The Top 7 Best Natural Dog Shampoo Review

Our Review of the Top 7 Natural Pet Shampoos

Researching and identifying the Top 7 Best Natural Dog Shampoos

Which is the best dog shampoo? This is a question that most dog owners ask. In an attempt to answer this question, we have focused on the Top 7 Natural Shampoos.

After roughly 77 hours of research, we came up with our report on the Top 25 Cat and Dog Shampoos. Within the shampoos we researched, we identified the Top 7 Natural Shampoos. In carrying out this review of the top 7 natural shampoos, we focused primarily on the ingredients, prices, available sizes,  comments made about the shampoos and reviews by customers BUT most significantly on whether the shampoo is a natural (i.e., organic) shampoo. We concluded that Silky Touch Pet Shampoo is the best shampoo as it successfully meets all the criteria against which the shampoos were assessed. The Earthbath All Natural shampoo was the runner-up although there are concerns about the use of almonds. 

      Summary : Our Top 7 Natural Pet Shampoos

Table of Contents

  1. What you should know before buying a pet shampoo………..
  2. Assessing the shampoo you want to buy………………………......
  3. Ingredients to avoid at all cost…………………………………...........
  4. What to consider before choosing your pet shampoo…………
  5. Consolidated view of our 7 top best natural shampoos………
  6. Silky Touch Pet Shampoo……………………………………................
  7. Earthbath Oatmeal and Aloe Shampoo………........................
  8. Oxgord Pet Wash Shampoo……….........................................
  9. Wahl Dog (Flea and Tick) Shampoo…………............................
  10. Mauro Natural Dog Shampoo ………………………………………......
  11. Pura Natural Pet Shampoo…………………………………………........
  12. Odie & Cody Natural  Pet Shampoo…………………………………...

What you should know before buying a cat or dog shampoo?

Buying shampoo for a pet is not an easy task. In fact, it can sometimes be overwhelming especially if you are buying from the market place, such as Amazon. The truth is that not all shampoos are the same. Before buying a cat or dog shampoo, there are a number of important things that you need to consider.

  • a.    It is vital to read about the ingredients of the shampoo you want to buy. Knowing the ingredients used in a particular pet shampoo may save your pet from illness and save you money.
  • b.     Do not read only the beautiful five star reviews also look at the negative reviews and where there are several consistent negative statements, you will do well to avoid such shampoos.
  • c.     Another vital consideration should be the size of the shampoo bottle. Are you getting your money’s worth? From our analysis in our previous report (Top 25 Cat & Dog Shampoos), the prices differ and pet owners are advised to use the $1.10 per ounce average to gauge the prices of the shampoos.
  • d.    Some shampoos are described as 2 in 1, others 3 in 1 while others are 5 in 1. In other words, the shampoo serves more than one purpose. Shampoos that offer fewer inbuilt purposes should naturally cost less.
  • e.     Would-be buyers should read the frequently asked questions on  Amazon that have been answered and which can be a great resource to assist you in making your decision.

It is our hope that this report will help you in choosing the best shampoo for your cat and/or dog.

While doing this research we were surprised to discover how many of these toxic chemicals are found in many popular pet shampoos

Assessing the shampoo you want to buy…

Read the ingredients on the shampoo bottle. This is the first and most important advice.  Just as you would not eat anything you are not sure of, so you should not use on your dog shampoo that would harm your pet. It is important that you take time to read the information on the shampoo bottle. Below we give a list of ingredients you should avoid. Since pet shampoo can be absorbed through the skin we ask that you stay away from these ingredients.

A telling sign of an ingredient that is harmful to your pet is skin irritation which we mentioned in our article on Buyer Beware. The effect of some of these ingredients can even lead to cancer.

A dog owner recently posted the following on one of the boards:

.”…I recently bought it as well for the same reasons. The claims they made on shampoo bottle sounded great! After the 1st bath, my dog - who has a similar coat as you described yours has- was endlessly scratching herself. I noticed her hair or skin seemed "different" in appearance but couldn't tell why at first. She was definitely red on her skin and her hair looked thinner somehow.... Upon closer looking I found that she had welts covering her entire body, excluding her paws and eyes. And I'm talking major welts!!!  I felt so horrible for her, I assumed II must not have rinsed her well enough. Although, trust me I rinse her extremely well so I didn't understand. I washed her a 2nd time in hopes to wash off what I thought was still there. This time there's no question about it, she was RINSED!!  The next day her welts had turned to sores. She was bright red and pink, scratching herself incessantly. She was Miserable. After using a different shampoo, 3 times and over a period of a few days, She finally started looking and feeling better!!

List of ingredients to avoid at all cost

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) or PEG-40 Lanolin  - This ingredient causes skin irritation and is a carrier for chemicals.

Propylene glycol – This is an oil that can adversely affect your dog’s immune system.

Formaldehyde -  This is bad for your dog’s skin. It causes itching, burning, and scaling.  Look out for similar names used - Diazolidinyl urea, DMDM Hydantoin, Quaternium, Bronopol, and Sodium hydroxymethyl glycinate.

Paraben, butylparaben, methylparaben or propylparaben - These are dangerous chemicals that cause hormone imbalance and ultimately cancer in dogs.

Cocamide-MEA and Triethanolamine - These chemicals are believed to be toxic and are a danger  to your dog’s internal organs.

Fragrance  - Artificial fragrance/not natural - Chemicals  are used to make artificial fragrance. Some of these chemicals may harm your dog’s reproductive system.

Mineral Oil - Mineral oil is a by-product of crude oil. The mineral oils are toxic to your dog’s skin and may cause, itching, allergies and even damage your pet’s eyes.

Other Additional Factors to Consider Before Choosing Your Pet Shampoo

There are a number of other important things to consider before choosing a shampoo for your pet:

Your Dog’s Skin condition

a.  If your dog has good skin condition -  use a chemical- free dog shampoo

b.  Your dog has dry itchy skin - use a shampoo that will correct this condition - a moisturizing shampoo will be the best choice in this situation. Avoid scented shampoos as these often contain chemicals which will further irritate the dog’s skin.

Ticks /Fleas

a.  Your dog has ticks and fleas – use a flea/tick killing shampoo.

b.  Please note that the shampoos on the market are designed to both prevent and kill fleas, but they only offer short-term solutions hence, this should only be considered a short term measure.

Too much shedding

a.    Your dog sheds too much – use a de-shedding shampoo. 

Note: Your dog sheds but take the following into account.

Your dog naturally sheds old hair to keep it’s coat new.

The quantity of hair that dogs shed and the frequency differs depending on the health, age and breed of your dog.

Your dog may shed depending on the season. Certain breed of dogs grow thick coats for the winter  because of the cold so as to keep warm and shed once its spring.

Strong and unpleasant odor

a.  Your dog has an unpleasant odor - we recommend the use of a deodorizing shampoo. Deodorizing shampoos eliminate unpleasant odors rather than just covering it up.

Note: Your dog could have an odor because it suffers from

  1.  A case of bad breath, which is a symptom of a more serious disease such as diabetes or  kidney problems.
  2.  Dental infection which could be evidenced by bleeding of the gums, sores in the               mouth or infection of the gums Your dog may also be suffering from an ear infection.

If the odor persists, then it will be necessary to get a vet to evaluate the condition and give guidance.

Our 7 Best Natural Shampoos

Consolidated View of the Top 7 Natural Cat & Dog Shampoos for 2017 Below, we have ranked the 7 top pet shampoos 

The  shampoo ratings explained:

Percentage Natural:         

If 90% or more of the ingredients are natural, we award an A and if between 70% to 89% of the ingredients are natural, we award a B. C is awarded where 50 to 69% of the ingredients are natural

Price:              

A reasonable price of less than $15.99 is awarded an A (for the 16oz bottle). For a price of between $16 and $20, we award a B and fora price above $20 it is a C

Size:               

If the shampoo is offered in the standard 16 oz size, it automatically gets an A. If the shampoo comes in only unconventional sizes, it gets a B.

Ranking:

Our ranking is based on an assessment of all the factors that are important in making a shampoo stand out as a top natural shampoo. Our focus however is on the natural ingredients in the shampoo.

Find below our review of the top 7 organic (natural) shampoos

1.   Silky Touch Pet Shampoo

INGREDIENTS

According to the manufacturers of this shampoo, “The key difference in our formulations and the industry standard grooming products is that our ingredients are derived from natural sources. In contrast, most industry standard pet shampoos are cheap synthetics that dry out the pet’s skin and cause more harm than good. Some of these synthetic shampoo formulas may add a few “natural ingredients”, such as aloe, oatmeal, or other, to try and hide behind those ingredients and claim that they have a “natural shampoo”.  But that is just not true. Those ingredients are usually added at less than 1% or 2% of the overall formula.  In great contrast, our complete pet wash is approximately 96% plant-based, naturally-derived from coconut and palm.”(Manufacturer of Silky Touch Pet Shampoo, interview Buyer Beware – Pet Shampoos)

The absence of chemicals and other additives was a key driver in selecting this shampoo as our number one choice in the “naturals” category. With this shampoo, there will be no adverse reactions, especially itching and allergies that are common with other shampoos on the market. You are essentially protecting your dog from harm.

Users of this shampoo include:

  1. Promoters of green/organic or natural ingredients
  2. Advocates of cruelty free products
  3. Advocates of made in America products

Why it is recommended 

  1.     It is made of natural ingredients/organic
  2.     It is  a 5-in-1 product (cleans, moisturizes, conditions, deodorizes and detangles)
  3.     Contains palm which is good for sensitive and young skin. Also good for fur as it                 removes   dirt, grime, dander and makes the pet look and feel healthy 
  4.     No soap and no-tears
  5.     Price is reasonable – less than $15

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2.     Earthbath All Natural 

INGREDIENTS

The ingredients in this shampoo include:

Vitamins A, B, D, and E, glycerin, purified water, colloidal oatmeal (3%), coconut based cleansers, aloe vera, allantoin, food-grade extracts of vanilla and almond (which brings out the smell) and a natural preservative.

The positive thing is that it does not contain gluten, soap, DEA parabens, synthetic dyes, perfumes, or enzymes. The only concern are the food extracts including, carbohydrates which cause allergies. Other than this, it is a good shampoo.

Users of this shampoo include:

  1. Promoters of green/organic or natural ingredients (100% bio-degradable).
  2. Advocates of cruelty free products
  3. Those who appreciate shampoos that are scented
  4. Advocates of made in America products 

Why it is recommended 

  1.     It has natural ingredients (As mentioned above, the only concerns are the food extracts -       almond and vanilla. We will update you as we get more information about this).
  2.     This shampoo uses plant derived and coconut based cleansers. 
  3.     Price is reasonable – less than $15

BUY IT ON AMAZON

3.       Oxgord Natural Shampoo

INGREDIENTS

The ingredients in this shampoo include:

Aloe vera, jojoba, coconut oils, oatmeal, shea butter and rosemary.

UltraPurified Water infused with AloeBarbadensis Extract, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Glucoside Cocoamiidopropyl Betaine, Rosmairnus Officinalis LeafExtract, Chamomilla Recutita FlowerExtract, Sodium Laureth Sulfate Glycol Distearate Cocomaide MEA Laureth10, Colloidall Oatmeal, VitamineE, PEG12, Dimethicone, Organic Borago Officinails Seed Oil, Organic Shea, Butter, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Methylchloroisothi azolinone and Methylisothiazolinone, Citric, Acid, Versene, Na2, Fragrance. Most of the ingredients are from naturally derived foaming agents.

We have some concerns with the use of Methylisohiazolinone preservative in this shampoo. The European Society of Contact Dermatitis (ESCD), recommended to its members that “the use of Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) in leave-on skin products including cosmetic wet wipes is discontinued. This action is recommended in the interests of consumer safety in relation to adverse skin reactions. It is recommended that companies do not wait for regulatory intervention under the Cosmetics Regulation but implement this recommendation as soon as feasible."

Users of this shampoo include:

  1. Promoters of green/organic or natural ingredients
  2. Advocates of cruelty free products
  3. Advocates of made in America products

Why it is recommended 

  1.  It is especially gentle, so it is good and effective for cleaning dogs with skin problems.
  2.  When used on dry and itchy skin it results in a nice glossy coat because of the aloe, shea butter and oatmeal contained in the shampoo.
  3.  No soap and no-tears
  4.  Price is reasonable – less than $15

N/B: Because of the preservative MIT, please use this with caution.

BUY IT ON AMAZON

4.          Wahl dog shampoo

INGREDIENTS

The ingredients in this shampoo include:

 Oatmeal, coconut, lime, aloe and lemon verbena.

One positive thing about this shampoo is that it does not contain PEG-80. The only concern is the use of surfactants which in some instances can be harmful.

Users of this shampoo include:

  1. Promoters of green/organic or natural ingredients
  2. Advocates of cruelty free products
  3. Advocates of made in America products
  4. Owners of pets with skin problems.
    Why it is recommended 
  1.    It contains natural ingredients
  2.     It is a 4 in 1 shampoo (cleans, conditions, detangles and moisturizes)
  3.    The gentle formula has a rich lather and easy rinse to make bath time an easy chore.
  4.    Price is reasonable – less than $15

N/B The only concern is the use of surfactants which in some instances can be harmful. Use it with caution.

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5.           Mauro Natural Dog Shampoo

INGREDIENTS

The ingredients in this shampoo include:

Botanicals that gently cleans and restore your dog's healthy coat. Rich in both Hemp and Argan oils. It is sulfate free. Aqua, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria (Meadowsweet) Extract, Larrea Divaricata (Chaparral) Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Polyquaternium-7, Sodium PCA, Glycerin, PEG-150 Distearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Natural Fragrance, Mauro Pet Care’s Blend of Essential Oils.

The problem with this shampoo is the use of three ingredients, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp), Argan oil and  the hydrolyzed wheat protein. Although in most cases the side effects of the Argan oil may not be detected, some types of Argan oil can have serious side effects according to WebMed . Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) is also known to have side effects . Given the existence of these three ingredients we caution you to be careful before deciding to settle for this shampoo. Apart from these three concerns we would have no problem recommending this shampoo. 

The users of this shampoo include:

  1. Promoters of green/organic or natural ingredients
  2. Advocates of cruelty free products
  3. Advocates of made in America products


Why it is recommended 

  1.     The ingredients are natural  especially hemp.
  2.     It is a 4-in-1 product 
  3.     The botanicals included in the shampoo gently cleanses and restores your dog's healthy     coat while nourishing the delicate pH balance of your dog's skin. 

N/B. The problem with this shampoo is the price which is higher than $15 even though it is only a 4-in-1. The other concern relates to the three ingredients mentioned above.

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6.          Pura Naturals Pet Shampoo 

INGREDIENTS

The ingredients in this shampoo include:

Purified water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine (cleanser derived from coconut oil), Lauramine Oxide (cleanser derived from coconut oil), Coco Glucoside, Optical Brightener-Plant Derived Coumarin, Aloe Vera Potassium Sorbate (Food Grade Freshness  Assurer), Citric Acid, Essential Oil Fragrance

The only concern we have with this shampoo is the use of Potassium Sorbate. The dangers of potassium sorbate can be significant and can have a damaging effect on your pet. It might be useful to mention that for human beings, eating too much potassium sorbate preservative over a long period of time could lead to nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, and diarrhea. Apart from this one concern, we would recommend this as a good shampoo.

Users of this shampoo include:

  1. Advocates of cruelty free products; and
  2. Advocates of made in America products.

Why it is recommended 

  1.     It has Natural Ingredients
  2.     It is a 5-in-1 product (cleans, moisturizes, conditions, deodorizes and detangles)
  3.     The use of palm is significant as it is good for sensitive and tender skin. It is also good       for fur as it removes dirt, grime, dander and makes your pet look healthy. 

N/B: Price is too high – It is more that $15. Also because of the use of Potassium Sorbate, use this shampoo with caution.

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7.        Odie & Cody Natural Dog Shampoo

INGREDIENTS

The ingredients in this shampoo include:

Organic oils, organic aloe vera, essential oils and Rosemary extract (are preservatives). 

The only concern with this shampoo is the Rosemary extract which has the following side effects in human beings:

Aspirin allergy. Rosemary contains a chemical that is very similar to aspirin. This chemical, known as salicylate, may cause a reaction. 

Bleeding disorders: Rosemary might increase the risk of bleeding and bruising so it should be used with caution. 

Seizure disorders: Rosemary might cause seizure disorders to worsen. If this happens, immediately stop using the shampoo.

Apart from the concern that the above can affect the dog or cat or pet which stems mainly from the use of the extract highlighted above, this is a good shampoo.

The users of this shampoo include:

  1. Promoters of green/organic or natural ingredients
  2. Advocates of cruelty free products
  3. Advocates of made in America products

Why it is recommended 

  1.  It contains Natural Ingredients
  2. It has a good scent and is a 5-in-1 product (moisturizing, deodorizing, anti-itch, allergy relief and highly concentrated).

Concerns: 

  1. Our concerns about this shampoo is that even though it has a good scent and is said to be a 5 in 1 product, we consider it to be a 4 in 1 since “concentration” is not a unique  differentiation.
  2. The Rosemary extract makes us advise that you should use the shampoo with caution.
  3. Price is high – it is more than $15

BUY IT ON AMAZON