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