Your dog or cat is just as much a part of the family as the kids are and you love them just as much, so why would you want to treat them as anything less?
Having a pet is a responsibility that most of us take seriously so we spend a lot of time making sure we try and buy them the best quality foods we can, but what about when they need a bath?Many of us just grab the shampoo off the shelf in the bathroom and give them a good scrubbing in the bath tub without thinking about whether it is ok for them or not.
The truth is many of the shampoos we buy for ourselves are not made for your pets; they have far too many harsh chemicals in them.Dogs and cats are subject to the same allergies as humans, in fact they are more susceptible to them because their skin is not regularly exposed to bathing like ours is.
Then again you might be using one of those regular pet shampoos you buy at your local discount store or pet store, but if you look at the label you are likely to find a list of ingredients you cannot even pronounce.If you cannot pronounce it imagine what it is doing not only to your pet but to the environment.
If this sounds like you then take a moment to consider the use of a natural, organic shampoo for your pet.Funny thing is even for those families who have turned to a mostly organic lifestyle they tend not to think of their pets when it comes to such basic necessities.
Some of the best reasons for using an organic pet shampoo are:
It is all natural; it has been proven that all natural ingredients are just as effective and cause less harm to your pet and the environment.In fact most organic shampoos are hypoallergenic which makes them very safe to use.
Organic shampoos are less likely to cause allergic reactions in your pet, which means you can give poor Fido a bath more frequently keeping him smelling nicer.
Many of the non-organic products are made from animal by-products, which is not only bad for the environment but why would you want to something like this on your pet?
Buying an organic pet shampoo can be an expensive proposition; however you can make your won that works just as well for a fraction of the cost.The ingredients are very simple and in fact you can even grow the main ingredient yourself.
The main ingredient in this recipe is Soapwort root; the Soapwort is perennial flower and is a member of the carnation family.It is also known as Sweet William or a Bouncing Bet, something that many people have growing in their flower beds or in flower pots.You can also find Soapwort root at your local health food store or online in bulk at a variety of websites.
To make the shampoo follow these simple directions:
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, add 1 ½ tablespoons of chopped dried Soapwort root and allow to simmer for about 20 minutes.Remove the mixture form the stove and add in 2 teaspoons of either catnip or lemon verbena and allow it to cool completely.Strain the mixture into a bottle and store in the fridge, this mixture will last about a week to 10 days.
As a side note you can use this same mixture for your own hair, in fact it was one of the most common shampoos used by the early pioneers before the advent of chemical shampoos.