There is so much information out there about how to be green and live better but, how do you know if you have chosen an environmentally friendly pet shampoo that is also good for your pet?
What criteria are there to judge if your pet shampoo is environmentally friendly? Is your pet shampoo organic or all natural? Is it biodegradable? Are there companies that make environmentally friendly pet shampoo?
In this post, we will talk about how to pick an eco friendly pet shampoo and review 3 environmentally friendly pet shampoos to take out the guesswork.
Bodhi Dog Company specializes in providing pet owners with a huge range of eco friendly pet products. If you are looking for all natural, organic, eco friendly pet and dog shampoo look no further.
Bonus: this green pet shampoo is also vegan, which means it’s plant based pet shampoo. Bodhi Organic Dog Shampoo is safe for puppies, kittens, and pregnant pets.
Bodhi Dog Shampoo contains no detergents or alcohol which can dry your pets skin and fur. They’ve also made sure to create a 100% non toxic shampoo that is hypoallergenic. Everything you should be looking for in an eco friendly dog shampoo.
There are no artificial fragrances, parabens, colors or preservatives. Always read the ingredients to ensure it fits the definition of an eco friendly product.
You can’t go wrong with choosing this earth friendly pet shampoo for your pet needs.
Pros
- All Natural
- Organic
- Can use on all pets including young, pregnant and nursing pets
- Good for pets with sensitive skin
- USDA Certified
- 100% non toxic
- MADE IN USA
- Comparable in price to non-eco friendly options
- Clean rinsing
- Can order on a delivery subscription through Amazon and save $$
- Relieves dry, itchy skin
- Lemongrass fresh scent
- Works on thick coated dogs with an undercoat such as Pomeranians and German Shephards
- Money back guarantee
- Family Owned business: support small businesses!
Cons
- If you are used to using non organic pet shampoos, you will find that this shampoo does not lather as much. That’s because it does not contain additives to help with lathering that could actually be bad for your pets. Don’t be fooled, it is still cleaning your pet!
- Some found the lemongrass scent to be overpowering
Best Seller
Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo Review
Earthbath is a company noted for their all natural approach towards manufacturing of dog care and grooming products.
Their innovative approach to environmentally friendly dog shampoo means they are one of the top companies to look for when buying all natural pet shampoo.
Their range of products doesn’t have any artificial soap in them, thereby rendering the same safe for sensitive skin conditions.
Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo leaves an amazing scent and is gentle on your pets. This eco friendly dog shampoo is recommended by groomers for even the most sensitive pets.
Pros
- Biodegradable
- Soap free
- Cruelty free
- Gentle on your pets
- Soothes dry itchy skin with oatmeal and aloe vera formula
- pH balanced
- Deodorizes
- Does not wash off topical flea treatments
- Priced similar to non-natural pet shampoos
- Large line of eco friendly products
- No parabens, DEA, dyes, perfumes or phosphates
- Safe to use on all your pets
Cons
- Since oatmeal is technically a grain, you should not use on your dog if they are allergic to grain or gluten. Consult your vet first or, as always, do a small patch test to see if there is a reaction prior to using all over your pet.
- Some folks wished that the scent was stronger and lasted longer.
Eco-Me Spray Review
Eco-Me Natural Dog Shampoo is a great choice to meet your environmentally friendly goals. It is also a favorite among pet groomers.
Perfect for all breeds and all ages. Vet approved and has no animal testing.
This pet shampoo is plant based, with vegetable derived ingredients and plant essential oils. Eco-Me carries a large line of eco friendly products for human and pets.
Pros
- MADE IN USA
- pH Balanced
- Food grade ingredients
- Plant based
- Softens and freshens fur
- Approved by Vets
- Can use on all of your pets
- Chemical free
- Sulfate and Dye free
- Fresh non synthetic scent
Cons
- Some folks say the scent is weaker than they would like
- If you are used to using non organic pet shampoos, you will find that this shampoo does not lather as much. That’s because it does not contain additives to help with lathering that could actually be bad for your pets. Don’t be fooled, it is still cleaning your pet!
Q & A: Eco Friendly Pet Shampoo
How do you know your shampoo is good for your pet and 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:
- Organic, certified organic is best (USDA for example)
- All Natural Ingredients
- pH balanced
- Simple to pronounce ingredients, remember less is more here
- Certified by a 3rd party to be Eco Friendly
- Biodegradable
- 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.
Ingredients to Avoid in Pet Shampoo
Picking an environmentally friendly pet shampoo should not be difficult so we have found a fantastic list of ingredients to avoid when choosing an eco friendly pet shampoo which we quickly summarize below.
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.
Make sure to avoid the following ingredients when picking a pet shampoo:
- Artificial Colors
- Cocomide DEA of MEA
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- Formaldehyde (embalming ingredient…in shampoo??? WHY?)
- Fragrances
- Isopropyl Alcohol
- Isopropyl (SD-40)
- Methylchoroisothiazolinone (SAY WHAT?)
- Methylparaben and Parabens
- Mineral Oil
- Phthalates (HUH?)
- Polythylene Glycol
- Polysorbates
- Propylene Glycol
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (Oh my…what are these??)
OK so on to the good stuff…..
Eco Friendly Pet Groomers
If you have a dog that requires additional trips to the groomer such as a Pomeranian, a Doodle, or a Yorkie you may be wondering how you can be environmentally conscious when you send you pet off to the groomer.
We recommend asking your groomer what kind of shampoos and grooming products they are using on your pet to determine if they meet your quality standards.
Groomers are well trained, certified and very knowledgeable about their clients and chances are they are already using an environmentally friendly pet shampoo.
Benefits of Environmentally Friendly Pet Shampoos
Environmentally friendly pet products provide many benefits to owners and their pets.
- Its old school knowledge to think that products that are considered “eco-friendly” are always more expensive than other products. This is just not the case any more. The brands reviewed above are around the same price or cheaper than the comparables.
- Bottles that are made of recycled material means less plastic in our landfills and that is always a plus.
- Reduces toxins in our environment and on our pets skin because you’re avoiding harsh chemicals and unnatural ingredients. These toxins could lead to big health problems later on so it is better to avoid them if possible.
- No animal testing! When you love animals this is an important fact.
- Rigorous testing and 3rd party approvals means these products are most likely inspected and vetted more often than the non-organic brands.
Plastics and Your Pet Shampoo
Reducing the amount of waste you make is actually pretty hard. Everything is pre packaged with 10 layers of plastic. We have to be super creative when we buy products and try to avoid those that are over packaged. Manufacturers don’t make it easy for us. I know I’ve started changing the way I spend my cash to send the message that all the over packaging on a simple item is NOT ok.
Make sure that if you have to buy pet shampoo in a plastic container that the container is made of recycled materials and can be recycled. Reuse the shampoo container for other things around the house as many times as you can.
One of my cupboards is just filled with old jars and containers and I always find a use for them. I also love the local store that opened in my town where you can go and refill your old shampoos and conditioners and they charge you per ounce or ml. Of course, the ultimate way to reduce waste when it comes to pet shampoo is making your own.
If you have a shampoo you prefer or a way to reduce waste let us know in the comments below and don’t forget to share our posts!