If you have a dog or cat who has insect bites or allergic rashes, this DIY oatmeal shampoo can help to calm down that itch. In addition, the oatmeal helps to absorb those funky pet odors…which are often caused by skin conditions under the coat!
There are a lot of DIY oatmeal dog shampoos on the internet. This one, however, contains a small amount of Vitamin E which helps to heal damaged skin, prevents scarring, and alleviate dry patches.
The oatmeal to instantly stop the itch combined with the Vitamin E to heal it more quickly is an effective combination. Vitamin E protects against Free Radicals. This helps to prevent environmental damage as the skin heals.
WHY OATMEAL SHAMPOO?
- Oatmeal is gentle on Fluffy’s skin
- It cleanses effectively
- You make it fresh every time you bathe your pet
- No preservatives
- Free of chemicals
- No irritants
- It helps eliminate odors
- Inexpensive to make
- Can be made with organic ingredients
- Save the money. Don’t waste your cash on shampoos with harsh chemicals
WHY IS OATMEAL SHAMPOO SO GOOD FOR THE SKIN?
Since ancient times, people have used oatmeal for cleansing. The ancient Egyptians are credited with discovering the soothing properties of oatmeal and perfecting a way of grinding the oats into a way to bathe.
Oatmeal is extremely comforting to irritated, rashy, and itchy skin. But why?
Oatmeal contains compounds called phenols. These compounds help to restore pH levels to normal. This is the key to rebalancing and calming down skin inflammation.
DIY OATMEAL SHAMPOO FOR DOGS AND CATS
Let’s get started…
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of oatmeal
- 1/2 cup of baking soda
- 1 Vitamin E capsule
- 3 1/2 cups of warm water
- Use a food processor, blender, or coffee mill to grind the oatmeal into a coarse floury texture. Pour it into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the baking soda to the mixing bowl
- Use kitchen scissors to open up the Vitamin E capsule. Squeeze the Vitamin E oil out of the capsule into the mixture.
- Slowly stir in the warm water. Stir until the mixture is smooth.
Bathe your pup or kitty immediately after mixing the shampoo. This will not “lather” like a typical shampoo. But rest assured, it is cleaning him or her from the tip of their cute nose to the tail.
It leaves him fresh smelling but without the perfume smell. Wash your pet in warm, but not too hot, water. Rinse your pet very well, just as you would a traditional shampoo.
SHOULD YOU ADD AN ESSENTIAL OIL FOR FRAGRANCE? (Maybe for dogs, no for cats)
If you have a preference for a scented pet shampoo, you can add pet-safe fragrance oils. I have seen some “shampoo recipes” that add fragrance in the form of essential oils. While I understand that you may want to smell that shampoo smell, I choose to skip that. The whole point of this is to eliminate all those things that can irritate delicate skin.
The bottom line on that is to check with your vet before you add any fragrances.
However, if you do choose to do this, stick with an organic essential oil and not a synthetic. Of course, you must do your homework to make sure it’s safe for your pet, and use it sparingly. Cats, in particular, have sensitivities to these scents.
You will find that this DIY oatmeal shampoo for your cat or dog will leave your pet’s skin clearer and calmer, her coat will be shinier, and she will smell fresh (but not perfumed).
Please reach out and let me know how this shampoo works for your pet. I’d love to hear it!
She has a B.S.Ed. in Secondary Education/English and a Spanish Minor. In addition, she holds a Certificate in Natural Health from a fully-accredited program and is a Certified Herbologist. She pursued these natural wellness certifications due to her love for herb gardening.
Despite freelancing to make a living, her love is "all things home."
Deborah grew up in a family that grew a large vegetable garden and a fruit orchard, helping her parents pull weeds and can home-grown foods as part of her childhood. In fact, she had no idea that she could purchase veggies and fruits in pre-packed steel cans until she went to college and made a food run.
Today, she lives in Bertie County, North Carolina, an agricultural rural area with more chickens than people. She lives with her husband and two rescue pets a sweet toy fox terrier and a cat who showed up one day and moved into the house. Together, they enjoy DIY projects, furniture refinishing, gardening, and canning.
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