At some point in EVERY dog owners life, you will look down the muzzle at a very, very dirty dog! This week I found myself looking at my sweet white pittie mix and thinking – What have you done???? Since April showers brings muddy flowers, I thought it would be a great time to dust off some ways to get your dog from dirty dog to squeaky clean with natural remedies.
We had an absolutely beautiful day one Wednesday so we decided to let our puppy pack (they are not puppies, we just rescued them all at the same time 3 years ago) run our 5 acres. Unfortunately, sometimes they decide to roam a little further and visit our neighbors fields. In those fields they find freedom, abundant grass and an endless supply of COW POOP! For some reason, my little white pittie mix loves to bathe in all things disgusting so when she returned home, she was COVERED in Fresh Green Cow Manure.
In honor of her epic cow spa treatment, I thought I would share some natural ways to get your dog clean without using harsh chemicals.
Why Natural you might ask? Here are my thoughts…… Our skin is our largest organ and whatever chemicals you slather on the top of it, will absorb into our blood stream. So I like to say whatever you wouldn’t put in your mouth, why put on your skin? I like to limit the chemicals I am putting on myself or my dog! Also, you should never use human soaps on dogs because we have very different PH levels on our skin. What works for us will not work well for our dog.
Let’s look at three ways we can get our dogs clean without the excess chemicals.
DIY Essential Oil Dirty Dog Shampoo
This is a great recipe to create your own Dog Shampoo from Dogs Naturally. They are a company devoted to natural and effective remedies for your pooch so check them out!
What you need:
- Bottle or Container for shampoo
- 2 drops of Lavender Essential oil
- 1 tablespoon Castile Soap
- 2 drops Peppermint Essential oil (not what you cook with)
- About 12 oz of water
- 2 drops Eucalyptus essential oil
- 2 drops Naiouli essential oil
Instructions:
- Mix all oils into the castile soap and stir for at least 1 minute.
- Add oil/soap mixture to your bottle
- Add the water
- Shake the bottle prior to each use
- Lather you dog well and rinse
Always buy essential oils from a reputable company. Check out this list of resources from Dogs Naturally. It provides a list of companies to buy essential oils that are safe for you and your dog! NEVER USE AN ESSENTIAL OIL DIRECTLY ON YOURSELF OR YOUR DOG!!!!!
DIY Oatmeal Dog Shampoo for dogs with dry skin
This recipe comes from our friends at the American Kennel Club. This a great option for pooches with dry skin.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of uncooked oatmeal
- 1/2 cup of baking soda
- 1 quart warm water
Directions
Grind the oatmeal in a coffee grinder or food processor until it’s the consistency of flour. Pour into a large bowl and mix in baking soda. Add warm water and stir until incorporated. Wet your dog with warm water and then lather him up with your homemade shampoo. Work into his coat and allow it to sit for a few minutes, if he’ll let you. Then rinse thoroughly and dry.
Aroma Paws Natural Dog Shampoos for all dirty dogs
If you are not a DIY dog mom, I have great news! Aroma paws is a company out of California that makes AMAZING and all natural dog shampoos. I have been a whole sale distributor for years and personally use them for my dogs. They have a variety of recipes and blends.
I LOVE the Coconut Papaya collection. It is very fresh and clean. My dogs coats are always silky and shiny after use! I hope your pooch can stay out of the stink and the mud this year, but if they can’t, these recipes are a great way to get the dirty dog back to squeaky clean without worrying about harsh chemicals!
Wishing you clean dogs —- Wags and Wet Kisses! DM and Biscuit
Don’t have a dog to wash? We can help you! How about Pearl? She is about 4 years old and LOVES children. She is available at the DFW Humane Society.
