Wipes.
Why do we use them? Why do we like them?
People like them because they’re convenient and easy. You don’t have to do any effort- you just wipe and you throw it out.
And of course we all use them- because tons of us used these things on our human children. So it must be a good thing right?
And then some of us even get really selective and make sure that we’re picking the “all natural“ or “hypoallergenic“ products.
Well, anybody can have a reaction to anything. Anybody. And since I’m the all natural queen, I’m the one that people come to when nobody believes them that their dog or their cat is having a reaction to something. This includes wipes.
And I don’t care how natural they tell you the product is, it’s got some kind of mysterious “technical aid” in it to keep it from growing bacteria. And this isn’t plain old soap and water. What’s wrong with soap and water?
Even in Vet school, my toxicology professor said that “the solution to pollution is dilution.” So if there’s something yucky on the feet, wash it off. A little wipey wipey doesn’t get it clean.
And, to top it off, I am a tree hugger. I think less waste is better! Disposable is not good for the world or the environment.
Plain old soap and water! And a washcloth. That’s the best wipe!
OK, so now you want me to tell you what the best soap is?
Plain old soap. Not disinfectant, nothing with perfume, no dyes. None of that expensive veterinary chemical stuff that has really fine print on the bottom of the bottle that tells humans not to touch it. None of that.
Plain soap.
Like maybe castile soap. The way we used to make things 100 years ago.
And what’s cool about having a stack of washcloths? You can wash them! Reuse them. Hug a tree. Save the planet. And avoid nasty chemicals that could make a skin reaction worse.
Still seeing patients in Tampa, Clearwater, and virtually.