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How to Bathe Your Pets Using Wet Wipes

4 minutes
Some pets refuse to take baths, but bathing is important for their health. At times, you can bathe your pets using special wet wipes designed for animals.
How to Bathe Your Pets Using Wet Wipes
Natalia Laguna

Written and verified by the biologist Natalia Laguna

Last update: 22 December, 2022

Pet hygiene is important for your health, and dog owners are responsible for making it happen. Bathing takes time, and it isn’t always something that pets enjoy. What’s more, on occasions, animals may suffer from problems that are incompatible with bathing. For example, a surgical wound. At these times, you can consider bathing your pets using wet wipes.

But how do you know which wipes to choose? And how can you be sure to wash your pet properly? Today we’ll answer these questions and more.

What towels to use?

There are all sorts of options when it comes to wet wipes. However, you can’t just use any old wipe for pets. You can find wet wipes for adult humans and babies, with all sorts of purposes and functions. And the same is true when it comes to wet wipes for animals.

It’s not a good idea to use wet wipes for humans on pets. You need to remember that the skin and pH of animals are always different to ours. So, you should choose a product that’s right for each animal.

Choosing the right wipe for each pet is important when it comes to caring for their skin. When a pet’s skin is well cared for, the animal is less likely to suffer from external attacks.

How to bathe your pets using wet wipes

Wet wipes help keep pets clean in a comfortable and easy way. They’re especially useful for cleaning and deodorizing your pet’s coat and making it shine. 

Their use is very simple, and you can take them with you wherever you go. For example, they’re handy when your pet rubs up against something smelly while you’re on a walk. One of the main purposes of these wipes is to remove odors quickly and effectively when soap and water aren’t available.

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The application of wet wipes for pets is very simple. Basically, you use them just as you would on yourself. Rub the area that you want to wash, deodorize, or shine. You just need to be careful around areas like the eyes, ears, mouth, or between their toes.

Wet wipes for animals come in plastic containers with sticker tabs or lids that you can open and close. Therefore, you need to be sure to close the package properly after each use to keep the towels from drying out and losing their usefulness.

These commercial wipes are available on the market in a variety of sizes and aromas.

There are also wipes that come in the form of gloves and which are impregnated with a perfumed cleansing solution. These may be the best option depending on the attitude of each pet toward bathing.

Now, you may just want to eliminate some specific dirt of grime on your pet. If you’re not looking for perfume or shine, then a homemade version will do the trick. In this case, simply moisten a washcloth with water, wring it out, and wipe your pet.

If you use this method to bathe your pet after a surgical intervention, you should choose wipes that don’t leave behind fuzz.

Types of wet wipes for pets

It’s important to remember that not every part of an animal’s skin is the same and they have different requirements. Because of this, there are different wipes on the market for different parts of the body. On an animal’s body, some areas of the skin are more sensitive, thin, or porous. Therefore, you can find the following types of wipes:

  • General use: These are the least specific and are suitable for all types of skin. It’s best to use them anywhere except the eyes and ears.
  • Ears: These wipes dissolve accumulated earwax and eliminate waste from the ears. They’re especially useful in dogs that are prone to frequent ear problems and breeds that have a tendency to accumulate grime.
  • Eyes: Cleaning the eyes is fundamental when it comes to preventing eye infections. Just as with the ears, there are certain breeds and species that are more prone to suffering from these types of pathologies.
  • Insect repellent: In general, these wipes contain citronella, a plant that effectively repels insects in general. What’s more, it has a strong, fresh scent.
Some figure

For any other needs regarding your pet’s skin type, you should always see a veterinarian. This expert will be able to give you more information on the subject. Just the same, as you can see, baths with soap and water aren’t the only way to maintain pet hygiene. On many occasions, cleaning your pets with wet wipes can be very handy and effective, as long as you use them properly.


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • Piel, MedLine. Recogido a 5 de Junio en https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/esp_imagepages/19679.htm
  • Citronela, Wikipedia. Recogido a 5 de Junio en https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymbopogon_nardus
  • Vos, S. J. (2020). Paw hygiene of assistance dogs and pet dogs compared to their users’ and owners’ shoe soles: equally clean or extra attention required?. (Master thesis, Utrecht University)

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.