If you are not comfortable with the ingredients that are in commercial shampoos, you can use natural homemade shampoos to clean your dog. These shampoos are inexpensive and gentle to the dog. This is unlike most commercial shampoos that have harmful ingredients, which may cause flakiness, itching and discomfort to the dog.
Making the shampoo
One important factor you should note when making the shampoo is the ph levels. This is because dogs have different levels of acidity and the homemade shampoo ingredients also have different ph levels. Therefore, you should mix the ingredients such that the shampoo has the right ph level for the dog. The preferred level for a dog is between 6 and 8. If the soap is too acidic with a low ph level, then it can cause the dog to have skin irritation. Always make sure that you check the ph levels of the soap and the ingredients before using them.
The ph levels of some the shampoo ingredients are:
• Water – 7
• Baking soda – 8.3
• Lemon juice - 2.0
• Vinegar - 2.2
Water is neutral, baking soda is alkaline, and lemon juice and vinegar are acidic. When mixing these ingredients, balance the acidic and alkaline ingredients in the neutral base so that the shampoo can have a balanced ph. This will ensure that the dog’s skin is not damaged, if the shampoo is acidic. An alkaline shampoo may not be much of a problem.
Various shampoo recipes
• Deep cleaning shampoo
To deep clean your dog, you can make a deep cleaning shampoo using vinegar, glycerin and organic or natural dish soap. Take a large container and put two cups of vinegar-apple cider and two cups of natural dish soap. Mix them and then add 4 cups of water. Add vegetable glycerin of about 4 oz to the mixture and shake well. Ensure that the dish soap does not have artificial additives or strong scents.
• Simple bath recipe
For a simple bath, you can make shampoo using vinegar, unscented Castile and water. Take unscented Castile soap either 2 to 3 tablespoons of the liquid form or 3 to 4 tablespoons of grated solid form. Add to the soap four cups of hot water and then mix until the soap dissolves. To the mixture, add a cup of apple or white cider vinegar. The shampoo is now ready and you can store is it in a bottle.
Castile soaps ph is around 8
• Baking soda dry shampoo
If you do not have enough time to give your dog a bath, you can use the baking soda dry shampoo. Simply take half a cup of baking soda and sprinkle it on the dog while avoiding the face. Rub it in and then brush the dog. This will help to reduce or eliminate the odors all together.
• Rosemary conditioner
For that soft and shiny dog’s coat, use rosemary conditioner. The conditioner is made by mixing 2 teaspoons of rosemary to 4 cups of water and then boiling the mixture. Sit it for 10 minutes and then strain the rosemary. Allow it to cool to body temperature and then pour is on the dog after a bath.
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