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DIY Your Dog’s Dandruff Shampoo To Combat Dry, Flaky Skin

Written by: Ally Nesmith

October 17, 2015

As the temperature continues to drop, dry skin is bound to become a problem for plenty of pet-owners. While your instinct might be to bathe your dog to rid them of the flakes, that can actually make matters worse.

corgi

Store-bought shampoos often contain alcohol and other ingredients that can dry out the skin even more, exacerbating the problem. The easiest (and cheapest) solution I’ve found is to use a variation of this homemade shampoo at least once a week to soothe any irritation and help maintain skin’s natural balance of moisture. All you need is some oatmeal, baking soda and warm water to get started!

1) First things first, portion out 1 cup oatmeal (not instant!), 3/4 cup baking soda and just over a quart of warm water. While you can make a perfectly good shampoo with just these three things, I usually opt to add about a teaspoon of Dr. Bronner’s (our favorite is Almond or Lavender) and a teaspoon of coconut oil for even more soothing moisture.

2) Take your oatmeal and, using a coffee grinder or food processor, grind until it takes on the consistency of flour.

3) Add the baking soda to your flour and stir to combine.

4) Gradually pour your dry ingredients into the warm water, stirring as you go until it reaches an even consistency.

5) Add the optional ingredients and thoroughly mix until you have a uniform texture.

6) Lather and bathe your dog as usual, leaving the shampoo on for several minutes before rinsing to ensure it’s had time to work it’s magic and that your pup will emerge clean, fresh and flake-free.

pup

Featured image via @BlueEyeKylie

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Written by: Ally Nesmith

October 17, 2015

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