Natural Pet Shampoo
A gentle, natural pet shampoo using castile soap and oatmeal for sensitive skin
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Liquid castile soap (unscented recommended)
- 1/2 cup Water
- 2 tablespoons Colloidal oatmeal (finely ground rolled oats work too)
- 1 tablespoon Vegetable glycerin
- 1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
Steps
- If using whole rolled oats, grind them in a blender or food processor until they become a fine powder. This is your colloidal oatmeal.
- Combine the liquid castile soap and water in a clean squeeze bottle or recycled shampoo bottle.
- Add the colloidal oatmeal, vegetable glycerin, and apple cider vinegar.
- Cap the bottle and shake gently until everything is well mixed. Avoid shaking too vigorously — castile soap foams easily.
- To use, wet your pet thoroughly with warm water. Apply a quarter-sized amount of shampoo and work it into a lather, starting from the neck and moving toward the tail.
- Massage into the coat for 2-3 minutes to allow the oatmeal to soothe the skin.
- Rinse completely with warm water. Leftover soap residue can cause itching and flaking.
Why It Works
Castile soap is a true soap made from plant oils (typically olive or coconut), which means it cleans effectively without synthetic detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate that can strip a pet’s skin of natural oils. Colloidal oatmeal contains beta-glucans and avenanthramides, compounds that reduce itching and inflammation on contact. The vegetable glycerin acts as a humectant, drawing moisture into the skin and coat. Apple cider vinegar restores the skin’s natural pH balance (dogs have a skin pH around 6.2-7.4, which is more neutral than human skin) and adds a light conditioning effect that reduces tangles.
Alternative
For a quick dry shampoo between baths, mix equal parts baking soda and cornstarch. Sprinkle it into your pet’s coat, massage it down to the skin, wait 5 minutes, then brush it out thoroughly. This absorbs excess oil and neutralizes odors without water.
Tips
- Shake the bottle before each use — the oatmeal tends to settle.
- For dogs with very dry or flaky skin, increase the colloidal oatmeal to 3 tablespoons.
- Store in the shower or bathroom at room temperature. Use within 4 weeks since there are no preservatives.
- Bathe dogs no more than once every 2-4 weeks unless directed by a vet. Over-bathing strips natural skin oils regardless of what shampoo you use.
- For cats, bathing is rarely necessary. Consult your vet before bathing a cat, and never use any product containing essential oils on felines.