[Karen S]

Looking for a recommendation on shampoo. I had a really good one, but when my dear Cubby of 14 years passed, I donated it thinking I wouldn’t get another. Now I have a puppy and can’t figure out what it was.

[Dog_Obsessed]

I use Earthbath Orange Peel Oil Shampoo, which is supposed to be all natural and stuff and good for pets with sensitive skin. I don’t really know how effective it is, or if the claims are true, but it smells like oranges anyway. Here’s a link to the Earthbath products from Chewy.com: http://www.chewy.com/dog/grooming-355/earthbath

[Akari_32]

I use Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, if I’m not using a medicated shampoo.

[JeffreyT]

We sometimes use Earthbath. They have a puppy shampoo which is very gentle and it’s half price at Marshalls/HomeGoods.. or else any of the baby shampoos (except Jason) at Whole Foods which we try to get on sale. Also make sure there’s no Xylitol.
You can check purity of many shampoos on EWG’s website.
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/brand/Jason_Natural_Cosmetics/
We stay away from conventional pet, baby and adult shampoos due to toxic chemicals.

Healthiest and cheapest option is to make your own, which I’d like to try one of these days. There’s some great info on this sight about shampoos, oral care, etc you may find useful.
http://ottawavalleydogwhisperer.blogspot.com/2012/07/dog-and-pet-shampoo-unsafe-harmful.html
Congratulations on your new puppy.

[Dog_Obsessed]

IMO I wouldn’t recommend using a baby shampoo, if you have the choice. They’re not really meant for dogs and can cause skin irritation.

[Dori]

IMHO you should not use shampoos meant for humans on dogs. Dogs PH levels differ from ours. One of my favorite dog shampoos is put out by Vet’s Best. I use their hypoallergenic formula for all three of my dogs. I bath the girls approximately every 7 – 9 days and their hair and skin are soft, shinny and it easily rinses from their hair. Scent is pleasant (barely noticeable) but not overwhelming by any means. I am allergic to all perfumes, fragrances, etc. and it doesn’t bother me in the least. Also doesn’t bother my allergy prone girl Katie, my maltipoo.

[Dog_Obsessed]

I’m also allergic to purfume. The Earthbath doesn’t bother me or Lily, but the shampoo they use at her groomer’s may bother both of us a little. I will look at Vet’s Best.

[Dori]

Vet’s Best is a really great shampoo. When the girls used to go to a groomer I had to remind them every single time to not spritz them with cologne and not to use scented shampoos etc. Some times they did it anyway and I’d have to bath them again when they got home. One of the reasons why I learned how to groom the dogs myself at home, bought all the equipment I needed and now do it myself. I’ve always bathed them at home but once a month they’d go to the groomer for their hair cuts and nail trims. I bought a dremel to do their nails as I’m too squeamish to trim their nails. They all have black nails. Once in a blue moon I’ll walk them over to the vet and have one of the techs do it. Anyway, we were talking about shampoos. Vet’s Best is really easy to find. I know Amazon has it and so do most of the pet stores I go to. I don’t go to Petco or Petsmart so I don’t know whether they carry it or not. I know they have other formulations than just the hypoallergenic one but for me and Katie that’s the one we have to use. I also figure it’ll probably have the least amount indistinguishable ingredients in it.

I’ve used Earthbath before, I just prefer Vet’s Best.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Chewy.com also has it. It’s not too expensive either.

[Karen S]

Thank you Dori and Dog Obsessed. I saw Vet’s Best online. But I was leery due to the name. It sounded like a con.

[Karen S]

I also had perfume issues, so that was really helpful.

[Dog_Obsessed]

I guess vets often sell low-quality products and market them as high-quality ones, particularly food. Is that what you mean?

[Dori]

Karen and Dog Obsessed.

It’s just their name. I don’t think it really has anything to do with actual veterinarians. If it does or doesn’t it wouldn’t influence me as I only count on my dog’s vets for medical issues not nutrition or bathing products. If you buy the product, I think you and Dog Obsessed will like it. Also it’s pretty inexpensive as dog shampoos go.

• This reply was modified 10 years ago by Dori.

[Naturella]

My friend raves about the Furminator brand shampoos that help her shedding dogs shed less. For Bruno, I use a mix of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap (Castille soap, the Baby Mild kind), coconut milk, Vitamin A, E & D oil, and essential oils. Works fine for him and us, so far.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Yay! You’re back! 😀

I have never used the Furminator shampoo, but I have used the Furminator de-shedding tool and it works like magic, so I’d imagine their shampoos couldn’t be too bad.

[Naturella]

Yes, Dog_Obsessed, I am! LoL! I have been on a reading hiatus, I was starved for reading for pleasure, so in 8-9 days I read 6 books, on to #7. 😀

But on another note, IDK if the shampoo would contain particularly healthy ingredients, but my friend swears by it. I use the Furminator tool too and it works well as intended, I just need to be more careful when I do use it…

[theBCnut]

I’m positively addicted to reading and frequently binge. I reread the whole Harry Potter series in 9 days once. I did have to come up for air a couple times. Life sure does get in the way of reading sometimes.

My favorite shampoo is called The Last Scratch. It’s locally made. You can find it at thelastscratch.com

[aquariangt]

I use earth bath when I need to as well, and so does my groomer. I like the oatmeal and the tea tree ones

[Peggy]

I, too, have always used Johnson’s Baby shampoo. It’s never caused skin irritations on any of my dogs.

[Peggy]

Dog_Obsessed, you use the Furminator deshedding tool?
I’ve wanted to use it but was told it would hurt my dogs, so never bought one.
Both of my dogs – but especially the JRT – shed like nothing I’ve ever seen.

[Dog_Obsessed]

I don’t use it with Lily, because she is a non-sheding dog, but I have used it on foster dogs with great results. It could potentially cause bald spots if used too heavily on one particular area, but if you do it often for short periods of time then you should be okay.

[theBCnut]

It shouldn’t be used aggressively on double coated breeds. It damages the guard hairs.

[Dori]

You also have to be very patient and gentle when using the Furminator. I’ve known more than one person that has irritated their dogs skin using those things. I’ve never had a shedding dog so have never had a need.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Does anyone know if it’s okay to mix shampoos together? My Vet’s Best has arrived, and I was thinking about mixing it with the Earthbath to get the benefits of both.

Also, do shampoos expire? I’ve had the Earthbath for over a year, and there is no expiration date that I can see. The Vet’s best has no expiration date either but a manufacturing date of 8/19/14.

[theBCnut]

Medicated shampoos can expire depending on what they are medicated with, but you shouldn’t have to worry about anything else.

If the shampoos are supposed to have some therapeutic properties, they may not work if mixed, but regular shampoos shouldn’t be an issue. I wouldn’t mix medicated shampoos. Some have iodine, sulfur or other ingredients in them that you need to be careful what they are mixed with or they could burn the skin.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Neither of these are medicated, and their only claims are that orange peel oil is good for skin, (Earthbath) and that the Vet’s Best formula is “Hypo-allergenic and soap free.” I think we should be fine, thanks!

[Author]

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