Pet wipes are a quick and easy way to get your dog or cat clean.Â
After a walk or a trip to the park, you can wipe down your dog’s paws to remove dirt, kill germs, and prevent infection. And in between baths, you can wipe down your pet’s entire body, hindquarters, eyes, or ears to keep them refreshed, moisturized, and smelling great.Â
The only issueâthere are a million pet wipe brands out there! It can be tough to decide on one. Thatâs why we made this list, to help you find the perfect pet wipe for you and your pet.
Table of Contents
Best Overall Pet Wipes: Petkin Big ‘n Thick Petwipes
Number one on the list, we have these Petkin Big ân Thick wipes. What sets this product apart from the rest of the pack is the quality of ingredients, size and thickness of wipes, and great bang for your buck.
These Petkin wipes are veterinarian approved. The cleaning formula sealed in the thick wipes is gentle and cleansing. Your furry friend will be soothed with organic oat extract, nourished with vitamin E, and naturally protected with aloe. With wipes that are gentle enough for daily use but powerful enough to remove dirt and grime, your pet will be sparkling clean every day!
Another bonus, Petkin confirms that these wipes are safe for your petâs eyes, ears, face, and body and wonât remove spot flea treatments.
Pros
- Wipes are large and thick
- Tear-resistant
- Moisturizing formula
- Safe for daily use
- Safe for use around eyes and ears
- Veterinarian approved
Cons
- Wipes arenât as thick as some customers expected
Best Antibacterial Pet Wipes: Petkin Big ‘n Thick Germ Removal Petwipes
If you want your dog or cat to be as clean as possible, you will need to get some antibacterial pet wipes.
Before bringing your pet inside after a walk in the city you can quickly and easily sanitize their paws, preventing them from dragging in any germs. Likewise, after your pet does its business in the yard or the litter box, you can wipe its behind to keep things sanitary.
Other products can wipe away dirt, but only antibacterial ones can truly kill germs.
The best-in-class antibacterial wipe goes to Petkin for its Big n’ Thick Germ Removal Petwipes. This is essentially the same product as our “Best Overall” pick but with added germ-killing potency.Â
Petkin’s Germ Removal Petwipes is gentle enough for daily use and can be used around the eyes, ears, face, and body.
And again, these won’t remove spot flea treatments.Â
Pros
- Antibacterial formula
- Wipes are large and thick
- Tear-resistant
- Moisturizing formula
- Safe for daily use
- Safe for use around eyes and ears
- Veterinarian approved
Cons
- Expensive
Best Hypoallergenic Pet Wipes: BIGA Deodorizing Hypoallergenic Pet Wipes
For pets with sensitive skin or allergies, the best option is to opt for a hypoallergenic pet product. Even some of the ânaturalâ and âgentleâ products on the market use chemicals that can irritate your pet.Â
While most pet owners donât need to worry about these chemicals, those of us who have seen our pets have a bad reaction to a product always do. The last thing you want is to buy a new pet wipe only to use it on your dog or cat and have them break out in a rash.
Our pick for the best hypoallergenic pet wipes is BIGA Deodorizing Hypoallergenic Pet Wipes. BIGA makes a large, 6 x 8 wipe so you can get more coverage per wipe. The wipes have no parabens, alcohol, fragrances, or chlorine. These extra-sensitive wipes are super soft and donât scratch or chafe sensitive areas.
Pros
- Hypoallergenic
- Large wipes
- Free of harsh chemicals
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Some customers found the wipes to be too small
Best Earth-Friendly Wipes: Earth Rated Dog Wipes
Next up, for the environmentally-conscious pet parents out there, we have âEarth-Friendlyâ wipes.Â
Those of us who pay attention to the waste we produce may know a thing or two about the harmful effects of single-use paper and plastic products. Pet wipes and baby wipes are no different. In fact, these products usually arenât biodegradable and many contain plastic.Â
They are often flushed down the toilet where they end up creating blockages in sewer systems. And when they donât clog things up, they end up in the ocean. Throwing them into the trash isnât the solutionâthere, they just find their way into landfills.Â
If any of this matters to you, you may want to consider purchasing only biodegradable, compostable, or earth-friendly wipes for your pet.
A great option is Earth Rated Dog Wipes. These are plant-based and compostable. Earth Rated wipes are 99% USDA-Certified biobased. You can wipe your petâs face, paws, or backside and then throw it away with your other compostable waste.
These wipes are sensitive and moisturizing, using shea butter, aloe, and chamomile to freshen and protect. Earth Rated wipes eliminate odors and wipe away grime, but never irritate. They are hypoallergenic and safe for daily use.
Pros
- Better for the environment
- Compostable
- Hypoallergenic
- Moisturizing
Cons
- Wipes sometimes stick together in the package
Best Eye & Ear Wipes: John Paul Pet Ear and Eye Pet Wipes
Your pet’s eyes and ears are very sensitive. Most wipes should not be used around the eyes and ears as they are likely to irritate and can cause serious reactions. If you want to remove tear stains or clean the inside of the ear canal, make sure you are using a product specifically designed for that area!
The best ear and eye wipes are John Paul Pet Ear and Eye Pet Wipes. These wipes are specially designed to treat the area around the eyes and ears. They are tested on humans first and even use the same high-quality botanical extracts as the company’s Paul Mitchell brand for humans. A pH-balanced, soothing solution will remove tear stains and balance moisture.Â
Many customers love that these wipes are made in the USA and that a portion of proceeds from each sale is donated to animal and wildlife organizations.
In addition to âEar and Eyeâ wipes, âBody and Pawâ and âTooth and Gumâ wipes are available.
Pros
- Special formula is safe for eyes and ears
- Moisturizing and soothing
- Made in the USA
- pH-balanced
- Tested on humans first
Cons
- May not be suitable on dogs with very sensitive skin
Best Non-Toxic Pet Wipes: Woosh Pet Wipes
No one wants their pet to take anything toxic into their body. Unfortunately, there are so many products out there (even natural and “safe” ones) that actually contain toxic chemicals. This can be especially tricky because some things that aren’t toxic to humans are toxic to pets. Even aloe vera, which is used in most pet wipes, can be mildly toxic to dogs and cats!
But hey, these are just pet wipes, you just rub them on the paws or behind, it canât be that bad…Right?
Well, many dogs go straight to licking their paws after you clean them. Your pets use their tongues to groom themselves. So, whatever chemicals you put on their fur or skin may be ingested in the end. If this is a concern to you, go for a non-toxic pet wipe like Woosh Pet Wipes.
Woosh makes a great product that is natural, hypoallergenic, and non-toxic. While these are gentle and safe, they still are powerful enough to get the job done. They are antibacterial and alcohol- and lanolin-free. Â
The textured, mesh-like cloth effectively traps dirt and dander while infusing olive leaf extract and vitamin E into your petâs coat to keep them moist and protected.Â
Pros
- Non-toxic
- Hypoallergenic
- Antibacterial
- Moisturizes with olive leaf extract and vitamin E
Cons
- Only 20 wipes per package
The Complete Buyer’s Guide for Pet Wipes
When shopping for a pet wipe, there are many things to consider. It can be overwhelming going online or in-store and seeing dozens if not, hundreds of brands all competing for your attention.Â
To make things easier, we have broken down everything to consider when it comes to pet wipes. Just check out these recommendations to make your shopping experience a breeze.
Quantity
No one wants to buy pet wipes every week. You want something that will last.Â
An average package of pet wipes contains around 100 wipes. Some packages have as many as 400 or as few as 20. Depending on the size of your dog or how much you use wipes, a single package could last a few weeks or even up to a year.Â
To find your perfect package size, first, consider your pet’s size. A Great Dane will need more wipes per session than a Chihuahua.Â
Next, decide if you want wipes for the occasional paw-cleaning after a muddy walk or for everyday use. Naturally, everyday use demands way more wipes.Â
Finally, consider that you can order multiple packages at once, often bundling them together for a cheaper price. If you are comfortable making a commitment to a brand and buying 4 packages at once, you are bound to save some money.
Container
The container may not seem like a major issue, but after struggling with pet wipe dispensers myself, I can say that it may be more important than you think.Â
There are two basic types of containers: soft plastic rectangular containers (similar to most baby wipes) and hard plastic cylindrical containers.Â
In my experience, the cylindrical containers can be easier to use because the wipes donât get stuck together as much. Also, these hard plastic containers are usually recyclable.
On the other hand, you have the traditional soft containers. These can be great, but you may have to fiddle with them to get just one wipe out of the package and are much more likely to leak or dry out.
Durability
For pet wipes, durability is key. Especially when cleaning the paws, some delicate wipes are bound to tear around the nails. If your pet wipe tears on the first paw, good luck cleaning the fourth one! You will end up using far more product if you buy flimsy wipes.
The best wipes are large enough for your pet and tough enough to get the entire job done without ripping. Most of the products on our list are built extra tough, but some are more durable than others.
If you want wipes for daily paw cleanings after a walk, definitely look for a more durable and thick wipe.
Ingredients
The presence or lack of certain ingredients can make or break a product. There are nearly as many undesirable ingredients you will find on the market as there are great ones.Â
For example, alcohol, certain fragrances, preservatives, and other chemicals can dry out and irritate your petâs skin. Believe it or not, you can even find some pet wipes out there that have ingredients that are toxic to animals.
On the other hand, vitamin E, essential oils, and natural and organic ingredients can help your petâs skin and coat as well as prevent irritation and outbreaks.
If you have a pet with sensitive skin or allergies you need to be especially careful of what ingredients come in your pet wipe. When in doubt, go with a product that is natural, non-toxic, or hypoallergenic.
Scents
We all want our pets to look, feel, and smell great.Â
A great scent can take a pet wipe to the next level. Not only will your dog or cat feel cleaner after a wipe, but you will want to hug them and be closer to them more than ever when they smell amazing.
Popular scents for pet wipes include lavender, coconut, vanilla, citrus, and unscented.Â
If your pet has extra-sensitive skin or is known to be allergic to certain fragrances, always go with an unscented pet wipe.
Eco-friendly
Single-use products like plastic straws, paper towels, and baby/pet wipes are bad for the environment. They pile up fast and finish in landfills. Most pet wipes arenât biodegradable or compostable and contain plastic. Never flush wipes down the toilet unless the package specifically says âflushableâ, otherwise they will clog pipes and end up in the ocean.Â
If you are concerned about environmental issues, always look for pet wipes that say âcompostableâ, âbiodegradableâ, or âplant-basedâ. These products can be thrown away or composted with confidence.Â
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use baby wipes on your dog?
Baby wipes arenât likely to cause serious harm to your pet, but they arenât recommendable.Â
The first issue with baby wipes is that they are likely to disrupt your petâs natural pH-levels. Human skin is more acidic than dog or cat skin. Using a baby wipe will disrupt your petâs pH balance. If you do this once, itâs unlikely to cause any harm. But, by repeatedly disrupting your petâs skin, it will become dry, irritated, and susceptible to infection.
Another issue is the ingredients in baby wipes. Wipes for humans arenât tested for canine or feline safety and often use ingredients that are harmful to them. Chemicals and substances benign to us can be toxic to pets. Think about chocolateânot harmful to us but incredibly dangerous for dogs.
And even if your pet wonât be eating the pet wipes (hopefully) they will be ingesting some of the chemicals. After you wipe your dog down it will instinctively lick itself, thus ingesting the chemicals from the wipe.
In small amounts, chemicals from baby wipes shouldnât cause any problems. But, with all of the information available, itâs just a better choice to skip the baby wipes and instead use a pet-safe wipe like the ones we listed above.
Pet safe wipes are pH-balanced, pet-tested, and generally much much safer for your dog or cat.
