People have been using castile soap on dogs for years and good reasons. When it comes to feeding and washing your dog, it is vital to check whether a particular food or product is safe for the pet.
Likewise, it is crucial to know if a popular brand like Dr. Bronner makes Castile soaps that are safe to be used on dogs.
Is castile soap safe for dogs?
The reason castile soap has always been an alternative to dog shampoo is that it contains no harmful chemicals. Being toxin free, you can use castile soap on dogs without worry or hesitation.
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The good news about castile soap is that it is 100% biodegradable as well. Not only does this guarantee that chemicals are not used in the making of Castile soaps, but this also ensures that they can be used on dogs with sensitive skin.
Castile soap removes gunk and dirt off a dog’s body effectively while fending off all the bacteria that might have accumulated under all that fur. If your dog has itching issues and you want to use castile soap on them, you may go ahead.
Unlike shampoos that are fashioned for us, castile soap has a pH balance that is closer to a dog’s skin. Hence you can wash your dog without stripping off the moisture from its skin.
Can you use Dr. Bronner’s castile soap on dogs?
Dr. Bronner’s castile soap can be used on dogs only under a few conditions. First, you would need to know if your dog is sensitive to essential oils like tea tree oil. Moreover, when using Dr. Bronner’s castile soap for the first time, you would need to make that that it is diluted enough.
The composition of Dr. Bronner’s castile soap is 2% essential oil, which according to the pet governing bodies, is safe for dogs. Nonetheless, if a pet is allergic to tea tree oil or other essential oil, it could have adverse effects on the dog’s skin.
Oftentimes, dog skin does not react well to tea tree oil, however, small amounts are present in the castile soap.
Although Dr. Bonner’s soap can be used on a dog, it is best practice to use only a small diluted amount to see how your dog’s skin reacts to the soap.
Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap:
Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap is one of the most popular flavors, not just for humans but for dogs as well.
Since the soap is chemical free and does not cause irritation, you can use dr Bronner’s peppermint soap to calm down your dog afterward.
After a long day’s play and a lot of activities, if your dog has sore muscles, a bath with dr Bronner’s peppermint soap helps to relax sore muscles as well.
Other than that, the brand’s peppermint soap can also get rid of live fleas from the dog’s fur, temporarily giving the dog relief from itching and irritation.
Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Soap:
Second to peppermint that helps to treat fleas and sore muscles, another popular option of essential oil laced soap from Dr. Bronner is the lavender soap.
People often use Dr. Bronner’s lavender soap to wash their dog’s fur when their pet requires calming down. There are times when a dog becomes annoyed and restless after coming from a vet visit.
Lavender soap can help minimize anxiety and often induce a good hour’s sleep. For burns, wounds, and allergic reactions, Dr. Bronner’s lavender soap is also a preferred soap essence.
Dr. Bronner’s Baby Unscented Soap:
Babies have extremely sensitive skin for which their specialized soap is made without any fragrance and with extra amounts of olive oil.
This soap also includes jojoba oil, coconut oil, kernel oil, and tocopherol, all of which are safe to be used on a dog’s skin. When washing your dog, it is recommended that you avoid any shampoo or soap that uses artificial fragrance.
Hence, Dr. Bronner’s Baby Unscented soap could be a good choice for your dog to remove dirt and grime.
Dr. Bronner’s Almond Soap:
If you’re thinking which one of Dr. Bronner’s soaps would leave your dog’s hair crisp, clean, and shiny, it’s Dr. Bronner’s Almond soap. Like the other ones, you may want to dilute the soap with some water before use.
The almond soap is mostly neutral for dogs with all skin types. Additionally, what’s great about this soap is how it does not make your pet’s skin dry after washing.
Dr. Bronner’s Citrus Soap:
While the zesty citrus smell is incredible to use during a dog’s bath, we are certain your dog would want to run away from the bath instantly.
Although Dr. Bronner’s Citrus Soap is made with all biodegradable ingredients and is safe to be used on dogs, your furry friend would not appreciate the citrus smell of the soap.
Dr. Bronner’s Tea Tree Soap:
The one type of Dr, Bronner’s soaps that might cause reactions in your dog’s skin is the tea tree soap.
Although Dr. Bronner uses only 2% of the tea tree oil in the soap, this small amount might be enough to cause harmful effects on the dog’s body if your pet is vulnerable to getting reactions.
Dr. Bronner’s Rose Soap:
Dr. Bronner’s Rose soap is safe to use on dogs. The soap successfully removes dirt and cleans the dog’s skin thoroughly, without leaving the dog’s skin all dry.
If your dog has more sensitive skin, you could start with smaller and diluted amounts to see how your dog reacts to the smell and feel of the soap. The rose soap can clean fleas off the dog’s fur but it would not be a temporary solution.
Dr. Bronner’s Eucalyptus Soap:
According to ASPCA, ingesting and smelling eucalyptus scent can make a dog considerably sick.
Generally, the plant is considered to be toxic for dogs. Despite being low in concentration, you should not use Dr. Bronner’s Eucalyptus soap on dogs.
Which Dr. Bronner’s soap is best for dogs?
Except for Eucalyptus and Tea tree soap from Dr. Bonner, none of the other soaps poses any threat to the dog’s health or skin. Yet, your pet might not like the citrus one either.
Among the others, Dr. Bonner’s peppermint and lavender soaps are equally great as versatile and safe washers for your furry friend. While the peppermint one can get rid of fleas for hours, the lavender one is sure to calm your restless dog and clean it well.
How to make dog shampoo with castile soap?
If you are thinking of going DIY, we love your idea already. Not only does it make using castile soap safer and more diluted, but you would also get more cleaning done with a homemade dog shampoo. You can use Dr. Bronner’s castile soap in the recipe as well.
Ingredients needed:
1. ½ cup vinegar
2. 2 cups water
3. ¼ cup Castille soap.
How to do it:
Get a bottle:
First, get a clean bottle and make sure it is completely dry. You can use old shampoo bottles if you have them at home.
Mix the ingredients:
Mix each of the ingredients one by one. Measure using a measuring cup, doubling the amount if you want to make another batch.
Shake well:
Close the lid and shake well so that the ingredients are all mixed thoroughly.
Is pure castile soap ok for dogs?
Since pure castile soap is a plant-based soap, it does not use chemicals that can harm your pet. Being biodegradable and toxin free, pure Castile oil is certainly safe for washing your dog.
Castile soap is a popular alternative to any dog shampoo. Castile oil is also safe to be used on dogs with allergies and sensitive skin. It effectively removes dirt from your dog’s fur and leaves the dog’s hair with a sheen.
Can I use Dr. Bronner’s to get rid of my dog’s fleas and ticks?
Dr. Bronner’s can get rid of dogs’ fleas and destroy their peaceful living in a dog’s fur.
However, castile soap is only effective on fleas if the pests come in contact with the soap when they are wet. Dr. Bonner is not effective when your pet’s skin is dried out.
You may want to remember that while Dr. Bonner can get rid of live fleas, the flea eggs will still be active and present on your dog’s skin.
Final thoughts
Castile soap is a plant based, chemical free soap that can be safely used on dogs to remove dirt and fleas. Likewise, Dr. Bonner’s castile soap can also be an alternative to dog shampoo as long as it is diluted. For dogs with sensitive skin, Dr. Bonner’s tea tree could cause skin allergies.