Naturally Healthy Dogs
Natural Shampoo for Dogs

November, 2010

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Natural Dog Health Remedies

In this issue:

• Choosing a Safe Doggie Shampoo Product - Ingredients to Avoid
• Good Natural Shampoo Products
• Dog Treat Recipe - Apple Cinnamon Muffins
• Aromatherapy Recipe - Skin Soothing Gel

What kind of shampoo do you use to wash your dog? Recently, we can find a wide variety of shampoo products for pets, making it quite difficult to choose.

A good starting point is to learn how to read labels to identify safe products for your dog. Here are some of the ingredients that are harmful to dogs and should be avoided:

• Avoid Chemical Surfactants: The key cleaning action in shampoos is done by surfactants which can be of synthetic origin, such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Diethanolamine (DEA). Shampoos may contain a blend of surfactants to generate various properties such as lathering and cleansing. Many chemical surfactants in dog shampoos are petroleum based and are known carcinogens.

  Choose a shampoo that uses natural plant surfactants, such as coconut oil or palm kernel oil.

• Avoid Chemical Additives: Chemical additives such as propylene glycol is a form of mineral oil that creates moisture retention, but it irritates the skin and can cause liver and kidney damage. Other chemicals to avoid include methyl paraben and propyl paraben.
• Avoid Tar: Tar is commonly used as a component of comestics and is found in all artificial colors, flavors and odors, and is an anti-dandruff agent in shampoos. However, it is carcinogenic and should be avoided.
• Avoid Synthetic Fragrances: The majority of perfumes added to commercial shampoos are made with ethyl alcohol and synthetic chemicals. These chemicals can dry out the coat and trigger allergies in dogs.

In addition, many so-called "tearless" shampoos actually contain chemicals to counteract and reduce irritation caused by other chemical ingredients! These chemicals may also be carcinogenic in nature.

Finally, DO NOT use dish detergent to wash your dog - even though your dish detergent may be labeled as "mild" - the ingredients may still cause skin dryness and eye irritation to your dog.

The bottom line of a good doggie shampoo is, you want a shampoo that gently cleans without stripping the coat's natural oil. A good, basic all-purpose dog shampoo should have the following elements:

• It should be pH balanced for the coat.
• It should be made with natural and organic ingredients.
• It should have low lather.
• It should smell great!

Plenty of dog shampoos offer skin treatments using natural ingredients. For example, a natural shampoo containing oatmeal and aloe vera is a good choice for dogs with skin irritations such as itching and dry hair coat.

Also, shampoos that use essential oils are excellent choices. EOs nourish the coat, leaving it clean and shiny. Different EOs also have different functions. For example:

• Shampoos with lavender oil produce calming and soothing effects on the dog.
• Tea tree shampoo is a good anti-bacterial and flea repellant.
• Shampoos with lavender and rosemary EOs are excellent deodorizers and work well for dogs with odor problems.
• Shampoos with citrus oils (e.g. sweet orange EO) are excellent for dogs with bad skin or oily, smelly coats. The oil cuts through odor and grease without drying out the coat.
• Shampoos containing EOs of rosemary, neem and tea tree help prevent dandruff.

My favorite doggie shampoos are:

• Earthbath All Natural Shampoo & Conditioner
• Pal Dog Organic Pup System Set for Dogs and Canines

This is a nice recipe from the book "Cooking the Three Dog Bakery Way" (by Mark Beckloff and Dan Dye). My dog Hana loves these muffins (Heck, they are so delicious that even my husband loves them!) and they are especially good on a cool autumn day...

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 cup honey
• 2 cups unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup skim milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Grease a 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick vegetable spray.
3. Stir together flours, baking powder, and cinnamon in a large bowl and set aside.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together honey, applesauce, and oil.
5. Then whisk in the eggs one at a time.
6. Add milk and continue whisking.
7. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir just until combined.
8. Fill the muffin cups 2/3 full.
9. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.
10. Cool to room temperature before serving.

This gel is easy to make and is great for eczema and itchy skin caused by insect bites, dry skin and parasites.

You need:

• 10 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
• 5 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
• 1 ounce aloe vera gel

Add the oils to the aloe vera gel. Mix well. Apply to irritated areas 2-3 times a day.