Is your Pet Shampoo Environmentally Friendly?

Love Your Pets!


how to make dog shampoo

When it comes to your pooch, you look for products that contain only the safest ingredients. One particular example of a dog product that you should be careful with is the dog shampoo.  So how do you make dog shampoo?

There are many products in pet shops today, but are they safe and effective?Sometimes, you may prefer to make one yourself. Yes—you can actually make your own natural homemade dog shampoo for your dog.

Dog shampoos should contain only natural ingredients to guarantee a safe and effective cleansing and moisturizing. As dog skin is three times more sensitive than human skin, using human shampoo is not recommended. If you don’t have a shampoo for your dog when they need a bath, it’s not a problem.

How Do You Make Dog Shampoo?  Great Dog Shampoo Substitute!

#1. Basic Dog Shampoo Recipe: Homemade Dog Shampoo with Essential Oils

You can make different kinds of dog shampoos at home, depending on your dog’s needs. You can make a dog shampoo for dry skin, or a shampoo to treat a dog lice infestation. 

how to make dog shampoo

Gather all the following ingredients:

  • 1 cup of corn starch
  • 1 cup of baking soda
  • 1/3 cup of glycerin
  • A few drops of essential oils such as citrus, chamomile, or lavender.  I recommend higher end essential oils as the smell is longer lasting.  Make sure the oil you use is safe for pets!

Mix all the ingredients together and you’re ready to wash your pet.  Please ensure to apply a small amount to your dogs skin to ensure they are not allergic to any of the ingredients, especially the essential oils.  If in doubt, consult your veterinarian.

Now, how do you use this homemade dog shampoo?

Put some of the mixture on your dog and lather it richly using your hands or a comb. For small dogs or puppies, use ½ cup of the mixture, and 1 cup for medium-sized dogs. Do not wash your dogs with it too often as baking soda may accumulate. Finally, rinse well.

 

how to make dog shampoo

How To Make Dog Shampoo for Dry Skin

#2. Basic Dog Shampoo Recipe: Homemade Dog Oatmeal Shampoo

If your dog is experiencing an itch or skin irritation, they may have dry skin. Dry skin occurs when the acid mantle is eliminated.   Oatmeal dog shampoo is perfect for itchy skin.

The acid mantle is made of moisture that protects the dog’s skin from bacteria, viruses, and dryness. So, you can make homemade dog shampoo targeted for dry skin.

Gather all the necessary ingredients for this oatmeal dog shampoo recipe:

how to make dog shampoo

  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar or regular vinegar
  • 1/3 cup glycerin
  • 1 quart or liter of water
  • 1 cup baby shampoo
  • 2 tablespoons aloe vera extract
  • Oatmeal: blasted into super small bits

Mix all the ingredients and you now have a homemade dog shampoo for dry skin. The amount of glycerin or aloe vera relieves itchiness and provides a soothing feeling. Glycerin can be bought at your local pharmacy.

How to make dog shampoo for a dog lice infestation

#3. Basic Dog Shampoo Recipe: Homemade Dog Shampoo without Glycerin

One common problem for dogs is a lice infestation, generally known as canine pediculosis. It causes irritation to dogs as the lice bite and ingest blood. It could lead to itchiness and even anemia. There are dog shampoos that can treat lice infestations but you can actually make an effective shampoo yourself.

You only need the following ingredients:

how to make dog shampoo

  • 1 cup of apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
  • 1 quart or liter of water
  • 1 cup baby shampoo

 

Mix all these ingredients and lather on your dog. Work the lather, especially on the tail, fur, groin, and shoulders. Wash your dog often so that it eliminates the lice.

how to make dog shampoo

Best Commercial Dog Shampoos

If you don’t have the time to make a homemade dog shampoo, there are dog shampoos that are readily available in stores. They come in different formulations that are safe for your dog’s sensitive skin. Following are the best commercial dog shampoos.

4-Legger Certified Organic Dog Shampoo

how to make dog shampoo

4-Legger Certified Organic Dog Shampoo also contains 100% natural ingredients such as lemongrass and aloe that clean and moisturize a dog’s skin and fur.  All of the ingredients are USDA certified organic and 4-legger is also biodegradable: safe for your pets and the environment.

4-legger is also hypoallergenic, meaning it does not contain common ingredients that cause allergic reactions.  Also, it doesn’t have any sulfates, parabens or detergents.  This special natural formulation of dog shampoo helps protect pets from skin dryness, allergies, itch, and health issues

Natural oils in this dog shampoo keep your dogs hair shiny and helps to detangle mats.  It also repels fleas with all natural cedarwood essential oil.

Vets recommend this dog shampoo because it relieves itching and dryness and moisturizes your dogs hair.  Even with few drops, the 4-Legger Certified Organic Dog Shampoo is easy to lather and rinse. It is highly concentrated so just one or two drops will result in a rich lather saving you money in the long run.

BONUS: 4-Legger Certified Organic Dog Shampoo is recommended for dogs of all ages.

Nootie Medicated Dog Shampoo

how to make dog shampoo recipe

The Nootie Medicated Dog Shampoo not only cleans your dog, but also moisturizes their skin. Since it is medicated, it strengthens hair strands to prevent shredding. The essential oils clean your dog while providing a mild fragrance. It has anti-fungal properties and prevents hair loss.    Nootie Medicated Dog Shampoo can also be used with other pets such as cats and horses. Every drop is worth it—in fact, just one drop will give you a rich lather.

Is your Pet Shampoo Environmentally Friendly?

Picking an environmentally friendly pet shampoo can be difficult with all the differences in labeling and new age terms.  Researching the company that produces the product is key to determining if the product is really an eco friendly pet shampoo.  Some of the key things to look for are covered in the list below:

  1. Organic, certified organic is best (USDA for example)
  2. All Natural Ingredients
  3. pH balanced
  4. Simple to pronounce ingredients, remember less is more here
  5. Certified by a 3rd party to be Eco Friendly
  6. Biodegradable
  7. Bottle made with recyclable materials and is 100% recyclable or reusable

Next step would be to read the label and identify any ingredients that should not be used on your pet.  how do you make natural dog shampooPicking an environmentally friendly pet shampoo should not be difficult so we have found a fantastic post of ingredients to avoid when choosing an eco friendly pet shampoo.

Anything you can’t spell or pronounce should NOT be in your or your dogs shampoo.  When in doubt, you can always contact the manufacturer directly and inquire about specific ingredients.  As consumers, it is our job to demand products that are healthy for us and our pets.

Conclusion

Once you know how to make dog shampoo you see that it’s cheap and super easy!  It’s guaranteed safe from harmful chemicals too.  However, if you prefer to buy a commercial dog shampoo, read the labels carefully and make sure that the ingredients are all natural.

If you make your own dog shampoo, let us know in the comments!

 

how to make dog shampoo

Love Your Pets!


bathe you dog in flea shampoo

So, how often should you bathe your dog with flea shampoo?

If your dog is scratching themselves more than usual, or maybe you have noticed red bite marks on your own skin, your dog may have fleas!   The first line of defense against a flea problem is to give your dog a bath with a flea shampoo made for dogs. 

Flea shampoos are made with special medicated ingredients such as pyrenthins that kill fleas and their eggs on contact.  This provides your pets with immediate relief.  

Please remember to only use your dogs flea shampoo on your dog: ingredients such as pyrenthins which kill fleas are toxic to your cat.  Buy a product specifically made for killing fleas on cats to help your feline friends.

Quick Facts:  How Often Should you Bathe your Dog with Flea Shampoo?

So how often can you use flea shampoo on your dog?  Bathing a dog with fleas should be done once you notice that your dog has a flea problems to give them immediate relief from itching and scratching.   Flea bath for dogs is the fastest way to get rid of fleas on your dog.

If your pet has a big flea problem, how often should you wash your dog with fleas?  You can give them another bath right away, otherwise every 7-14 days is recommended by most manufacturers.

Take a look at the top flea control products out there that we tested and love.

how often to bathe your dog in flea shampoo

#1 Best Selling Flea and Tick Dog Shampoo

Adams Flea and Tick Cleansing Shampoo

The Best Flea Bath for Dogs

Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo

how often should you bathe your dog in flea shampoo

Adam’s Flea and Tick Key Features

  • Can use on dogs, cats, puppies and kittens
  • Kills fleas, eggs, ticks AND lice
  • Knowledgeable company with good reputation and online help
  • Protects against flea infestation for 3-4 weeks
  • Active ingredients include insect growth regulators
  • Can rebathe your pet right away if the infestation is bad
  • Effective at killing fleas
  • Comes in a large 12 oz size if you have multiple pets to wash

Adams Plus Flea and Tick Shampoo with PRECOR is one of the best dog flea and tick shampoos on the market.  It’s concentrated and formulated from all-natural ingredients such as oatmeal extract, coconut oil, aloe vera extract, and lanolin.  It’s one of the best ways to get rid of fleas on your dog right away.

These ingredients act as both cleansing and moisturizing agents, thereby leaving your dog’s fur clean, shiny, and smooth after application of the product. Adams not only kills fleas, it also deep cleans your dog, removing dirt and dander.

The additive PRECOR Insect Growth Regulator kills the adult fleas thereby hindering the life cycle of the same for the next 28 days.

Also, its best to use the shampoo only within 18 months after the date of packaging.  How often should you bath a dog with fleas?  As soon as you notice your dog has fleas. 

How often can you use flea shampoo?  With Adams, you can give your dog another flea bath right away if the infestation is bad, otherwise, Adams recommend every 7-14 days.   Working together with a flea comb after shampooing, you’ll be able to get rid of all the fleas on your dog quickly and easily.

As always, do a spot check on your dog to make sure that they are not allergic to the ingredients in this shampoo.

Adams has a large selection of flea shampoos and products that are safe to use on dogs.  They are priced better than a lot of the competition, and the best price is online. 

View more Adams Pet Care products here: Adams Pet Care

Pros

  • Kills fleas, ticks, larvae and eggs
  • Removes Dirt and dander
  • Safe for all pets
  • Oatmeal and lanolin act as moisturizers and cleansers
  • Smells good

Cons

  • Not for all breeds
  • Not so great in hot and humid conditions

Most Effective Flea Treatments for Dogs

How to Get Rid of Fleas

Editor’s Choice Flea and Tick Products

  1. Adams Flea Shampoo
  2. Advantix II Topical
  3. Seresto Flea Collar
  4. Capstar Oral
  5. Vet Kem Spray
  6. Yard and Kennel Spray Vet’s Best
  7. Diatomaceous Earth

Advantix II

Topical Flea Treatments

 how often should i bathe my dog in flea shampoo

I have used both Advantage/Advantix and Revolution for my flea issues.

I found that the fleas were not being killed by Advantage any more so I switched to Revolution.

Depending on where you live, you may need to get a prescription from your vet. Revolution is a safe and simple monthly topical medication used to protect your dog or cat from heartworms, fleas, and ear mites.

Revolution is also used on dogs for the treatment or prevention of fleas, the American Dog Tick, ear mites, and canine sarcoptic mange.  It should only be used on dogs older than 6 weeks.

Never use use your dogs topical flea treatments on your cat: they contain ingredients that will seriously harm your cat.  Only use products that are made specifically for your cat.

Where to buy: www.1800petmeds.com

bathing dog in flea shampoo

Seresto

Flea Collars

This top selling Seresto flea and tick collar comes recommended by Vets.  It provides a low concentrated continuous release for 8 months of protection.

If you don’t like the idea of medications or topical flea treatments this one may be for you.

Capstar Flea Killer

Oral Medications for Flea Treatment

 

how often to bathe my dog in flea shampoo

I have used Capstar before and wow, it kills all of the adult fleas on your pets within 4 hours (6 hours for cats).

The constant itching and scratching stopped almost immediately.  It is a pill that you give your pets that kills adult fleas.  It is safe to use on puppies and kittens 4 weeks and older.

If in doubt, always consult your vet before giving your pet new medications.

VetKem Spray

Flea Spray for Furniture, Upholstery and Bedding

 

how often should you bathe your dog in flea shampoo

 

I personally have found a ton of success using a spray called VetKem. I would consider it the best flea spray for your home on the market.

My 2 pets were infested and the fleas were jumping all over me when I sat on the furniture!  GROSS!

I sprayed VetKem in the furniture and the carpets as well.  Don’t forget to take off the cushions and pillows and get right inside the dark cracks where fleas love to hide and wait for their next victim.

I also sprayed in the cracks by the floorboards. One can does go a long way, so the cost is worth it.  It kills all fleas, eggs and larva for up to 7-8 months.

Of course, you can’t stop there.  You will need to use human power.  Good old fashioned elbow grease! You will have to vacuum your carpets (or sweep your floor) and furniture DAILY.

Spray some vet kem and put some salt in your vacuum bag or canister to kill those fleas that get sucked up.  Maybe I went a little crazy.  But all the effort paid off and within a week or so all of the fleas were DEAD.

how often should you bathe your dog with flea shampoo

Vet’s Best Yard Spray

Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Yard and Kennel Spray

how often to bathe your dog in flea shampoo

This #1 best selling yard spray kills not only fleas on contact but their eggs, ticks and mosquitoes.  Excellent! 

You only use this product outdoors by connecting it to your hose and spraying the area. 

This product is plant based and safe for your household.  Made in the USA.

View more products from Vet’s Best HERE.

Diatomaceous Earth 

Diatomaceous Earth Kills Fleas

A natural remedy to try is Diatomaceous Earth.  It is produced in the USA and is 100% organic.

It comes in a variety of sizes, starting at 1lb.  So, how does soil kills fleas?  Crazy right? 

Well, turns out that this specific type of soil has tiny bugs of its own called diatoms.  They have the ability to slice up fleas (who have an exoskeleton) and cause them to die of dehydration. 

I imagine these tiny little insects battling the fleas..haha.  Kill those fleas DEAD!

How Often Should You Bathe your Dog with Flea Shampoo: How To’s

How do you Check your Dog for Fleas?

Fleas are experts at hiding on our pets bodies, in our home and our yards.  You really have to search to find them.  They are attracted to warmth, light, movement and the carbon dioxide in our breath! 

The best places to start searching is in the moist areas of your pets body which include their hind ends by their tail, on their neck, face, and by the ears and eyes.

You might not find a live flea, but you may find what looks like dirt on their skin.  If you take that dirt and rub it on a paper towel or piece of paper, it will leave a red streak. 

This “dirt” is actually flea poop!  So gross!  It is made up of your pets blood!   This confirms that your pet has fleas.  You will need to begin treating your pet before it becomes a huge problem in your home.

How to give Your Dog a Flea Bath

Giving your dog a flea bath is similar to bathing your dog in regular dog shampoo, except flea killing shampoo for dogs needs to be left on for 5-10 minutes to ensure that the fleas and their eggs that are living on your dog have been killed.

How often should you bathe your dog in flea shampoo depends on the instructions on the bottle.  Each flea shampoo manufacturer has different instructions so please read the bottle and follow the instructions to get the best results.

First step is to make sure to follow the instructions on the bottle.

  1. Get your pet thoroughly wet
  2. Using about 1-2 tablespoons, lather up your pet, starting with the neck, tail area and paws and make sure to massage the shampoo down to the skin
  3. Lather up the rest of your pet and
  4. Leave the shampoo on for 5-10 minutes (make sure to have treats or a helper handy!).
  5. Dry your pet thoroughly
  6. Comb or brush your pet with a flea comb and get all those dead fleas and eggs out of your dogs coat.

How Often Do you Bathe a Dog with Fleas?

So how often can you use flea shampoo on your dog?  Bathing a dog with fleas should be done once you notice that your dog has a flea problems to give them immediate relief from itching and scratching.

Can you give your dog a flea bath 2 days in a row?  How often you can give your dog a flea bath depends if your pet has a big flea problem.  You can give them another bath right away, otherwise every 7-14 days is recommended by most manufacturers.

You do not want to bathe your pet everyday, this will dry out their skin and fur and your dog may end up having skin AND flea problems.

Make sure to wait 24 hours after applying a topical flea treatment before you dip your dog in a flea bath.

Flea killing shampoo for dogs along with flea collars, flea combs, furniture sprays, and topical treatments will rid your home of fleas and prevent fleas from returning.

Most manufacturers of flea shampoos for dogs also have a line of total flea control products such as Adams, which makes everything from flea shampoo for pets, to flea collars, to flea sprays for furniture and your yard.

Attacking your flea problem from all angles, makes sure to get it under control fast.

How Long Does Flea Shampoo Last?

Flea shampoo is more of an immediate solution to get rid of fleas on your dog.  While most flea shampoos say they repel and kill fleas for a certain amount of time, the best solution is long term like spot ons, orals, or flea collars.

how often should you bathe your dog in flea shampoo

How to Get Rid of Fleas in Your House:

When your Dog has Fleas What Should You do?

Most of your flea problem is because of fleas that are NOT on your pet.  Rather, they are fleas that are living and growing in your home!  You may be wondering, once you have tackled the fleas on your pet what else can you do to eliminate and prevent fleas from returning?

Dog has Fleas and Sleeps in my Bed: Washing and drying bedding

Washing your bedding, pillows, cushion covers etc. means that you will drown those fleas and wash away their eggs and larva. 

Fleas cannot survive high heat conditions such as those found in your dryer.  Drying your items in the dryer ensures that you’ve killed the flea eggs, larva and adults.

Spray your Furniture

Kill those hiding fleas dead by spraying flea killing spray on your furniture and in the cracks next to your floorboards. 

Vacuum them up into a canister filled with salt or Vetkem.  Be vigilant.  

Do it yourself fog kit

You can purchase a fog kit to bomb your home if the problem is terrible or if you have tried everything possible. 

Please note that some fogs can be harmful to pets and children and maybe even adults. You’ll have to leave your home for a time, so please read the manufacturers directions and plan accordingly before using these types of products.

Exterminator

If all else fails, you may have to call in the professionals to deal with the flea problems in your house. Once they have worked their magic, make sure to have a supply of flea killing products at home so that fleas do not infest your home again.

How to Reduce the Fleas in your Yard

You may be wondering if can bring fleas home on your clothes or shoes and the answer is yes! Petting other animals, as much as we love them, can bring fleas into your home. 

Also, fleas love to hide in plants and grass and wait to hitch a ride on you or your pet. They end up inside your home and multiply like crazy.  Fortunately, there are several yard treatments you can do, some chemical, some natural, to reduce the flea population in your yard.

How to Stop Fleas on Your Dog

If you live in an area where fleas are common, such as temperate climate or humid climate (usually its both) early detection of fleas is super important. 

Catching the problem early on can mean the difference between a few fleas and hundreds. 

Some tips for stopping a flea infestation include:

  • Make sure to check your pet every week, give them a good spot check and comb them with a good quality flea comb to see if there is any flea dirt or live fleas on them
  • Topical treatments are so effective.  Once a month and you don’t have to think about it.  My personal favorite is revolution.  My personal experience is that advantage/tix no longer worked on the fleas in my house for some reason and I had to switch brands.  If you buy 6 or 12 month packages you can save $$$.
  • Flea collars and flea killing shampoos can repel fleas for a certain amount of time but would work best if used with another type of flea killing treatment.
  • Adding garlic or brewer’s yeast to your dogs food is a way to help in naturally repelling fleas. 

Fleas FAQs

Fleas and Your Dogs Health

A flea infestation in your dog’s fur is a serious condition that should be given special attention.

These parasitic creatures persistently feed on the blood of your pet and the resulting bites leave them irritated and itchy. Your dog, like mine, could even be allergic to the bites and scratch themselves raw! 

The skin infections caused by flea bites may also result in anemia which is a serious condition. It’s a great idea to research the best flea and tick shampoos for dogs before deciding which one to use on your puppy or dog.

Quick Flea Facts

  • Fleas lay up to 50 eggs per day!
  • Flea eggs and larva must be exterminated, not just adult fleas or the flea life cycle will continue.
  • How long do fleas live?  Fleas live 2-3 months
  • They can go 100 days without food AKA blood that they get by biting your pets and family members
  • Pets can be allergic to the bites (flea saliva) and scratch themselves raw
  • Fleas can survive the cold, but not heat.  You can wash and dry your bedding on the highest setting and drown and kill the fleas

Is Flea Shampoo Safe for Dogs?

Flea shampoo is safe for dogs.  Companies that manufacture flea shampoos for dogs know their stuff. 

They formulate their dog shampoos with ingredients that are deadly to fleas yet gentle on your dog.  They do this by hiring Vets and pest experts to ensure you get the best quality product possible.

Flea shampoo for dogs from dollar general or family dollar is a no go. 

Do NOT skimp out and be cheap with your pets health.  Spending an extra 5$ could mean the difference between a healthy happy cat or a $1,000 vet bill and health problems for life.  Just.don’t.do.it.

The flea shampoo that you use may not be safe for your puppy.  Make sure to use an alternative flea treatment and purchase a flea shampoo specially formulated to be gentle on your puppy such as Wahls Products.

Can Flea Shampoo for Dogs be Used on Cats?

No.  Unless the product states on the bottle that it can be used on cats and dogs, then do not use it on your cat.  You will have to buy a product that is specially formulated for cats.

Ingredients such pyrethrins that are found in flea killing shampoo for dogs can seriously harm or even kill your cat. 

If you do not use a flea shampoo specifically made for cats, or flea products made for cats in general, they can make your cat very sick. This can cause your cat to experience nerve damage and even death. 

You might also wonder if you can use a flea shampoo for cats on your dog? 

The answer is the same: unless the product specifically says it is for BOTH cats and dogs, do not use it on your pooch.  It could seriously harm or even kill your dog. 

Even then, we recommend reading the ingredients list to ensure that nothing in the flea shampoo could harm your cat or dog.  We review the Top 4 Proven Best flea shampoos for cats in our post here.

Dollar Store Flea Shampoo for Dogs

This is another no no.  Trying to save a few bucks on your pets shampoo can cost them their health.  Save yourself the pain and sadness, and a few $1,000 in vet bills, and buy a reputable shampoo such as the ones above.

Flea Shampoo for Puppies

Puppies, especially those under 12 weeks of age, are particularly vulnerable (because they are so little) to the flea killing ingredients in flea control products. 

Try the alternatives above if you find fleas on your puppy and consult your vet if you can’t get rid of them yourself.

Alternative to Flea Shampoo for Dogs

If you do not want to use flea shampoo on your dog (maybe it is too young or pregnant or otherwise sick) there are alternative flea treatments you can use. 

How often can you bathe your dog with dawn?  Since it’s dish detergent and not formualted for dog skin and fur, we recommend as little as possible, maybe every 5 days or so.  After bathing in Dawn, you should be looking for a longer term solution to your flea problem and attacking the ones living in your home.

Alternatives to flea shampoo for dogs include using Dawn dish detergent, diatomaceous earth in your yard, throwing down Borax or salt onto your carpets/floors and vacuuming/sweeping regularly, flea collars, topical flea treatments and furniture sprays. 

Flea Shampoo for Pregnant Dogs

In this instance, I would recommend using other methods of removing fleas from your dog instead of a shampoo that contains flea killing ingredients.  Try a flea comb, dawn dish detergent and treat the furniture/bedding with flea sprays. 

Remember that most of your flea problem comes from the fleas, eggs and larva in your home, not the ones on your pet. 

Reducing or eliminating the fleas in your home and on your pregnant dog will reduce the chances that the puppies will end up with fleas.  Consult your vet for further information.

Conclusion

How often should you bathe your dog with flea shampoo is a question asked by a ton of pet parents!  Now that you have all the information that your need, kill those fleas dead!