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

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

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