If you have a dog or cat, sooner or later you've asked yourself: "Is this ingredient really safe?"

Baking soda is one of those substances that appears everywhere — in the kitchen, in pharmacies, in household products — yet few truly know why it works. And more importantly: why it is also safe for our pets.

In this article, we explain everything, without complication.

What is baking soda? The formula that explains everything

Baking soda has the chemical formula NaHCO₃ — three natural elements: sodium (Na), hydrogen (H), and carbonate (CO₃).

It is not a synthetic product created in a laboratory. Baking soda has been found in nature for millions of years, in mineral deposits and spring waters. It is the same compound that dates back to the ancient Egyptians, who already used it for hygienic purposes.

The most fascinating thing? Our body produces it autonomously. Baking soda is present in blood, saliva, and stomach. It regulates body pH and neutralizes gastric acidity. It is literally a part of us.

Why baking soda neutralizes odors

The mechanism is simple and direct: baking soda is a weak base (pH around 8.3). Unpleasant pet odors — urine, sweat, sebum — are bacterial fermentation products with an acidic pH.

When baking soda comes into contact with these acidic molecules, a chemical neutralization reaction is triggered: the acid and base compensate each other, and the odor disappears at its root; it is not simply masked by a stronger scent.

This is the fundamental difference compared to conventional deodorants: baking soda eliminates the cause, not the symptom.

It's safe at home, in the kitchen, in pharmacies — and it's also safe for your pet

If you are still looking for confirmation of baking soda's safety, consider where you already find it in daily life:

• In the kitchen as a natural leavening agent in desserts
• In pharmacies as an antacid for gastric reflux
• During pregnancy — expectant mothers use it to wash fruits and vegetables because it removes pesticides and bacteria without leaving toxic residues
• In dentistry as a gentle abrasive in natural toothpastes

If it's safe enough for a pregnant woman washing her child's vegetables, it's safe enough for your dog's or cat's fur.

Ionized baking soda: what it is and why it makes a difference

In ShizenPet products, we don't use generic baking soda. We use ionized baking soda — that is, baking soda dissolved in ionized water through an electrolysis process.

What changes in practice?

Ionized water has a smaller molecular structure and a negative charge that increases penetration capacity. When baking soda is dissolved in this water, it becomes more bioavailable: it can act deeply on the skin and fur, neutralizing odors more effectively than standard baking soda.

Same safety. Greater effectiveness.

What happens if the dog or cat licks their fur after treatment?

This is the question we get asked most often — and it's a fair question, because cats are constantly licking themselves and dogs are no different.

The answer is reassuring: nothing concerning happens.

Baking soda, as we've seen, is already present in animals' (and our) bodies. If ingested in small quantities — as would happen by licking fur after a ShizenPet treatment — it does not cause toxic effects.

It's very different, for example, from essential oils in high doses or ingredients like xylitol, which are actually dangerous for pets. Baking soda, in this sense, is in a completely different category.

Our products are specifically formulated with this in mind: they are lick-safe by design, not by chance.

Baking soda vs. other odor neutralizers: the comparison

Baking soda is one of the few neutralizers that combines safety, effectiveness, and no residues. This is why it is at the core of the ShizenPet formulation.

How we use it in ShizenPet products

Ionized baking soda is the common base ingredient in all three ShizenPet lines — Fresh Fruit, Relax Herb, and Fragrance Free:

• Shampoo Mousse — works in combination with plant-based surfactants (0.9% from coconut and corn) to clean fur and neutralize odors in a single step
• Dry Shampoo — is the main ingredient that allows dry cleansing, absorbing sebum and neutralizing odor without rinsing
• Deodorant Spray — water-based ionized formula with baking soda for quick action between baths

In all cases, the concentration is calibrated to maximize effectiveness on fur and skin without irritation, even on the most sensitive pets.

Conclusion: naturally safe, scientifically effective

Baking soda is not a green marketing gimmick. It is a molecule that has existed in nature for millions of years, which the body produces autonomously, and which chemistry has proven to be safe and functional for an infinite number of uses — including the care of dog and cat fur.

We chose it as the base for our products because it respects animals' sensitive skin, leaves no toxic residues, and is effective against odors at the root.

Safe even if your dog or cat licks their fur after treatment. Always. 🌿

Want to know more about other ShizenPet ingredients? Read our articles on Pomegranate Seed Oil and Tea Tree Essential Oil: safe for pets?