The growing awareness of hygiene among the people has not been limited to the people themselves.
They have also realized the importance of keeping their pets clean. This realization has led to the exponential growth of customers buying dog hygiene products, shampoos being the leading entity amongst it.
Although these shampoos come in various varieties and are very effective in handling all kinds of problems, sometimes they can be too harsh on the skin.
One does want them to be effective but if there are unwanted side effects then that is too much of a price to pay for it. So what is the solution to this problem?
This article attempts to introduce the concept of homemade dog shampoos and how they can be beneficial for the pets.
What are homemade dog shampoos?
There are many shampoos that are available ready made in the market.
These are manufactured on a mass scale by a long drawn out procedure according to some specific formula and need to be tested for authenticity and value by the appropriate authority.
All these shampoos have a particular brand name associated with them.
On the other hand, one can make a shampoo in the comforts of their home on their own.
These are known as homemade shampoos. One is more aware of what their dog needs and thus, can formulate a cleaning potion that not only fulfils its purpose of cleaning but also is extra beneficial for your pooch.
Advantages of Homemade Dog Shampoos
The following are some advantages of homemade shampoo as compared to the commercial products that are available in the market.
Is custom made!
The owner is well aware of their dog’s needs, its skin type and its allergies and other things.
Since they know this, they can easily concoct a shampoo that suits their needs and includes additional stuff that is beneficial for their dog.
Also, they can leave out the harmful ingredients that are commonly present in the market bought shampoos and those cannot be removed.
Economical
One can save money otherwise spent on buying the branded shampoos available in the market and use the same towards creating their own shampoo which will not only be more effective but also more beneficial for the dog and its skin. All the ingredients are easily available in the market
Can eliminate potentially harmful ingredients
One can specifically formulate the shampoos to tackle the problems that their dogs are facing like fleas, or dry skin or oily skin or any other problem.
Since the list of ingredients is in the hands of the maker who is the owner, they can conveniently leave out products that may be harmful to the dog like some component that they are allergic to.
Can be made organic and bi0-degradable !
These shampoos tend to be completely organic and biodegradable as they are homemade. They are not harmful to the skin and also there is another advantage.
Often due to some unknown mistake, there may be residues left of the shampoo even after bathing and washing the dog. Since dogs have the habit of licking themselves clean they might accidentally ingest the shampoo.
If this were the commercial market bought shampoo then they could fall seriously ill, however, if it were the homemade version then the consequences would be far less drastic.
Homemade Dog Shampoos!
The following are some recipes that one might find helpful to create the perfect homemade dog shampoo for their pooches.
1. Neem and Coconut Oil Organic Wash
One cannot neglect the benefits of neem when it comes to its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps in removing all the ticks and fleas and also improves the immunity.
The moisturizing property of neem is helpful in keeping the coat shiny and soft. Coconut oil is known to cure hot spots, skin inflammations, odour problems or yeast infections.
Therefore, the virgin coconut nut oil available can be used to create the shampoo. One just needs to mix one tablespoon of the oil and 1.5 tablespoons of liquid soap to one gallon of water for preparing the shampoo.
2. Dry shampoos for dry baths
One may also be well aware of the benefits of oatmeal for a dog’s coat. This can be utilized extensively by making a dry shampoo. Since, it is often not advised to frequently bathe the dog, sometimes; a dry bath can be the answer.
One needs to ground the oatmeal into a fine powder and this powder is then mixed with an equal amount of baking soda.
The mixture can then be rubbed on the dog’s skin with the help of a brush and for the time that it is applied, it kills all the germs.
3. Oatmeal shampoo
One can opt for the dry oatmeal shampoo or they can also make a paste out of the powder by mixing it with water and then applying the paste uniformly all over the coat so that it reaches the skin.
It should be massaged into the coat so that it can effectively nourish the coat. The paste can be kept on for 5 minutes and then rinsed off with water. This will leave the coat shiny and clean.
4. Aloe vera gel based shampoo
The cooling and soothing properties of aloe vera are well known and to utilize this, one can make a paste of aloe vera gel by diluting it with water and then apply this to the dog’s coat.
One can add liquid soap and mix it well before application. Also, glycerin or vegetable oil can be added so that the coat remains moisturized even after the thorough wash. It can be washed off after a few minutes leaving the coat fresh and clean.
5. Shampoo for dry skin
If one’s pet has dry skin then it is important to moisturize it and nourish it with care. For this one can mix 1.5 cups of corn meal, 1 box of cornstarch along with 10 teaspoons of tea tree oil.
This should be applied to the coat for about 5 minutes and then can be washed off. One can see that this effectively cleans the coat as well as keeps it hydrated.
6. Shampoo for tacking fleas and bacteria
One can mix liquid castile soap, vinegar and water to make a shampoo which is effective in killing the fleas and ticks. If the solution seems to be too acidic then a few drops of lavender or any other oil can be added to neutralize it and also make the shampoo fragrant.
7. Organic ingredients in Shampoo
Some shampoos can contain ingredients like shea butter, tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, aloe vera, coconut oil, glucan etc which is not only good for the skin but also completely biodegradable.
They are environment-friendly and are not even harmful if the dog were to accidentally ingest any of the residues.
Conclusion
One can infer from above that the homemade dog shampoos seem like a much better option as compared to the commercial options available in the market.
They happen to be completely eco-friendly as well as gentle on the dog’s skin as they are biodegradable and lack the harmful effects of the chemicals as they do not contain any.
It is, therefore, a smarter option to go for the homemade shampoos because who else but the owner can understand their dog’s needs and respond to them by using the various helpful recipes mentioned above.