Whether you prefer natural products for your dog, are a regular DIY’er, or just want to save some money, making your own dog shampoo is one way to accomplish all three. The ingredients may already be in your pantry, and if not, they’re easy to find in stores. They’re as basic as baking soda, vinegar, and ordinary dish soap.
One thing you don’t want to use is shampoo made for humans. The pH level of our skin is different from that of dogs: ours ranges from 5.5-5.6, while dogs’ pH is between 6.2-7.4. Human shampoo will be too acidic for dogs and can cause skin irritations. If you’re going to mix up your own dog shampoo, you’ll be aiming for a pH level around 7. Luckily, others have done the math for you and devised simple homemade dog shampoo recipes.
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Basic Homemade Dog Shampoo
3-Ingredient Simple Shampoo Dish detergent is formulated to cut through grease and will do a great job of washing away oils that accumulate on your dog’s coat and skin. White vinegar has antibacterial and deodorant properties and will leave his coat shiny and clean. Just be careful not to get any in his eyes.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of warm water
- 1/4 cup of nontoxic dish soap
- 1/2 cup of white vinegar
Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake to mix. Then wet your dog’s coat with warm water and spray with shampoo, avoiding his eyes. Work the shampoo into his coat, creating a thick lather. Rinse thoroughly and repeatedly, even if you think all signs of shampoo are gone. Then dry him off, and he’s good to go!
Homemade Dog Shampoos for Dry Skin
If your dog has itchy, dry, or sensitive skin, there are a few things you can add to the shampoo to relieve his symptoms. You can make a shampoo that has glycerin—which can be found in pharmacies, some grocery stores, and online—and aloe vera gel. Or you can make an oatmeal shampoo. Oatmeal is known for its soothing properties and is found in many commercial grooming products.
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Aloe Vera and Glycerin Shampoo
Ingredients:
- 1 quart of water
- 1 cup of baby shampoo or nontoxic dish soap
- 1 cup of white or apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup of glycerin
- 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel
Mix all ingredients in spray bottle and shake to thoroughly combine. Apply to your dog, avoiding his eyes and work into his coat. Rinse.
Oatmeal Dog Shampoo for Dry Skin
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of uncooked oatmeal
- 1/2 cup of baking soda
- 1 quart of warm water
Grind the oatmeal in a coffee grinder or food processor until it’s the consistency of flour. Pour into a large bowl and mix in baking soda. Add warm water and stir until incorporated. Wet your dog with warm water and then lather him up with your homemade shampoo. Work into his coat and allow it to sit for a few minutes, if he’ll let you. Then rinse thoroughly and dry.
Homemade Shampoo to Repel and Kill Fleas
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You can even use homemade dog shampoo to fight fleas. The trick is to add lavender essential oil, which is thought to be a natural antiparasitic and antibacterial. Some DIY’ers combine oils that are pet-safe, but if you have to choose just one, lavender will do.
It’s important to note that not all essential oils are safe for dogs or other pets. Some dogs have severe toxicity and immune-mediated reactions after exposure to some essential oils. Never apply 100 percent essential oils from aromatherapy products on your pet. Also, make sure your dog doesn’t ingest essential oils. If you have questions, always contact your veterinarian.
Flea-Repellent Dog Shampoo with Essential Oils
Ingredients:
- 10 ounces of warm water
- 2 ounces of aloe vera gel
- 1 tablespoon of Castile soap
- 2 drops of lavender essential oil
Combine all ingredients in a clean spray bottle and shake to combine thoroughly. Wet your dog with warm water, spray on shampoo and work into his coat, especially in harder to reach places, making sure not to get any in his eyes. Rinse thoroughly.
There are hundreds of homemade dog shampoo recipes out there, most using some combination of vinegar, which deodorizes and adds shine; Castile soap, or dish soap, which helps the ingredients bind together; and baking soda to balance the acidity of vinegar and water, which is pH neutral. So next time you and your dog are preparing to bond over bath time, start in the kitchen and mix up some easy, safe, and inexpensive dog shampoo of your own!
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Recipe