The dog is muddy. The designated pet shampoo bottle is empty. On the shelf sits the Avlia bar.
This happens. Here is what to know before you reach for it.
The skin pH difference between humans and dogs
Human skin maintains a pH of approximately 5.5. Dog skin maintains a higher pH — typically between 6.5 and 7.5, varying by breed and individual. This means dogs are more tolerant of slightly alkaline preparations than humans. The concern about alkaline bar soap disrupting the skin's acid mantle — a significant issue for human skin — is less acute for dogs, whose skin operates closer to neutral pH anyway.
This is why low-laurel Aleppo soap can work as an occasional dog wash, when properly diluted and used correctly.
The dilution principle
Never apply an Avlia bar directly to a dog's coat. The technique: build a very sudsy, well-diluted lather between your hands under running water. You want foam, not cream. Apply this diluted foam to the dog's coat, working from neck to tail while avoiding the face and ears.
The reason for dilution is twofold: it reduces the concentration of laurel oil in contact with the dog's skin, and it makes thorough rinsing much more achievable. Dogs are not efficient at communicating when rinsing has been incomplete — the responsibility is entirely the bather's.
Which Avlia bar for dogs
The Avlia 5% Laurel Oil Bar. The 5% bar is the gentlest option in the Avlia range — predominantly olive oil, minimal laurel. The antibacterial properties of even 5% laurel are meaningful for a dog that has rolled in something microbially interesting.
Do not use any bar above 10% laurel on a dog. Higher-laurel bars are formulated for human skin conditions; the concentration of active terpene compounds is appropriate for human use and may be too high for regular canine use.
How to wash a dog with Avlia soap
Wet the dog thoroughly — a wet coat distributes lather more evenly and makes rinsing more complete.
Build diluted foam between your hands. Apply to the coat and work it through with your hands. Avoid the face, eyes, and ears. Avoid any open wounds or skin irritations — do not apply soap to broken skin.
Leave lather on for approximately thirty seconds. Rinse extremely thoroughly. Dogs lick themselves. Any soap residue that remains on the coat will be ingested during grooming. The Avlia 5% bar is made from natural olive and laurel oils — but any soap ingested in quantity is not appropriate. Rinse until the water runs completely clear and there is no visible foam in the coat.
Dry the dog well. Wet coat in confined spaces can encourage bacterial and fungal growth — the very conditions you are trying to address with the wash.
Dogs with skin conditions
If your dog has a diagnosed skin condition — allergic dermatitis, mange, hot spots, or a veterinary-diagnosed fungal or bacterial infection — do not use Aleppo soap as a substitute for the prescribed treatment. Consult your veterinarian before changing any element of a dog's skincare routine when a skin condition is being managed.
For a dog with generally dry, flaky skin that is otherwise healthy, the Avlia 5% Bar used once every two to three weeks (more frequent bathing strips dogs' coat oils) may help — the olive oil base is nourishing. But this is experimental, not a veterinary recommendation.
Cats: do not use Aleppo soap
Cats groom themselves continuously. Anything applied to a cat's coat will be ingested in quantity during self-grooming. Laurel oil contains terpene compounds that are toxic to cats in sufficient quantities. Do not use any Aleppo soap on cats. This is not a nuance — it is a firm contraindication.
The Avlia 5% Bar is available at avliahome.com. For dogs, in an emergency. Always rinse completely. Always consult a vet for skin conditions.