Easy Homemade Dog Shampoo
Skin symptoms fleas itch grooming 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.
Source: akc.org
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!
Source: akc.org
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.
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.
Source: akc.org
Homemade dog shampoo to combat fleas
There are several recipes out there for homemade dog shampoo for fighting fleas , one of which is not only very simple to concoct, but is also ideal if you dog has sensitive skin!
This homemade dog shampoo for fleas requires:
- 1 quart of water
- 1 cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup of baby shampoo or nontoxic dish soap (many sites recommend Dawn by name)*
For a lower-volume homemade dog shampoo to fight fleas or for a smaller dog or puppy, try:
- 1/2 cup of water
- 1/4 cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup of baby shampoo or nontoxic dish soap*
Apply either solution with a spray bottle or a thoroughly cleaned-out condiment bottle to minimize waste. Work the homemade dog shampoo into your dog’s fur, particularly along hard-to-reach areas down the spine, the base of the tail, the chest and under the forearms, and let it soak in for at least five minutes before rinsing. Comb or brush your dog during that time to remove dead fleas.
*Dawn and baby shampoo should not be used too frequently on dogs as it may dry out a dog’s skin and should not be used on dogs with a dry skin condition. Instead, you may want to try a liquid castile soap, like Dr. Bonner’s.
Source: dogster.com
Final Thoughts
With any of these homemade dog shampoo recipes, your dog will be so soft, clean, and smelling great! Let us know which one is your favorite and which essential oils you ended up using. And if you have your own favorite DIY dog shampoo recipe or other tips, feel free to share it with us!
If you want to explore more with essential oils, this Simple Solutions kit + whatever other oils you want is a great way to start. Then Melanie will reach out to you for the included wellness consult and welcome gift!
