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.
5 Responses to “Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs”
HELP!
I rinsed my pomeranian forever and could not get the tiny dots of soft gooey oatmeal out of her fur. I followed the recipe posted above;
1 Cup oatmeal (not instant) 1 Cup baking soda & 1 Cup warm water, blended it to a fine powder, wet her coat thoroughly. I then applied it, working it into her fur like a shampoo.
I think Deb’s post makes more sense. Any ideas for me to get the oatmeal out of her fur without exacerbating her dry skin problem?
Recipe called for 1 quart of water not 1 cup.
thanks…wanted chemical free shampoo/rinse for my skin sensitive Best Friend.
Collodial oatmeal is an excellent remedy for a dog’s itchy skin that may be as a result of flea infestation or hot spots or some type of skin allergy. You will have great results bathing the dog in lukewarm water for at least 10 minutes with one cup of oatmeal that has been ground to a fine powder & added to the lukewarm bath water. ( DO NOT USE INSTANT OATMEAL ) When the bath is over, and the dog has shaken off the excess water, be sure to only pat it dry with a clean, soft towel or two. DO NOT RUB!! If the dog has had fleas & has been given a flea bath at the Veterinarian’s clinic, do not give oatmeal bath until 7 days past the flea bath. One of those cone shaped Elizabethan collars is recommended if the dog needs to chew on the irritating skin while it is healing. Dogs dislike these collars, but they work wonders at keeping the dog from constantly chewing their own flesh which slows down the healing. They can be trimmed to fit if the collar is too large. The collodial oatmeal bath may be given up to 3 times a week for relief of itchy skin and the dog will get much soothing relief from these 10 minute gentle soaks & remember to only gently pat dog dry afterward. Best of luck!
Great post! thanks!