Homemade Dog Shampoo Recipe

Homemade Dog Shampoo - Save Money and Avoid Harmful Chemicals
By Warren Davis

If you have a dog you already know how expensive store bought shampoo can be. In addition to the expense many of the chemicals can be harmful if overused or if used on animals with allergies. You can save time and stick to safe ingredients by making your own pet shampoo at home. In fact, you probably already have most, if not all, of the items you will need in your cupboard.

What to Use

You only need three ingredients: dish soap, apple cider vinegar, and glycerin. Select a dish soap that is soft and gentle. Dove and Ivory are good choices as are all natural varieties. However, any non-concentrated soap that you already have should be fine to use. If you do not have apple cider vinegar it can be found at any large grocery store. You may have the visit the pharmacy section for the glycerin.

How to Mix

Mix equal parts dish soap, apple cider vinegar, and water for the base. Then add 1/3 part glycerin to the mixture. Be careful not to over mix the solution or you will agitate the soap and turn what should be a shampoo like consistency into a frothy mess. Once it is well mixed put the homemade dog shampoo into a bottle with a tight lid and it will keep for many uses. Simply shake it lightly if the contents have settled and it should be ready to use again.

Bathing Tips

When bathing your dog avoid getting soap in his eyes. You will want the apple cider vinegar to protect their coat and leave it shiny but if it gets into the eyes it will burn. Take extra care when washing his face. It is highly recommended that you not dry your dog with a blow dryer. These tend to over dry the skin and coat. Simply use an old towel to get the excess water off and then allow the dog to air dry.

The key to keeping your dog happy and healthy is a regular bathing. If he is an inside dog a bath every 4-6 weeks should do the trick. If he is an outside dog more frequent dips may be needed. When you make your own dog shampoo at home you will save money over the store brands and know exactly what is in the bottle.

Can you use people shampoo for a dog? Get the answer to this and other dog shampoo questions by visiting our website at http://www.oatmealshampoo.com.