How to Remove Grease From a Dog or Cat

There are many substances that are not a friend to your pet's coat--and grease is certainly one of them. Grease is also, unfortunately, a substance your pet may cross paths with at one point or another. We all know cats have a fondness for hiding under cars--and dogs have a fondness for chasing them. And what does that mean? The dreaded axle grease--not the simplest of substances to remove--but here are some suggestions.

Instructions

1. Start off by applying cornstarch to the greasy areas and wipe off with a rough terry towel (older ones usually have rougher surfaces). This may do the trick, but if it's more than a few spots and kind of covers your pet's face or body, you will have to move on to Step 2.

2. Get some dishwashing liquid. Yes, you read right. Many people use it on their pets to effectively remove grease. Dawn dishwashing liquid in the original blue version is popular because of its ability to cut grease, but my recommendation is to try Seventh Generation Free & Clear dishwashing liquid (or another kind like it such as Planet). Seventh Generation and Planet are effective at cutting grease, yet more mild and hypoallergenic. They are also non-toxic and contain no fragrances, dyes or petroleum-based ingredients and are naturally derived from coconut. This will be gentler on a pet's sensitive skin and less likely to cause irritation.

3. Wet your pet's coat and apply the dishwashing liquid. Work into a lather and try to leave on for a couple of minutes before rinsing (if your pet will let you). You may have to do a few wash/rinses.

4. There are also dog and cat shampoos that are made for removing grease. Check your local pet supply stores or you can order online (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Only use dishwashing liquid in a special circumstance to remove grease. Regularly bathing a pet in dish liquid will likely dry out or irritate their skin. Dog or cat shampoo is formulated specifically for a pet's pH balance.

• Remove grease from your pet immediately. Pets (especially cats) like to groom themselves, and there's a good chance they will ingest the grease if it's not removed promptly.

Resources

• Paw Brothers Grease Magic