Many dog owners don’t like the idea of washing their beloved pet with commercial brands of dog shampoo. Commercial shampoo is often laden with harsh chemicals that can potentially irritate your dog’s skin and eyes.
Fortunately, it’s easy to make your own homemade dog shampoo in your kitchen using gentle ingredients. Not only will your dog be clean and smell great, but it’s also possible to control fleas and avoid skin irritation for pooches with sensitive and itchy skin.
Recipe for homemade dog shampoo for fleas
The eucalyptus oil and white vinegar in this recipe help to keep your dog free of fleas. The aloe vera gel soothes the skin, especially if it’s dry or sensitive and prone to itching.
Ingredients
- 2 cups water.
- ½ cup baby shampoo or non-toxic dish soap.
- ½ cup of white vinegar.
- 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel.
- 4 drops eucalyptus oil.
Instructions
Thoroughly clean an old shampoo or other squeeze bottle and leave it aside to dry. Pour all the ingredients into the bottle and seal it tightly. Shake the bottle vigorously to combine all the ingredients well.
To use your homemade dog shampoo: Wet your dog’s coat with water before shampooing. Squeeze some homemade shampoo into the palm of your hand and apply it to your dog’s coat. Massage the shampoo in gently, remembering to extend your bathing under your dog’s belly and along the tail. Take care to avoid getting any shampoo in your dog’s eyes during bathing.
Rinse your dog with water until all the shampoo has been removed. Your dog will shake off plenty of excess water, but you may also want to towel dry your pooch before brushing as usual.
You can experiment with different ingredients for your homemade dog shampoo if you want your dog smelling fresh and clean. For example, you can replace the eucalyptus oil with lavender essential oil or lemon essential oil if you prefer. Of course, you also have the option of leaving out the oils completely.
