There are a number of dog shampoo on the market with ‘eco friendly’ claims.
If you are like us, you probably want to know that companies aren’t just using that eco friendly label for marketing purposes, and that the product you are buying actually has some eco benefits (whilst also being safe and working as a shampoo should).
In this guide, we look at:
– Some of the best dog shampoo products and brands
– What classifies as an eco friendly dog shampoo, and what criteria an eco friendly dog shampoo might meet
– Compare the classification and criteria to some of the popular dog shampoos on the market
– Provide a summary on whether the more ‘eco friendly’ dog shampoo are worth it
Fortunately, there are a couple of brands that aim to make their dog shampoos with natural, non toxic and biodegradable ingredients.
We’ve taken a closer look at these brands below.
Let’s check them out!
(NOTE: this is a general information guide only, and is not professional advice, or a substitute for professional advice. A qualified vet or animal expert is the only person qualified to give you expert advice in regards to your pet/s)
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Best Eco Friendly Dog Shampoos: Natural, Non Toxic, Biodegradable
Our top picks for what might be some of the best eco friendly dog shampoos are:
- 4-Legger Certified Organic Dog Shampoo (on Amazon)
- Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo (on Amazon)
- Earthbath Puppy Shampoo (on Amazon)
*It’s also worth noting that 4 Legger and Earthbath feature in our top rated animal cruelty free and vegan dog shampoos as well.
These brands also feature in our guide on the best natural and organic dog conditioners.
Best Eco Friendly Dog Shampoo: Reviews
4 Legger Certified Organic Dog Shampoo
Features
Contains all natural ingredients. Ingredients are listed as Saponified organic oils of coconut, olive, and jojoba, a natural essential oil blend of rosemary and lemongrass, rosemary extract, and organic aloe vera
Non toxic
Hypoallergenic
Contains nothing synthetic or artificial
No detergents
No sulfates
Cruelty free
Vegan
Sustainably sourced
Biodegradable
Made in the USA
View
Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo
Ingredients include: Purified water, colloidal oatmeal (3%), renewable plant-derived & coconut-based cleansers, organic aloe vera, vitamins A, B, D & E, glycerin, allantoin, food-grade extracts of vanilla & almond, natural preservative.
100-percent bio-degradable
Non ingredients include: Anything that would harm your pet or the environment.
No soap,
No gluten,
No DEA,
No parabens,
No synthetic dyes or perfumes,
No SLS/SLES,
No phthalates, or enzymes
Animal cruelty free.
Sudsy runoff is safe and harmless to plants and animals
Based on Earthbath.com product description (at Earthbath.com)
View the Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo on Amazon
Best Eco Friendly Dog Shampoo: Buyer’s Guide
What Might Make An Eco Friendly Dog Shampoo?
This is just a general list of things you might look out for in eco friendly dog shampoo:
What probably should be in an eco friendly shampoo:
Natural and organic ingredients that are biodegradable and non toxic
Identified as Natural and organic labelling
Be in the neutral range of ph, which is around 7
Natural skin moisturizers like vitamin E, aloe vera, honey, and tea tree oil. Oatmeal is another
Fragrances to look for should be natural; chamomile, lavender, eucalyptus, and citrus are some examples of clean, pleasant fragrances, some of which also do double duty as insect repellents
Should be a cruelty free shampoo
What probably should not be in an eco friendly shampoo:
Non organic, artificial, non natural or synthetic ingredients, additives, fragrances and chemicals
Specific ingredients that contain parabens, sulfates, and carcinogen causing compounds
DEA, TEA and MEA and other potentially harmful ingredients and compounds
Ingredients that don’t breakdown easily or naturally in the environment
Detergents
Shouldn’t be tested on animals
Ingredients that are toxic to wildlife – particularly aquatic animals who are probably most at risk if you are washing your dog and the shampoo is going down a water waste pipe
Ingredients that are hazardous or toxic in any other way such as that they present a problem for air, water, soil or land animals
How do the popular dog shampoos on the market measure up to the eco friendly classification and criteria?
4-Legger Certified Organic Dog Shampoo
Verdict: Probably Eco Friendly
Contains all natural ingredients. Ingredients are listed as Saponified organic oils of coconut, olive, and jojoba, a natural essential oil blend of rosemary and lemongrass, rosemary extract, and organic aloe vera
Non toxic
Hypoallergenic
Contains nothing synthetic or artificial
No detergents
No sulfates
Cruelty free
Vegan
Sustainably sourced
Biodegradable
Made in the USA
4-Legger Certified Organic Dog Shampoo (on Amazon)
Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo
Verdict: Probably Eco Friendly
Ingredients include: Purified water, colloidal oatmeal (3%), renewable plant-derived & coconut-based cleansers, organic aloe vera, vitamins A, B, D & E, glycerin, allantoin, food-grade extracts of vanilla & almond, natural preservative.
100-percent bio-degradable
Non ingredients include: Anything that would harm your pet or the environment.
No soap,
No gluten,
No DEA,
No parabens,
No synthetic dyes or perfumes,
No SLS/SLES,
No phthalates, or enzymes
Animal cruelty free.
Sudsy runoff is safe and harmless to plants and animals
Based on Earthbath.com product description (at Earthbath.com)
Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo (on Amazon)
OxGord Natural Oatmeal Dog-Shampoo And Conditioner
Verdict: Not 100% natural – contains questionable ingredients
Overall, this shampoo doesn’t contain a full list of natural ingredients even though it is marketed that way.
There are a mix of artificial and non natural ingredients in this shampoo that have concerns in relation to contamination, environmental toxicity, use restrictions in cosmetics + more
Ingredients include: UltraPurified Water,
Infused with Aloe Barbadensis Extract,
Sodium Laureth Sulfate – contamination concerns
Lauryl Glucoside and Cocoamiidopropyl Betaine – suspected to be an environmental toxcin
Rosemary Leaf Extract,
Matricaria Flower Extract,
Glycol Distearate
Cocomaide MEA – contamination concerns
Laureth 10 – contamination concerns
Colloidall Oatmeal,
Vitamine E, PEG12,
Dimethicone,
Borage Seed Oil,
Organic Shea Butter,
Glycerin,
Polysorbate 20 – contamination concerns
Methylchloroisothi azolinone and Methylisothiazolinone – use restrictions in some countries and eye and skin irritation concerns
Citric Acid,
Versene,
Na2,
Fragrance
OxGord Organic Oatmeal Dog Puppy Shampoo Conditioner (on Amazon)
Pro Pet Works Hypoallergenic Organic Oatmeal and Aloe Cat And Dog Shampoo Plus Conditioner
Verdict: Not 100% natural – contains questionable ingredients
Ingredients are: deionized water, surfactant blend derived from natural derivatives (coconut shampoo base), organic aloe vera extract, organic almond oil, hydrolyzed oat proteins, Vitamins A, D, and E, glycerin, (soothes the skin), glyceryl stearate (emulsifies, makes foam, conditions), wheat germ glycerides, blend of cherry botanical extracts, EGDA (conditioner), EDTA (aids ingredients in blending), proprietary blend of coat and skin conditioners and moisturizers, DMDH hydantoin(preservative).
Synthetic surfactants that are known to be associated with irritation and allergic reactions on the skin. It’s not clear if the surfactants used in this shampoo are synthetic or not
Artificial colors and fragrances have links to allergies as well as cancer, hormone disruption, and organ system toxicities.
Without knowing “what” the proprietary blend of coat and skin conditioners are – it is difficult to evaluate. Both methylchloroisothiazolinone, and methylisothiazolinone are linked to skin irritation and allergies. Worse, they can break down into nitrosamides – which have strong links to cancer and additionally, they are not environmentally friendly ingredients.
DMDH is a synonym for DMDM hydantoin – a slow releasing form of formaldehyde. It has links to skin irritation as well as cancer.
Other benefits of eco friendly dog shampoos
So, we know that generally eco friendly dog shampoos are going to have less toxic synthetic ingredients and additives, and more natural and organic ingredients.
Apart from being better for the environment, natural and organic ingredients will probably also have less chance of being toxic for, or giving a negative reaction to your dog’s skin.
This is good for all dogs, but certainly dogs with sensitive skin, allergies and dogs that have had issues with dog products like shampoos, conditioners and other applications before.
You’d want to confirm this with your vet though.
Are Eco Friendly Dog Shampoos Worth It?
Considering there’s very little cost difference between them and shampoos with synthetic ingredients, they probably are as long as they actually leave your dog’s fur smelling and looking nice.
What About Natural, Organic & USDA Certified Organic Dog Shampoos?
What are natural ingredients?
Natural ingredients come from a renewable/plentiful resource found in nature.
What are synthetic ingredients?
Synthetic ingredients been formulated or manufactured by a man made chemical process, and may or may not be derived from a natural source.
Why choose natural ingredients over synthetic ingredients?
In general, a natural ingredient might:
– be better for the environment – biodegradable and non toxic
– have less carcinogens, be less toxic, be less likely to disrupt the endocrine system, or cause skin irritation in your pet
Natural ingredients general have less processing involved than a synthetic ingredient.
Not all synthetic ingredients are harmful, and not all natural ingredients are completely harmless though. It’s more a rule of thumb that natural ingredients tend to be less risky for pet care products.
What Is USDA Certified Organic?
USDA Certified organic tends to be a great option for dog products if you want some level of assurance the product is organic.
Certified organic dog grooming products go through a much higher level of scrutiny.
All ingredients are reviewed throughout their lifecycle – from where and how they are grown, harvested, processed, transported, packaged, and shipped.
Certified organic dog grooming products also verify that there are no GMO ingredients, no pesticides, herbicides, artificial colors, or artificial fragrance.
What are some examples of synthetic ingredients?
Parabens,
phthalates,
glycol,
sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and other sulfates,
DEA
MEA
petrolatum
Benzyl benzoate
Cetyl Alcohol
Chlorhexidine gluconate
How can I tell the difference between a natural and a synthetic ingredient?
Greeopedia has a good short article on natural vs synthetic ingredients that tell you how you might spot the difference between a natural and synthetic ingredient.
Where can I check the hazard level of an ingredient?
EWG has a good database that allows you to check the hazard level of a particular ingredient:
Pet Skin vs Human Skin
Dogs and pets have different and thinner skin than humans, so ingredients that react to a human’s skin may react different to ingredients that react to a human’s skin.
You dog’s vet is the only one qualified to give you professional advice on the health and safety of your dog.
Examples Of Natural & Organic Dog Shampoos
Again, 4 Legger and Earthbath might be good options here:
4 Legger Certified Organic Dog Shampoo
Features
USDA Certified Organic
Contains all natural ingredients. Ingredients are listed as Saponified organic oils of coconut, olive, and jojoba, a natural essential oil blend of rosemary and lemongrass, rosemary extract, and organic aloe vera
Non toxic
Hypoallergenic
Contains nothing synthetic or artificial
No detergents
No sulfates
Cruelty free
Vegan
Sustainably sourced
Biodegradable
Made in the USA
View the 4-Legger Certified Organic Dog Shampoo on Amazon
Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo
Ingredients include: Purified water, colloidal oatmeal (3%), renewable plant-derived & coconut-based cleansers, organic aloe vera, vitamins A, B, D & E, glycerin, allantoin, food-grade extracts of vanilla & almond, natural preservative.
100-percent bio-degradable
Non ingredients include: Anything that would harm your pet or the environment.
No soap,
No gluten,
No DEA,
No parabens,
No synthetic dyes or perfumes,
No SLS/SLES,
No phthalates, or enzymes
Animal cruelty free.
Sudsy runoff is safe and harmless to plants and animals
Based on Earthbath.com product description
View the Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo on Amazon
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