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a ruling restricting the use of Triclosan (in liquids) and Triclocarban (in bars) along with 17 other ingredients in hand and body washes made for humans. The banned ingredients, originally used to maintain a sterile environment for surgeries, will remain in products for use within the medical community. 

The ruling was based on limited animal research which suggests that these chemicals can interfere with hormone levels and serve as the impetus for drug-resistant bacteria. Shockingly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that these chemicals were found in the urine of three-quarters of Americans. 

“We have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water,” said Dr. Janet Woodcock, Director of the Food and Drug Administration. 

The FDA has given manufacturers one year to reformulate their products without these ingredients or prove to the FDA that their products are both safe and more effective than soap and water. 

Before you get your hopes up that all products will be safer within the next year - the new FDA consumer ruling only applies to a specific group of products - hand and body washes. Other products like toothpaste, hand sanitizers, mouthwash, laundry detergent, fabrics, deodorant, and baby pacifiers may still contain these ingredients.

Canada and Japan had already banned the use of Triclosan in human cosmetics over their concerns that these ingredients are linked to organ system toxicity, immune or allergic reactions, skin irritation, endocrine disruption (at very low doses) and last but not least concerns over environmental contamination. These chemicals have been shown to be bioaccumulative in wildlife.

We applaud the Natural Resources Defense Council for their push to expose the dangers of these ingredients in products and while we're happy to see the ruling, it stopped short of protecting our furry family members despite the animal studies suggesting these chemicals are not safe. 

Can you guess the active ingredients of the "antibacterial" and "deodorizing" dog shampoos on the market?

You win the prize! Triclosan and some of the other 18 now banned ingredients found in body washes made for humans! 

Your dog's normal "doggy smell" isn't from bacteria (unless they have an infection). The buildup of your dog's sebum is perfectly normal and gives them their distinct smell. Your body does the exact same thing - you just wash more frequently so it isn't as noticeable. 

When you wash your dog, you want to remove the excess sebum - not strip away all of the sebum - so you maintaining their beneficial coat oils (sebum). The sebum is responsible for keeping your dog's skin soft and moist and for making their coat shine. It also has natural antibacterial properties (without the use of toxic ingredients)! Stripping away too much of the sebum can actually create a situation where your dog is more likely to get an infection! 

Medicated and antibacterial dog shampoos are not safe for normal usage. The exposure of your dog's largest organ (their skin) to these ingredients will have lasting health concerns. The mixture of these ingredients with others that may increase the penetration of the chemicals through their skin is a real and valid concern for the safety of these ingredients. 

If your dog's coat does over-produce sebum, mixing essential oils with 4-Legger's Hyopallergenic Unscented Dog Shampoo can help. Go talk to a holistic veterinarian! 

Our certified organic dog shampoos gently clean your dog without over-stripping the sebum from their coat and skin. Your dog is left with the right balance of sebum without the doggy smell.

4-Legger's products have never contained Tricolsan or any of the other 18 ingredients on the FDA's restricted list. Why? We're safer and better. We don't rely on marketing gimmicks to promote our products - we don't need them! Our Castile soap base is naturally safe and non-toxic and we use essential oils to promote healthy skin and coats. 

Let the work of our high quality (therapeutic grade) natural, essential oils restore your dog's coat to health naturally. Lemongrass has natural anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-fungal, and antimicrobial properties without the harmful side-effects! 

4-Legger Certified Organic Dog Shampoos and Healing Balms are safe, non-toxic, gentle, cruelty free (no animal testing) and vegan.  Our Mission: Change the pet grooming industry one healthy bath at a time.