Owner wants to dye dog’s hair

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DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I really would like to color my dog’s hair. Sheera is an all-white poodle mix, and when she’s groomed and coiffed she looks better than purebred poodles. (She’s beautiful to me even when her coat is all grown out and she needs a bath, of course!) However, I’ve seen news reports that dyeing a dog’s coat could be dangerous. Can you tell me if it’s safe? – Jenna H. in San Diego

DEAR JENNA: Using hair dye made for humans is very dangerous for all pets. Chemicals in hair dye can be life threatening, as a Florida pet owner found out earlier this year. Not only can the pets’ skin react to the chemicals, but dogs and cats tend to lick at any area that irritates them, and then they ingest the dye.

It may be possible to dye Sheera’s hair using food coloring. Also, special semi-permanent hair dyes and sprays for pets are available at many pet stores, as are special chalks that can be rubbed onto their fur. These wash off in one or two shampoos. Like any topical treatment, however, your dog could have a reaction to any of these products, even though they’re listed as nontoxic.

Further, some animal advocates feel that dyeing a pet’s fur can be stressful for them. If Sheera isn’t used to the process, she certainly could get upset and stressed out. If she has a tough time at the groomer’s, she probably won’t like the dyeing process either.

Remember, Sheera is a beautiful dog even without that funky color. If she isn’t bothered at all by the process or the look of her newly colored fur, that’s great. But give it a lot of thought.

Send your questions, comments or tips to ask@pawscorner.com.

(c) 2018 King Features Synd. Inc.