Go au naturel by making your own homemade dog shampoo
While you shouldn’t bathe your dog too often, it is important to have a quality shampoo on hand for those days when he gets dirty from an outdoor walk. Over-bathing your dog can dry out his skin and cause irritation but using the right shampoo once in a while can actually moisturize and improve the condition of his skin and coat. In this article you will learn how to make your own homemade dog shampoo from simple household ingredients.
Why Make Homemade Dog Shampoo
It is easy to go to the pet store and pick up a bottle of dog shampoo, so why wouldn’t you do it? Many dog owners are concerned with the safety of commercial pet products like shampoo because they often contain chemicals as well as artificial dyes and perfumes which could irritate your dog’s skin and trigger allergies in dogs that are sensitive. If you really want to be careful about what goes into your dog’s shampoo, the best thing you can do is to make your own. In making your own shampoo you have complete control over the ingredients you use and you do not have to wonder about “hidden” ingredients. It can also be very cost-effective to make your own shampoo at home, especially if you follow a recipe that uses household ingredients you already have on hand.
Shampoo for Itchy Skin
If your dog has a skin condition that causes itching and irritation, this shampoo recipe is perfect – it helps to soothe irritation and moisturize your dog’s skin so it will heal.
Ingredients:
1 cup water
3 tablespoons liquid castile soap
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/8 teaspoon tea tree oil
Instructions:
Combine all of the ingredients in a small squirt bottle and shake well to blend. Wet your dog’s coat and apply the shampoo liberally then work it into a lather and rinse.
Shampoo for Odor
If your dog has that “doggy” smell to him, this shampoo recipe is exactly what you need. In addition to cleaning your dog’s coat, the vinegar component has natural antibacterial and deodorant properties which will help to remove odor.
Ingredients:
2 cups warm water
½ cup distilled white vinegar
¼ cup liquid castile soap
Instructions:
Combine all of the ingredients in a small squirt bottle and shake well to blend. Wet your dog’s coat and apply the shampoo liberally then work it into a lather and rinse.
Shampoo for Fleas
Ingredients:
4 cups warm water
1 cup distilled white vinegar
1 cup baby shampoo
2 to 3 drops lavender oil
Instructions:
Combine all of the ingredients in a small squirt bottle and shake well to blend. Wet your dog’s coat and apply the shampoo liberally then work it into a lather and rinse.
Other Tips and Additives
The best thing about making your own dog shampoo at home is that you can customize it by changing the ingredients you use. If your dog is suffering from dry, itchy skin then you should try adding some essential oils like tea tree oil or even olive oil. Ingredients like white vinegar and baking soda can help to neutralize odors while scented oils like lavender and lemon can give your shampoo a pleasant scent. When choosing a soap for your shampoo it is important that you use an unscented, dye-free soap – things like Dawn dish soap and liquid castile soap are the best options.
Using these tips and recipes you can save yourself money and peace of mind to create your own homemade dog shampoo. The next time you go to give your dog a bath, leave that bottle of commercial shampoo on the shelf and whip up a batch of homemade shampoo instead.
