Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs

When looking for a product to soothe cracked, itchy and dry skin, which causes dog scratching, many people choose to use oatmeal shampoo for dogs. The healing properties of oatmeal have been appreciated for centuries, especially its ability to soothe itchy skin. In oatmeal shampoo, the healing properties have been enhanced by converting it to “colloidal oatmeal”. Colloidal oatmeal is simply oatmeal that has been ground down to a fine powder. When this powder is added to liquid, it becomes milky, creamy and soft. For dogs, oatmeal shampoo can have many health benefits.

CHOOSING AN OATMEAL SHAMPOO

When looking for an effective type of oatmeal shampoo for your dog, it’s important to choose carefully. Some companies take advantage of adding oatmeal to their shampoo formula, while also adding other cheap ingredients to “fill” the shampoo. It’s especially important to pay close attention to the ingredients of your dog’s oatmeal shampoo when you are using it to treat skin irritation. A low-quality oatmeal shampoo that leaves behind a residue can further irritate your dog’s skin. When in doubt, you can choose an oatmeal shampoo that is also branded as being for “Sensitive Skin”. Many of these formulas also lack the perfumes, color ingredients and other substances that may be added to some oatmeal shampoo formulas.

MAKING YOUR OWN OATMEAL SHAMPOO

If you wish, you can also make your own oatmeal shampoo formula for your dog. This formula is fairly easy to make, and can usually be made from items that you already have in your home. There are many different recipes for making your own oatmeal shampoo for dogs, but most of them are similar to this formula:

• 1 Cup of Ground Oatmeal*
• 1 Cup of Baking Soda
• 1 Quart of Warm Water

* You can either grind oatmeal in a blender, or use a coffee grinder. Try to make it as powder-like as possible.

Mix these ingredients together until they form a uniform consistency. Some recipes omit the baking soda, though it seems to only be a matter of preference. If you’d like your homemade oatmeal dog shampoo to have a bit of lather, choose a fragrance-free, organic soap formula and add a few drops to your recipe. Completely saturate your dog’s coat with water, and then apply this mixture. For optimum results, try to leave this mixture on your dog’s coat for at least five minutes. After this, you can rinse the oatmeal shampoo from your dog’s coat, then dry them with a gentle towel.