Natural Dog Shampoo: What You Should Be Using & Bath Tips!

Nothing smells worse than a dog that’s just jumped into a dirty pond or rolled around in the mud. You’ll go home and grab whatever shampoo is there to keep your dog looking healthy and wash away the stink. However, it’s important that you only use natural dog shampoo to avoid the harsh chemicals in commercial products!

Natural dog shampoo is safe and beneficial for your dog. Especially when you use CBD dog shampoo, you can help improve your dog’s skin, coat, and overall health and wellness. But what makes natural dog shampoo so great, and how often should you use it?

Do Dogs Need to Bathe Regularly?

Wet dog smell. Dirty paws. Sometimes it seems you can’t bathe a dog ENOUGH. But contrary to popular belief, dogs don’t need to be bathed too often!

Ideally, you should give your dog bath time about once every 2-3 months. However, this time frame can vary depending on the breed and coat type. Bathing your dog allows you to check your pup for skin problems, injuries, parasites, and making sure your dog is healthy in general.

There are some cases where a dog (or you) may benefit from more frequent bathing. For example, you might want to bathe your dog more often if they are highly active and love spending time outdoors frequently. More active breeds will have more sweat, dirt, and oils build up in their coats.

Different Coat Types & How To Care For Them

You should always take your dog’s coat and skin type into consideration! Most dog owners put their pet’s needs before their own, but you might need to bathe your dog more often for your own sake sometimes!

If you’re allergic to pet dander or have a guest coming over who is, you may want to wash your dog to limit their shedding and remove dry skin. This will also make your couch and bed (or wherever your dog chooses to lay down) less stinky!

Short-hair Coats

Dog breeds with shorter coats may not need as much bathing! They don’t shed as much as other breeds, and the short coats don’t trap as much dirt. Typically, short-haired coat types only need to be bathed once every couple of months.

Long-haired Coats

Dogs with longer hair will most likely need more frequent bathing to keep their coats from matting. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends a bath about once every 4-6 weeks for long and curly-haired breeds.

Hairless

Dogs with no hair will need baths even more! You should bathe hairless dogs weekly to wash away the oil that builds up. Hairless dogs might also need more skincare than other breeds, like protection from sun or risk of cuts and scrapes. Other breeds like the Basset Hound need more frequent baths to prevent oil buildup in their wrinkles.

Skin Allergies & Conditions

Some dogs also have skin conditions and allergies, similar to us. These dogs may need more frequent baths using medicated shampoo. Dogs with dry skin will need baths to relieve them from their itchiness. If your dog has any skin conditions, you’ll want to talk to a veterinarian to find out the best shampoo to use.

Related Article: Dog Shampoo For Itchy Skin [Why Skin Gets Itchy & How To Help]

What Happens if You Don’t Bathe Your Dog?

While you don’t need to bathe most dogs weekly, that doesn’t mean you should NEVER bathe your pup. You want to bathe your dog to check for fleas, mites, pests, dirt, and other stuff that can get stuck in their fur, making your home messy and irritating your dog. Bathing can also give you the chance to make sure your dog doesn’t have any skin diseases, injuries, or dandruff. And, no shocker here, your dog can get pretty stinky if you don’t wash them at all!

What Happens if You Bathe Your Dog Too Much?

Unless your dog is dirty or smelly, you don’t want to give them too many baths. Overbathing can strip your dog’s skin of essential natural oils, which they need for a healthy coat and skin. Losing those oils can result in a dull coat or itchy, dry skin.

If you have to bathe your dog more often than once a month, you should use a moisturizing dog shampoo or conditioner. This can help replenish your dog’s natural moisture. Talk to your veterinarian about bathing your dog if you are unsure how frequently to do it for your pup’s specific needs.

Why Use Shampoo on a Dog?

You probably can’t imagine taking a shower without using shampoo. However, you don’t actually need to use shampoo for your dog during every wash. Still, using shampoo is a great way to maintain your dog’s fur, making it healthy and vibrant. Remember to pick a shampoo with safe, beneficial ingredients!

What is the Best Natural Dog Shampoo?

If you’re looking for the best natural dog shampoo out there, you’re in the right place! HolistaPet’s CBD pet shampoo is safe and 100% natural, making it great for dogs with sensitive skin or skin conditions. It also has a great mandarin berry scent that makes your dog smell sweet and clean!

Our CBD shampoo is a nourishing experience, moisturizing and conditioning your dog’s coat. It’s made with vegan, organic, and all-natural ingredients and nothing artificial. It’s safe for sensitive skin while still having a lot of powerful benefits.

Our CBD shampoo isn’t only great for moisturizing your dog’s skin. The addition of CBD provides even more benefits that you can’t get with most dog shampoos!

What is CBD?

CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a natural cannabinoid found in high concentrations in the hemp plant. It’s one of over 100+ different cannabinoids and one of the most well-known due to its many benefits for your body and mind.

When CBD enters your system, it interacts with the receptors in your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is in charge of our inner balance (homeostasis) and well-being. It regulates our sleep, mood, appetite, digestion, and immune response!

As a topical, CBD shampoo for dogs is great for relieving any discomfort, aches, itchiness, and soreness your pet may have. The CBD can penetrate the muscle and skin tissues to provide targeted and localized relief.

Natural CBD dog shampoos are typically infused with CBD oil. Some CBD oils contain hemp seed oil, which is rich in nutrients that can benefit your dog’s coat health. It has many vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids that are great for the skin!

Related Article: Hemp For Dogs: What Makes It So Beneficial For Canines?

Is Human Shampoo Okay to Use On My Dog?

Although you technically can use human shampoo on dogs, it is not recommended. Some human shampoos contain many harsh chemicals and ingredients that may damage your dog’s skin or coat and even dry it out.

Your dog’s coat and skin are different than your own, and they will react differently to the chemicals found in human shampoo. Dog and human skin have very different pH balances that affect their sensitivity to various human products.

When we bathe, our products wash away a thin layer of oils that protect our skin. To counter this, we use soaps and shampoos with ingredients that moisturize and protect the skin while that layer renews itself.

Dogs’ skin is actually more sensitive than ours. We have 10-15 layers of skin cells, while canines have only 3-5 layers. Human shampoo can disrupt that top layer of the dog’s skin, leaving your dog vulnerable to bacteria and parasites. Their skin will also become dry and flaky, leading to scratching and irritation.

Dog Shampoo Ingredients to Avoid

How can you tell if a dog shampoo is natural, organic, and safe for your dog? One way is to check the ingredients to see if it’s harmful to your dog’s skin and coat. Some ingredients can even have negative side effects on their health. Here are some ingredients to completely avoid when picking out a safe dog shampoo.

• Methylchloroisothiazolinone: This is a carcinogen known for organ poisoning. It’s even banned in some countries, but some dog shampoos still have it. Keep an eye out for this ingredient and avoid those shampoos altogether.
• Fragrance: While it may seem like a good thing that shampoos have a good scent, fragrance shouldn’t be listed as an ingredient on the label. Frequently, the fragrance is made with harmful chemicals that disrupt your dog’s hormonal balance. Look for brands that specify the scent source, especially if it’s a natural ingredient.
• Artificial colors: Artificial colors often means harmful chemicals. It shouldn’t matter if your dog’s shampoo is colorful or not if it’s beneficial. Avoid artificial colors and stick to natural shampoos instead!
• Cocomide DEA/MEA: Cocomide is a very processed coconut that has no healing properties whatsoever. It’s so processed that it’s known to be harmful and cause serious illnesses. It can even damage your dog’s organs and skin.
• Mineral oils: Mineral oil is often celebrated for its moisturizing properties, but it can actually damage your dog’s skin. That’s because it often has crude oils that create a barrier on the skin and doesn’t allow the skin to release toxins naturally.
• Preservatives: Paraben preservatives like butylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben can cause hormonal disruptions and reproductive issues if used frequently. The damage happens slowly over time, meaning it’s often overlooked in the beginning. You might see formaldehyde preservatives, a “slow-releasing compound”, which is also extremely harmful.

Final Thoughts – Natural Dog Shampoo

Bathing your dog once in a while is a great way to keep your dog smelling good, looking good, and feeling healthy. You can even use that time to check for lumps, cuts, dry skin, and parasites. But it’s important to remember that you use the right natural dog shampoo to keep your dog safe and healthy.

Make HolistaPet CBD pet shampoo an essential part of your dog’s grooming routine! It doesn’t contain any harmful ingredients or artificial coloring. Instead, it has the addition of CBD, a natural compound that improves your dog’s mood and physical health while simultaneously moisturizing your dog’s skin!