Teach Soap

_________________
Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

LOL

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

I know a few furry man-types out there myself.

Really, check with your vet on the dog shampoo idea. My vet's biggest objection to using human shampoo on dogs was all the fragrance additives. That seems to be the biggest offender for canine skin. Origins (subsidiary of Estee Lauder) used to make a lavender dog shampoo that was marketed as a natural flea repellent. It was fabulous on my dogs and did seem to repel fleas, but it was only available for a couple of years. Don't know exactly why they stopped making it, but I'd guess their targeted demographic was more interested in people products than doggy products.

_________________
Jennifer
Doing my best to blow up my kitchen. In style!

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

a quick google search reveals maybe u r right. I do not want to use commercial soap or chemicals on my dog (or in his diet. That's why I pay xtra for Wellness dog food. And for a dog the size of a GS that not easy).

_________________
Jennifer
Doing my best to blow up my kitchen. In style!

I was pre-vet, but with the huge number of un-necessary euthanasia I decided not to become a veterinarian. Basically if you want your 2 year old kitty put to sleep then the vet, by law, must do it. I'm extremely against un-necessary euthanasia. If the laws ever change I'll go back to veterinary school, but for now I'll stick to my retail life. I finished off my degree in Marine Biology and Botany with an intensive minor in Environmental Studies.

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

_________________
Genny

_________________
Jennifer
Doing my best to blow up my kitchen. In style!

_________________
Anna Rose @-}--
blog

Tea Tree oil toxicity in dogs and cats. http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-expert ... s-and-cats

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Great info Irena. Thanks very much for posting. This entire thread confirms that what is good for humans, isn't always good for animals and can sometimes even be fatal.

_________________
Jennifer
Doing my best to blow up my kitchen. In style!

Maybe dog shampoos do need to be specially formulated, but that does not mean store-bought shampoos are good for our pets. The pet supply companies might be able to specially formulate the shampoo, but there's no telling what other harmful products they put in it.

Surely there is a better homemade alternative?

Dogs don't need baths very often at all in the first place. Like others have been saying, their bodies secrete natural oils for a reason and should not be stripped consistently. I did some research and found that some people use baking soda and apple cider vinegar to bathe their dogs. Has anyone every used this on their own pets before? It doesn't leave a scent behind, and it's not soap so it won't strip the oils in the same way. I'm considering trying it next time I give my Boston Terrier a bath.

Baking soda is irritating to a pet's skin. I wouldn't use it.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

_________________
Olivia :)