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

Despite the fact that a manufacturer may label and advertise a shampoo for dogs 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.

Unless you are 100% sure of the quality of the product you are better off making your own dog shampoo - 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 eyes!

Shampoo Recipes

Simple Shampoo

3 oz    Castile soap (available at many health and bulk food stores);
2 oz    Apple Cider Vinegar (organic is best)
1 oz    Vegetable Glycerin

2 oz    Distilled water 

Citrus Scented Shampoo
3 oz    Castile soap (available at many health and bulk food stores);
2 oz    Apple Cider Vinegar (organic is best)
1 oz    Vegetable Glycerin

2 oz    Distilled water
5 drops Orange essential oil

3 drops Lemon essential oil

 

Cinnamon and Rosemary Scented Shampoo
3 oz    Castile soap (available at many health and bulk food stores);
2 oz    Apple Cider Vinegar (organic is best)
1 oz    Vegetable Glycerin

2 oz    Distilled water
6 drops Cinnamon essential oil

5 drops Rosemary essential oil

Flower Scented Shampoo
3 oz    Castile soap (available at many health and bulk food stores);
2 oz    Apple Cider Vinegar (organic is best)
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 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 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 white fur dogs 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

 
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

 
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

 
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 

 
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.

Related Articles

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

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When A Dog is Constantly Scratching

Dog and 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 toxic load can build-up without you ever realizing it…

If your dog is: 

• Eating commercially manufactured
• Dog kibble and treats,
• Dental chews;
• If your dog is drinking fluorinated water;
• If your are brushing your dog’s teeth with commercially manufactured dog toothpaste or oral rinse;
• If you have your dog on chemical based flea, tick, heartworm, etc. 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 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 shampoo - 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. 

 

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

Related Articles

Natural Remedies for Dogs and Cats Suffering From Sore, Irritated Paws 

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

When A Dog is Constantly Scratching

Omega Fatty Acids For Dogs - Omega 3, Omega 6, Health Benefits, Best Sources, Dosage

Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are very important for the overall health of a dog. Conversely a lack of good-source omega fatty acids can create many health issues, from allergies to cancer, fur and skin problems, heart disease and many other problems as you will see further below.

Balancing The Intake of Omega Fatty Acids

The intake of Omega-3 and Omega-6 must be balanced correctly. Failure to do so can result in health problems.

To strike the right balance - the ratio should be in the range of 2:1 for Omega-3 to Omega-6. Meaning for every 1 part of Omega 6 there should be 2 parts Omega 3. Commercially made dog food provides copious amounts of Omega 6 to an infinitesimal amount of Omega 3. An out-of-balance ratio can disrupt the balance of pro and anti-inflammatory agents in the body resulting in chronic inflammation and elevation of the risk of health issues such allergies, arthritis and diabetes.

 

The Health Benefits of Omega 3 Fatty Acids

 

Omega 3 fatty acids help with:

• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Atopy
• Behavior problems
• Bone health
• Digestive disease
• Eosinophilic granuloma complex
• Excessive blood clotting 
  
• Flea allergies
• Hair/fur problems
• Helps prevent cancer growth
  
• Heart disease
• Learning difficulties
• Lowers the amount of lipids (i.e. cholesterol, triglycerides) circulating in the bloodstream
• Immune-mediated skin disease
• Inflammation throughout the body
• Inhibits thickening of the arteries 
  
• Kidney disease
• Reduces risk of obesity
• Seborrhea
• Metabolism regulation
• Military dermatitis
• Maintains fluidity of cell membranes 

To understand more about Omega-3 fatty acids and how they effect behaviour read  here.

 

The Health Benefits of Omega 6 Fatty Acids

Omega 6 fatty acids help avoid and treat: 

• Build cell membranes and support cell health
• Dry coat
• Mycoplasma
• Regulate Blood Clotting
• Seborrhea

Not All Sources of Omega Fatty Acids Are Equal

It is also important to understand that although Omega 3 and 6 can be found in many food stuffs - not all sources of these fats offer quality nutrition. Further below you will find a listing of good sources of omega fatty acids. 

 

Good Sources of Omega 3 fatty acids for your dog: 
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

• Atlantic Mackerel 
• Anchovy
• Bluefin Tuna 
• Beans/legumes
• Chia Seeds (whole or ground), Chia Seed Oil
• Dairy Products from pasture fed cows, goats and sheep
• Flax Seeds (ground), or flax oil
• Green Leafy Vegetables
• Krill oil
• *Pacific or Atlantic Herring
• *Salmon, salmon oil
• *Sardines
• *Sprat
• *Menhaden fish  
• Wild rice
  *cooked or canned in water

Although canola oil, soy products, soy oil, walnuts are also high in Omega 3 fatty acids 1) walnuts are toxic for your dog; 2) both canola and soy are from Round-up Ready Genetically Modified (GM) seed crops (i.e. in North America)...

 

Canola and soybeans in the USA and Canada are almost all grown from Genetically Modified (GM) seeds - the long term affect of ingesting GM food is not known. Further to this, large factory farms use a method to process soy that leaves it very high in photoestrogens. Photoestrogens have been proven to interfere with reproduction and thyroid function. Factory farming processing methods for soy also result in a product that is very high in phytates. Phytates prevent mineral absorption as well as substances that prevent the normal function of enzymes required to digest protein. And one last thumbs down for large factory farm produced soy - it has one of the highest concentrations of pesticides found in North American crops. Traditional methods of processing soy by fermentation (as employed in Japan and China) greatly reduces photoestrogens, and phytates, thus making consumption of the resulting soy, safe and nutritional.

Good Sources of Omega 6 fatty acids for your dog:

Linoleic acid (LA), Gamma-linoenic acid and Arachidonic acid (AA)

• Animal Meats
• Chia Seeds (ground or whole)
• Coconut Oil (see below)
  
  • While virgin coconut oil is 90% saturated fat, when added to a dog’s diet in small quantities, on a daily basis virgin coconut oil has many beneficial qualities. It is also very affective as a topically applied treatment on cuts, wounds and for ailments of the skin. To learn about the extensive benefits of adding coconut oil to your dog’s daily diet click here.

• Chia Seeds (ground or whole) or Chia Seed Oil 
• Olive Oil 
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Sesame Oil 

Interactions & Cautions

Drug Interactions - If your dog is on the following drugs consult your veterinarian before supplementing with Omega-3 Fatty Acids:

• Blood thinners;
• Beta blockers;
• Diuretics.

Caution - Surgery

• Stop giving your dog Omega-3 Fatty Acid supplements 10 days prior to surgery;
• Wait 10 days after surgery and/or after stitches/sutures are removed before resuming supplementation;
• Allergic reactions to shellfish for dogs is rare but possible. If you think your dog is allergic to shellfish do not give your dog krill oil.

Note - I was recently asked about the use of Hemp Oil for dogs...the following provides some information on the use of hemp oil - my advice is to avoid using help oil as an Omega 3, Omega 6 supplement for your dog...there are as noted above many other excellent sources of these essential fatty acids which are free of  the risks which come with the use of hemp oil.

Benefits of Hemp Oil  - hemp oil provides an omega-6, omega-3 ratio of 3:1 (or less, depending on the quality of the plant that the oil is derived from). While the typical ratio 3:1 exceeds the target range of 2:1 that can be a OK if the dog is taking in too much Omega 6 (which is likely if you have your dog on commercially manufactured kibble and treats.

Risks/Negative Side Effects of Hemp Oil - it is important to remember that most dogs are smaller in size/weight than an adult human being. So, substances that can be toxic or cause issues with humans can have an exacerbated result in our dogs. Of course those producers of hemp oil advertise of the health benefits for dogs but to understand a product one must look at and consider both sides. According to PeaceHealth.org, (website dedicated to providing information on many different supplements and medications) hemp oil can cause minor side effects in the digestive system. If your dog has a sensitive stomach and GI Tract don't use hemp oil. Hemp oil can soften stools, leading to diarrhea which can then lead to leaky gut syndrome and a depression of the immune system, poor nutrient absorption, dehydration and weight loss. Hemp oil is derived from a plant that contains high levels of the neurological chemical THC. This chemical can cause hallucinations, euphoria or high anxiety in supplement users when taken on a regular basis. If an individual (human or dog) is hyper-sensitive to THC the risk of these complications rises.PeaceHealth.com website states, 'hemp oil products can directly affect the anticoagulant properties of platelets within the blood, often inhibiting their very production' Hemp oil can put your dog's cardiovascular system and heart at risk - especially a dog whose immune system may already be under strain or a dog that has existing cardiac problems.

In general, my advice is to avoid the use of hemp oil for dogs. 


Related Articles

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Fresh Whole Foods for Your Dogs Health 

Foods That Dogs Should Never Eat - dangerous, toxic, lethal

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Herbs Are Good for Your Dog’s Health 

Home Made, DIY Dog Food Recipes - Grain Free or Wholesome Grain for the Health of Your Dog  

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Rooibos Tea for Dogs - Immune System Health, Cancer Inhibitor, Allergy Mediator 

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