Many dog owners love to go the do-it-yourself route and experiment with products for their pets they can make at home. Some pet parents find the cost of shampoos for bathing their dogs too expensive and want to take a shot at making it at home. The majority of dog owners are more aware of the ingredients in pet products that may not be the best choices. These dog owners want to create all-natural products that are safe for their dogs and non-irritating—like a homemade dog shampoo! It’s especially important to use gentle shampoo on dogs and puppies that have allergies to avoid any skin irritations.
Proper PH Levels And Shampoos Just For Dogs Are Important
If you want to make DIY dog shampoo at home, an important tip is never to use shampoo created for humans [1]. The ph levels of human and canine skin are very different. The ph level in human skin can range from 5.5 to 5.6. However, canine ph levels are between 6.2 and 7.4. The ingredients in human shampoo are too acidic for canine use and may cause your pup to have skin irritations. There are even more reasons not to use human shampoo on your dog:
- High ph levels can cause a dog’s skin to get dry and start flaking
- Human shampoos contain artificial colors and fragrances that are harsh on dogs and can cause allergic reactions
- Shampoos for humans contain ingredients that can strip away the protective oils for a dog’s coat and skin
- Many human shampoos contain sulfate sodium salts which can irritate a dog’s eyes and skin
- Ingredients that irritate your pet’s eyes can cause significant trauma
When you’re making your own homemade dog shampoo, the ideal ph level is around 7. Fortunately, the homemade canine shampoos here have all the ingredients measured out for you.
Basic Homemade Dog Shampoo Recipes
Here’s a simple canine shampoo you can make at home using only three ingredients. Use a dishwashing detergent that’s gentle and formulated to break down grease and clean up wildlife caught in oil spills. Another practical use for dishwashing liquid is if your pup ever has a run-in with a skunk. The detergent is formulated to help get rid of the odor and oily residue from the skunk spray. A non-toxic type of detergent works well to get rid of excess oil that gets accumulated on a dog’s skin and coat.
White vinegar works as a deodorant and has antibacterial properties that keep a dog’s coat clean and shiny. It’s essential that you don’t get any of the mixtures into your pup’s eyes. Dishwashing liquid is a helpful product to use when you’re grooming your dog since it’s effective in removing dirt from the coat. You should always make sure to dilute it before use.
Ingredients For The Basic Dog Shampoo:
- 2 cups of warm, not hot water
- 1/4 cup of non-toxic dish detergent
- 1/2 cup of white vinegar
Combine all three ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake vigorously to thoroughly mix all the ingredients. Wet your dog with warm water. Make sure the water isn’t too hot. Spray your pup’s coat with the shampoo mixture, taking care not to get any in its eyes. Gently work the shampoo into your pup’s coat until you create a rich lather. Rinse your dog repeatedly with warm water until all traces of the shampoo are out of the coat. Dry your pup with a warm towel. White vinegar is the best type to use in homemade dog shampoos because it has antibacterial properties.
The safest brand of dishwashing liquid to use when making shampoo for your dog is any variety that’s labeled as non-toxic. This dishwashing liquid is even used on wildlife when they get caught in oil spills. However, a word of caution; you should only use the amount of non-toxic dishwashing liquid that’s specified in the directions for making dog shampoo. You should consider the amount of dishwashing liquid you use based on:
- Age of the dog
- Breed
- Size
Homemade Shampoos For Dogs With Dry Skin
When a dog has sensitive, dry, or itchy skin, you can add additional ingredients to the shampoo to relieve the symptoms. You can make shampoo at home for your dog that contains aloe very gel and glycerin. You should be able to purchase glycerin at supermarkets, pharmacies, or online. Another way to relieve irritated or itchy skin on your pup is to make an oatmeal shampoo. Oatmeal is recommended for the soothing properties that relieve itchy skin. Oatmeal is often used to create pet products used by groomers.
Ingredients In Aloe And Glycerin Shampoo
- 1 quart of warm water
- 1 cup of baby shampoo or a non-toxic dish detergent
- 1 cup of apple cider or white vinegar
- 1/3 cup of glycerin
- Two tablespoons of gel containing aloe
Mix all the ingredients together in a spray bottle and shake several times until the mixture is thoroughly combined. Apply the mixture to your dog and make sure to avoid the eye area. Work the shampoo into your dog’s coat and rinse thoroughly. Dry your pup off with a warm towel.
Dry Skin Oatmeal Shampoo Ingredients
- 1 cup of uncooked oatmeal (can be regular or quick-cooking)
- 1/2 cup of baking soda
- 1 quart of warm water
Many pet parents love oatmeal bath for dogs. To do this, mix the oatmeal thoroughly in a food processor or coffee grinder until it reaches a powder consistency. Pour the ground-up oatmeal into a large bowl and mix in the baking soda. Add warm water and stir the mixture until it’s thoroughly combined. Wet down your pup with plenty of warm water. Use enough of the homemade shampoo for a lather and work into your dog’s coat. If your dog will sit quietly, let the shampoo mixtures sit on his coat for several minutes before rinsing. Use a fluffy towel to dry your pup thoroughly.
Homemade Shampoo To Kill And Repel Fleas
Some dogs have suffered from severe immune system reactions and toxicity when their owner use essential oils on them. You should never apply 100 percent aromatherapy essential oil to your pet. Your pet should never ingest any of the oils. Some do-it-yourself dog owners make a mixture of essential oils that are thought to be pet safe. However, lavender oil is considered to be antibacterial and antiparasitic. If you have concerns or questions, you should consult your veterinarian.
Essential Oil Dog Shampoo Ingredients To Kill Fleas
- 10 ounces of warm water
- Two ounces of gel with aloe
- One tablespoon of Castile soap
- Two drops of lavender essential oil
Using a clean, spray bottle combine all the ingredients and shake to mix thoroughly. Wet your pup down with warm water, spray the shampoo on and work thoroughly into your pup’s coat. Work the mixture into hard-to-reach areas near the tail or around the ears. Make sure not to get any of the mixtures in your dog’s eyes. Rinse all the shampoo out of your dog’s coat with warm water. Make sure you rinse your pup off thoroughly. You can find a lot of homemade dog shampoo recipes. Many of them combine these ingredients:
- Non-toxic dishwashing liquid
- Castile soap may be substituted for dishwashing soap
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Warm water
Vinegar adds shine to the dog’s coat and acts as a deodorant. Baking soda balances the acidic levels of vinegar and water. Castile soap or dishwashing liquid binds ingredients together. When your dog needs a bath, instead of buying an expensive shampoo that might not be suitable for your pup, you can make up a batch of homemade shampoo that doesn’t contain any irritating ingredients and will give your dog a shiny coat.
Dishwashing liquid is effective for removing excess dirt and grease from your dog’s coat. However, it shouldn’t be used too frequently. Even if a dishwashing liquid is marketed as non-toxic it could contain ingredients that can be too harsh for some dogs and could irritate their skin. If your dog has skin or seasonal allergies that cause irritation, you may want to consult your veterinarian before using dishwashing liquid as a base for dog shampoo.
FAQs
What can I use to wash my dog if I don’t have dog shampoo?
Basic, homemade shampoos are effective for washing your dog if you don’t have any dog shampoo. Castile soap is an excellent alternative to dog shampoo. Castile is an all-natural, olive-based soap that’s formulated from saponified oils. A saponified oil is non-toxic and naturally hydrating. Saponified oils are one of the basic ingredients in commercial dog shampoos.
Any type of scented Castile soap that’s created especially for dogs only contains two percent of essential oils. Lavender is the safest essential oil to use in a dog shampoo substitute. Lavender is antiparasitic and antibacterial, making it an excellent ingredient to use in your homemade shampoo. Since Castile soap contains properties to moisturize dry skin on dogs, it’s an excellent choice to use on pups that have sensitive skin.
To make a homemade shampoo that you can safely use on your dog, mix one-half cup of liquid Castile soap with one-quarter cup of white vinegar. Add one tablespoon of glycerin that you can buy in a pharmacy. Next, mix in two tablespoons of water and two or three drops of dog-friendly essential oil, preferably lavender. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Spray on your dog’s coat, massage it into the coat, and rinse well. Make sure to get all of the shampoos out of your dog’s coat.
How can I wash my dog naturally?
The most important thing to remember when you want to wash your dog or freshen up its coat, don’t use a shampoo that’s created for humans. The ph levels of humans and dogs are different. Human shampoo can be irritating and, depending on some of the ingredients, could be toxic to your pup.
You can wash your dog naturally using products you likely have in your home, including:
- Non-toxic dishwashing liquid
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Aloe Vera gel
Castile soap and glycerin are commonly used in homemade dog shampoo and are available in pharmacies. Other products that can be a substitute for dog shampoo are wet wipes and dog spray. Pet product companies make wipes that are for dogs. The wipes are an excellent substitute if your dog has been playing outside and needs a quick clean-up. Baby wipes can be used on your pup if they don’t have any type of fragrance that could be toxic. You should be careful when washing your dog’s face.
