Bathing your dog is an important part of caring for him. There are many dog shampoos and conditioners available in pet stores, and you probably have your favorite. But during a pandemic, it’s not always possible to buy the right product. Also, many owners are concerned about the huge amount of chemicals in shampoos that lead to allergies in animals. In such cases, you can make your own dog shampoo for pets from available ingredients. Here are a few DIY dog shampoo recipes that will perfectly clean the skin and coat of your pet.
Everyone knows that special shampoos are better for washing dogs. They gently remove dirt and don’t cause problems for pets. But what if you can’t find the bottle and your pet needs a bath right away? Whether you can use soap or regular shampoo, you’ll find out in our article.
Features of Dog Skin
Cynologists and veterinarians unanimously assert that dogs have a fatty film on their bodies that should not be washed off. Such scarce information causes dog owners to go to extremes. Some say that their dogs should be bathed only twice a year. Others bathe every other day. What are we dealing with?
Dogs have skin similar to ours in general, but it’s much more gentle and dry. If we don’t wash at all, we’ll gradually build up tangles of sebum (sebum) that will block the air’s circulation and cause severe shedding. Frequent bathing causes dandruff, dermatitis, and the formation of micro-cracks in which dangerous bacteria can enter.
Human glands secrete more sebum than canine glands. Make sure that grooming product manufacturers take this fact into account and add more aggressive ingredients. The latter are disastrous for dogs. Even one use of an ordinary shampoo can lead to serious consequences.
Ingredients as simple as vinegar and baking soda are basic ingredients in many homemade dog shampoo recipes. Other ingredients for the best homemade dog shampoo, can be purchased at grocery stores or drugstores, including Castile soap, which is based on olive oil, and glycerin. In many cases, standard baby shampoo or nontoxic dish soap are often included in a DIY natural dog shampoo recipe to bind the ingredients together. The recipes we’ll focus on here are very simple and require minimal preparation.
Soft Shampoo
Homemade pet shampoo will help soothe dry, rough, irritable skin and can also be used as a mild shampoo for everyday use. To prepare this you will need:
- 1/3 cup glycerin
- 1 cup dish detergent
- 1/2 cup natural apple cider vinegar
- 1-liter water
Mix everything and make sure that the ingredients dissolve and turn into a homogeneous mixture. You can store this in an old shampoo bottle. Use the solution while bathing your dog and rinse it off well. The residue will be licked off by the dog and this can cause damage
Be sure to shake before each use, as glycerin usually forms a layer on the surface of the liquid. Do not use it to wash his ears or near his eyes.
Oatmeal Shampoo
The oatmeal shampoo has a cleansing and deodorizing effect, ideal for getting rid of dry and scaly skin, soothes itchy skin after insect bites, and is suitable for removing fleas. It’s also a great warm massage that your pet will enjoy and therefore minimize stress. You will need:
- Oat flakes
- Hot water
- Sock
Take oatmeal and hot water in 1:1 proportions. The volume of the ingredients will depend on the size of your dog. Combine the two ingredients to form a starchy mixture. Pour hot water over the cereal and let it swell, leaving it for about 15 minutes. Pour the warm mixture into a sock and rub it into your dog’s coat. Hold the shampoo for 5 minutes and rinse off with warm water.
Dry Shampoo
If you bathe your dog too often, more than once a month or so, you risk drying out your dog’s skin. Your dog’s natural hair and skin chemistry are restored between baths, and you need to give them time to do so. Dry homemade natural dog shampoo can be a healthy compromise between a messy dog and damaged skin. You will need:
- Cornmeal (or other starch)
- Baking soda
- Essential oil
Mix 1.5 cups of cornmeal, baking soda, and ten drops of essential oil (tea tree, lemon, lavender, or rosemary). Sprinkle the mixture on your dog’s coat, rubbing it well with your hands. Massage for about five minutes, and then brush over your dog. For dogs with dry skin, you can rub a few drops of olive oil into the skin after shampooing but before final brushing.
Home remedies for dog shampoo can be just as good as the ready-made counterpart from the pet store. Only certain professional solutions or medical products can make a difference in the quality of your pet’s bathing.
Also, consider allergies and possible skin irritations that may be caused by the ingredients in your homemade mix. Some dogs require delicate ingredients so consult your veterinarian if you are unsure if the procedure will be safe for your pet. Make sure that the cleaning procedure is not only pleasant for your dog but also healthy.