Why Choose Organic Dog Shampoo and Conditioner?

Are you looking for the best dog shampoo for your pampered pooch? You may want to consider using an all-natural Companion Collection Spa Essentials Organic Dog Shampoo and Conditioner. After all, isn't she worth the best products you can find? A great shampoo that includes organic dog moisturizers will keep her skin and coat looking and feeling their healthy best.

But is it really worth it? Does the word “organic” really matter when it comes to dog shampoo? After all, humans rarely use organic shampoos and conditioners. And most of us are perfectly fine, right?

Here’s what you need to know about organic shampoo and conditioner. Hint: we highly recommend using safe, all-natural ingredients for your pup. It’s worth it.

How to Choose the Right Dog Shampoo

When choosing the best dog shampoo for bathing your pet, you'll want to look for one with natural ingredients rather than chemicals. Because dogs groom themselves with their tongues, it's important to avoid any shampoos that could leave a toxic residue in your dog's coat or on her skin. Chemical-ridden shampoos also tend to be harsher and more damaging to a dog's coat than the milder natural ingredients found in organic dog shampoo.

Why Should You Use an Organic Dog Shampoo?

Let’s start with the basics: a company that makes organic dog shampoos containing all-natural ingredients shows a commitment to your beloved pet's health and well-being. This is extremely important. The pet industry is ripe with cheaply manufactured products, various harsh chemicals, and money-first mentalities. The majority of pet products on the shelf aren’t well-made. They’re cheap, use less-than-ideal manufacturing methodologies, and usually use overseas labor (which can have unsafe conditions for your pet and the unfortunate workers at those factories).

Crafting USA-made shampoo in small batches allows for better quality control and tends to produce a superior product that both you and your pet will enjoy using. These products may cost a bit more, but it’s absolutely worth it. You ensure your dog isn’t licking any nasty chemicals. And you support the good side of the pet industry that’s working diligently to provide safe, well-crafted pet products to your precious pups.

What Are the Benefits of Organic Dog Shampoo?

An all-natural dog shampoo doesn't contain any harsh chemical ingredients, of course. However, organic goes an important step further. It ensures that those natural ingredients won't contain possibly harmful pesticide or chemical fertilizer residue, either. All-natural and organic? That sounds like just the kind of shampoo and conditioner your dog deserves!

Plus, organic dog shampoos are often crafted to help dogs with dry skin and other skin issues.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Grooming and Bathing

Does your dog have any of these special grooming challenges? Keep reading to find out more about how you can best meet her needs during DIY grooming.

How do you help a dog with dry skin?

If your dog has dry skin, it might be because of the frequency of her baths or the shampoo you're using. If you've been using a shampoo formulated for humans, stop! Most shampoos made for humans have a more acidic pH to match that of human skin, which has a pH of around 5.2 to 6.2. Dog skin, on the other hand, has a more alkaline pH of around 5.5 to 7.5.

Dog shampoos usually have a neutral pH of 7 in order not to disturb the acid mantle that protects a dog's skin. According to petMD, disrupting that acid mantle by using more acidic human shampoo results in "... creating an environment where bacteria, parasites, and viruses can run rampant."

The smell of bacteria taking over a pet's skin often pushes dog owners into bathing their dogs repeatedly in order to make them smell better, which just compounds the issue. To make matters even worse, too frequent baths (especially with the wrong shampoo!) dry out a dog's skin and create itchiness. When your pet scratches those itches, it can cause even more damage to her already vulnerable skin.

The vets at Pet MD recommend using a shampoo that is pH-balanced for dogs and has no artificial fragrances or colors. They also recommend organic dog shampoo made with natural moisturizers like Aloe vera and vitamin E. If you want your pet to smell fresh as a daisy after her bath, choose natural scents like chamomile, citrus, lavender, or eucalyptus.

Since your dog only needs to be bathed with shampoo a few times a year (you can bathe her with plain water in between), they recommend splurging and getting her the finest bath products you can find.

Should you use whitening shampoo on your dog with white fur?

Whitening products will help remove unsightly tear or urine stains from an otherwise snowy white dog. However, these products do come with some drawbacks. PetLifeBuzz has created a list of these pet whitening products and their potential drawbacks.

Products that will whiten a dog's coat:

• Bleaching shampoos do just that — they bleach the coat and may cause skin issues in dogs with sensitive skin.
• Clarifying shampoos work best on fresh stains and must be applied correctly to avoid damaging your pet's coat.
• Bluing shampoos help hide stains by optically whitening the coat. Be aware that using too much may tint your dog's white coat blue!
• Enzymatic shampoos are very effective at removing discoloration but the enzymatic action can be damaging to your dog's skin and coat.
• Dye-based shampoos cover stains by dyeing your dog's coat.

Vets recommend that you choose a whitening shampoo formulated with natural ingredients that will also moisturize the skin and keep it in great, healthy condition.

How do you take care of a dog's nose and paws during grooming?

A dog's nose and paws may need some special attention during grooming in order to keep them at their healthy and most comfortable best. Grubbing in the dirt with her nose can cause a Jack Russell Terrier or Dachshund's nose to dry out and even get cracked and crusty. The same goes for her paws when they've been busy sending dirt flying for hours!

An organic dog moisturizer like nose balm or paw balm that contains nourishing, healing ingredients will help soothe and protect her hardworking nose and paws.

Look for moisturizing ingredients like these:

• Aloe vera leaf for its healing and moisturizing properties
• Avocado oil for a cell-building boost
• Calendula oil because of its excellent anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties that help heal sore, inflamed skin
• Candelilla wax for smooth application plus protection from the elements
• Carnauba wax has hypoallergenic and vegan emollient properties
• Castor seed oil for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and fungicidal properties plus the rich viscosity that helps it penetrate deeply
• Coconut oil for tissue-repairing proteins and its anti-aging properties
• Comfrey leaf oil moisturizes and soothes while promoting rapid skin-cell growth
• Kukui oil for great penetrability plus high levels of the essential fatty acids linoleic and alpha-linolenic
• Palm kernel oil allows for deep penetration into where moisture is needed most
• Vitamin E because it's a potent antioxidant and natural preservative

At Animals Matter, we want to help you take the best care possible of your furry friend. That's why we've developed organic dog moisturizers and the best dog shampoo around for your precious pooch. Because, really, isn't she worth it? Contact us if you'd like to learn more.