DIY Recipes for Safe, Natural, Herbal Shampoos and Rinses for Dogs, Cats

Despite the fact that a manufacturer may label and advertise a shampoo for dogs or cats as safe, all-natural or organic does not mean that the product is actually safe, organic or natural. While a product may contain one or more safe ingredients it may also include multiple toxic/carcinogenic ingredients. 

In addition it is important to note that many commercial flea shampoos, dips and related products contain highly toxic, carcinogenic ingredients. Use a safe, truly natural alternative such as those provided here.

Unless you are 100% sure of the quality of the product you are better off making your own dog or cat shampoo (and rinse) - it is simple and easy to make. Here are some recipes…but first please note, as with any shampoo make sure to keep the soap out of your dog’s or cat's eyes! Make sure you use organic ingredients only.

Shampoo Recipes

Simple Shampoo Option One

3 oz    Castile soap (available at many health and bulk food stores)
6 drops Lavender essential oil 

Simple Shampoo Option Two

Organic unpasturized, unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar
Apply, gently rub into fur and skin, you can rinse the ACV off or allow your dog's fur/skin to air-dry

Citrus Scented Shampoo
(if you are making this for a cat use lemongrass essential oil instead of orange and lemon essential oils)
3 oz    Castile soap (available at many health and bulk food stores);

1 oz    Vegetable Glycerin

2 oz    Distilled water
5 drops Orange essential oil

3 drops Lemon essential oil

 

Cinnamon and Rosemary Scented Shampoo
(if you are making this for a cat use peppermint or spearmint essential oil instead of cinnamon essential oil) 
3 oz    Castile soap (available at many health and bulk food stores);
1 oz    Vegetable Glycerin

2 oz    Distilled water
6 drops Cinnamon essential oil

5 drops Rosemary essential oil

Flower Scented Shampoo for Dogs
3 oz    Castile soap (available at many health and bulk food stores);
1 oz    Vegetable Glycerin

2 oz    Distilled water
5 drops Rose essential oil
4 drops  Lavender essential oil
3 drops Ylang Ylang  essential oil

If you would like to follow your dog’s or cat's shampoo with a soothing rinse treatment, you can select from one of these herbal rinses…

Rinse Recipes

Herbal Rinse #1 - Anti-Itch Herbal Rinse, very good for dogs and cats with Chronic Skin Allergies

You will need the following:
2 tea bags of Rooibos Tea (also known as Red Bush Tea);
Fresh squeezed juice of one lemon.

• Place the tea bags and lemon juice in hot water and allow to steep for 15 minutes;
• Remove the tea bags and allow the resulting ‘tea’ to cool;
• Then use the tea as a conditioning, soothing rinse;
• You do not have to rinse the ‘tea’ off of your dog after application;
• Don’t use rooibos tea rinse on dogs that have white fur unless you add the optional ingredient - lemon juice;
• Rooibos tea is red, but when fresh lemon juice is added the intense red is softened to light yellow, and will not affect white fur.

Rooibos is naturally anti-viral, anti-allergenic and a mild anti-anxiety mediator. Rooibos tea is also high in vitamin C, rich in antioxidants (37 to be exact), several minerals and alpha-hydroxy-acid. If you would like to know more about the health benefits and uses of Rooibos tea for your dog you can read this article. Lemon has many health benefits for dogs - read more here.

Herbal Rinse #2 - Soothing Chamomile and Green Tea for Dogs and Cats

 
You will need the following:
2 Chamomile tea bags
1 green tea bag

• Place the tea bags in hot water and allow to steep for 15 minutes;
• Remove the tea bags and allow the resulting ‘tea’ to cool;
• Then use the tea as a conditioning, soothing rinse…you do not have to rinse the ‘tea’ off of your dog after application.

Herbal Rinse #3 - Refreshing Lemon Balm for Dogs and Cats

 
You will need the following:
2 Lemon balm tea bags
1 green tea bag

• Place the tea bags in hot water and allow to steep for 15 minutes;
• Remove the tea bags and allow the resulting ‘tea’ to cool;
• Then use the tea as a conditioning, soothing rinse…you do not have to rinse the ‘tea’ off of your dog after application…don’t use lemon balm tea rinse on white fur dogs as it may give their coat a slight yellow tinge.

Herbal Rinse #4 - Refreshing Peppermint, Fennel and Rose for Dogs and Cats

 
You will need the following:
1 peppermint tea bag
1 fennel tea bag
1 rose tea bag

• Place the tea bags in hot water and allow to steep for 15 minutes;
• Remove the tea bags and allow the resulting ‘tea’ to cool;
• Then use the tea as a conditioning, soothing rinse…you do not have to rinse the ‘tea’ off of your dog after application…don’t use lemon balm tea rinse on white fur dogs as it may give their coat a slight yellow tinge.

Herbal Rinse #5 - Soothing ‘Mix-it-Up’ Herbal Rinse  for Dogs and Cats

 
You will need 1 oz of each of the following dry herbs:
Calendula
Chamomile
Lavender
Oats
Rose Petals
Slippery Elm
Witch Hazel

• Grind the herbs in a mortar and pestle or coffee grinder;
• Place the ground herbs in a large loose tea bag/ball, or muslin; 
• Place in hot water and allow to steep for 15 minutes;
• Remove the tea bag/ball and allow the resulting ‘tea’ to cool;
• Then use the tea as a conditioning, soothing rinse…you do not have to rinse the ‘tea’ off of your dog after application.

For additional soothing rinses you can take a look at the DIY recipes in this article.

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Dog, Cat, Pet Shampoo - Unsafe, Harmful Ingredients to be Avoided

Dogs are exposed to so many toxins and carcinogens these days. Every additional unsafe ingredient we expose our dogs to creates a heavier toxic load on our dog’s system. 

Talking about unsafe ingredients in pet shampoo may seem trivial if you only bath your dog once in a blue-moon…but it is best to remember that you should look at toxic loading in broad perspective. 

Here is an example of how your dog’s and cat's  toxic load can build-up without you ever realizing it…

• Feeding commercially manufactured;
• Dry and wet dog and cat food (kibble, etc.) and treats;
•  Particularly food and treats that contain...
• GMO corn and derivatives;
• GMO Soy and derivatives;
• Ethoxyquin and other chemical-based preservatives;
• Prescription dog and cat food that contains other harmful additives;
• Dental chews;
• If your dog is drinking fluorinated water;
• If your are brushing your dog’s or cat's teeth with commercially manufactured dog or cat toothpaste or oral rinse - there are so many healthy simple and safe alternatives to prevent gingivitus and periodontal disease.
• If you have your dog on chemical based flea, tick, dewormers or heartworm preventatives, -  topical or orally ingested products;
• If you are using commercially manufactured chemical-based household cleaners;
• If you are using any herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers on your lawn and garden - or you are living near a neighbour, parkland or farmer who uses these products;
• If you are walking your dog on salt treated roads or sidewalks in the winter…

Your dog can be carrying a substantial toxic load. Now add a shampoo with toxic ingredients into the mix…even if that shampoo is only used a few times a year the bad (toxic, carcinogenic) ingredients are absorbed through your dog’s skin - resulting in further toxic load.

Don’t be fooled by labels that say ‘all natural’, ‘safe’ etc. As dog shampoo is not considered a drug, there are no regulations to govern the term ‘all natural’, ‘safe’. Many manufacturers’ take advantage of this gap in regulations, therefore the one and only way to protect your dog is to know what to avoid.

Take a look at this list below - if the dog shampoo you are using contains any of these, throw it out! If you are looking to purchase a product take this list with you, or compare it to the product you are buying if purchasing on-line.

You can also make your own dog or cat shampoo and rinse - to do so is simple and you will be 100% sure you are using a safe, truly natural product.

Ingredients to Avoid in Commercially Manufactured Dog, Pet Shampoo

• 1,4-diaminobenzene
• Artificial colors (i.e.  blue 1,2,4, disperse blue 1; green 1,2,3; red 4,9,17,19,22,33,40;  yellow 5,6,8; disperse yellow 3 - will be shown as D =&C or FD&C…i.e. FD&C Red No.6);
• Benzalkonium Chloride and Benzethonium Chloride - synthetic germicides, long term use may affect immune system, cause asthma;
• BHA;
• BHT;
• Coal Tar Dyes;
• Diethanolamine (DEA);
• DEA-Cocamide & Lauramide & Oleamidecondensates;
• DEA-cocamide/lauramide condensates;
• DEA-MEA/Acetame;
• DEA-Sodium lauryl sulfate;
• Dioxins;
• Fragrances (Parfum) - unless from a truly all natural source;
• Methylisothiazolinone (MIT);
• Methicone;
• Triethanolamine (TEA);
• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS);
• Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES);
• Paraphenylenediamine;
• PEG-compounds (1,4-dioxane, propylene glycol and other ingredients with the letters "eth" , i.e.polyethylene glycol);
• P-phenylenediamine;
• Propylene Glycol (used in anti-freeze!);
• Phthalates;
• Petrolatum or Mineral Oil (can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons);
• Sodium Hydroxide;
• Triclosan.

Although this list is lengthy, it represents only a portion of the harmful ingredients - toxins and carcinogens that can be present in off-the-shelf shampoo products for dogs and cats. 

In addition many companies including those that manufacture pet food and other pet products including shampoo and rinse test their products on 'research' dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals. These research animals suffer while enduring cruel and debilitating testing  and  are then 'euthanized' when no longer 'required' or when too damaged to be of further 'use'. The majority of research animals come from two basic sources: they are  breed specifically for use as research animals or, 2) they are from 'shelters', pounds and other animal control centers (ACC). While Pound Seizure is the law in places like Ontario Canada, some shelters in other parts of the USA and Canada choose to sell dogs and cats to D3 dealers that sell these innocent animals to research laboratories.

When you choose to make your own dog and cat pet care products you protect your own companion animal and while ensuring that you do not contribute to the abuse and death of other companion animals.

If you would like to make your own simple, safe, DIY all natural organic, herbal shampoo for dogs and cats you can try some of the recipes in this article.

Holistic Support

Additional Assistance - Holistic Health and Wellness Service

If you require additional support, and guidance - contact me to discuss your requirements. I will determine the appropriate course of action for your situation and I will let you know the applicable fees. I offer consultative services to clients around the world...
Diet, Nutrition Wellness Services

• Unbiased Diet, Nutrition, Product Advice - information and payment here >>. 
• Holistic Diet, Nutrition Wellness Plans - information and payment here >>.

Dog Obedience Training and Behavior Modification Services

• In-Person sessions - information and payment here >>.
• On-Line consultation and sessions - information and payment here >>.