Aug 22, 2016 | Morkie Care: What You Need to Know
Can you use baby shampoo on dogs? And, is homemade dog shampoo better? This are two questions I hear quite often, and here are the answers.
No to baby shampoo and Yes to homemade shampoo.
Believe it or not, baby shampoo is too harsh for your Morkie.
That’s because a dog’s skin is MUCH thinner than ours, and second, the pH level of his skin is different from ours.
(Remember grade 9 science? The pH level of the skin refers to how acidic or alkaline it is. On a scale of 1-14, 1 is the most acidic and 14 is the most alkaline. 7 is neutral.)
A dog’s skin has a pH balance of 7.5, compared to our skin, which has a pH balance of 5.5. So you can see our skin is more acidic.
If you buy shampoo, pick “certified organic”
Why choose organic? Since cancer is the primary cause of death for dogs over the age of 2, it makes sense to minimize your Morkie’s exposure to harmful or questionable environmental factors.
One thing – it must say Certified Organic.
Just organic on its own, or green, or pure, or dog-friendly, bla bla is all marketing bullsh*t. lt’s gotta say Certified Organic.
BUT HERE’S AN IMPORTANT TIP:
Don’t use regular dish soap as the base for dog shampoo
Lots of recipes for homemade dog shampoo call for dish soap as the base – often Dawn and Joy brands by name.
But dish soap is not good for your Morkie. That’s because it’s too harsh. These dish soaps are good quality but have plenty of chemical ingredients. Plus the PH level in most commercial grade dish soaps isn’t balanced to a dog’s skin.
Instead, use an all-natural, clear dish soap, or Castile soap for homemade dog shampoo. Both are clear, clean and unscented. And both are a better match for a dog’s ph level.
Dog Shampoo for Dry Skin
Dogster.com offers this recipe for dogs with dry or sensitive skin:
- 2 cups of water
- 1/2 cup of Castile soap or all-natural, clear dish soap
- 1/2 cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons of glycerine
- 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel
(You can get glycerine at most drugstores, along with aloe vera gel. Pick 100% pure.)
Apply to your wet Morkie and massage in; rinse well.
Simple Dog Shampoo Recipe
A good basic shampoo.
- 1-2 tablespoons of solid, unscented Castile soap, shredded with a cheese grater (or use 1-2 tablespoons of liquid, unscented Castile soap or an all natural dish soap)
- 2 cups of hot water
- 1/2 cup white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
Mix soap and water with a spoon until the soap shreds are dissolved. Add white or apple cider vinegar. Shake well before each use. Rinse well.
Wish your Morkie had a long, flowing coat?
In this brand new, 80 page ebook, you’ll learn just how easy it can be to groom your Morkie yourself, at home, and keep his coat long and luxurious.
By the way, you can read this ebook on any device – smartphone, tablet, reader, laptop, computer – thanks to the free kindle program.
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Sep 24, 2015 | Morkie Care: What You Need to Know
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Yesterday we looked at how to bathe your Morkie; now let’s explore the best (and worst) shampoos for your little dog.
First, how often should I bathe my Morkie?
If you’re combing your dog regularly, bathing isn’t necessary more than every two or three months. The ASPCA recommends bathing your dog once every three months. Your pet may require more frequent baths if she spends a lot of time outdoors, but as the ASPCA points out, most of us bathe our dogs too often.
However if your Morkie has a coat that’s more Yorkie-like, she may have the more oily skin and hair of the Yorkshire Terrier, and more dander. In that case, you can get a special dander-reducing shampoo for dogs from your pet store or ask your Vet about using something stronger like human-grade dandruff treatment. It contains sulphur or salicylic acid. You leave it on for about 5 minutes before rinsing. Usually these treatments are repeated every week or every two weeks until the dander is under control.
Generally, never bathe your dog more often than every 6 weeks.
Too much washing will actually harm your dog’s coat and skin rather than make it healthy – your Morkie’s skin can get very dry and flakey, and his coat can go dull when the natural oils are washed away.
Can you use human shampoo on dogs?
This is a question I hear quite often and the short answer is NO. Although it’s ok to use it now and then if you’ve run out of dog shampoo, real dog shampoo matches a dog’s natural PH levels. A dog’s skin has a pH balance of 7.5, versus our skin, which has a pH balance of 5.5.
It may not seem like much of a difference, but our shampoo is just not designed to clean a dog’s more alkaline skin. If you have to use people shampoo, be sure and dilute it with plenty of water before applying to your Morkie’s coat.
Plus, since people have skin that is 3X thicker than a dog’s skin, people shampoo is much stronger and will be harsh on your dog’s skin.
The only exception is a tiny bit of baby shampoo to use on your Morkie’s face if it’s exceptionally dirty… otherwise just rinse the face area with water. Don’t use the dog shampoo around their mouth or eyes.
Which TYPE of dog shampoo to pick?
There are at least 7 different kinds of dog shampoo:
- Medicated shampoo – for dogs with skin allergies
- Flea and tick shampoo – contains insecticides to kill the bugs
- Natural shampoo with essential oils – to control ticks and fleas
- Oatmeal shampoo – for dogs with especially dry and sensitive skin
- Sulphur shampoos – for dandruff, available over-the-counter at pet stores
- Dry powder shampoo – for in between big baths
- Waterless shampoo – usually a foam product
Match the type to what you need and always opt for the more gentle versions, for sensitive skin. And wherever possible, go for organic or all-natural, to avoid unnecessary chemicals.
Some good brands
Natural Chemistry Natural Flea and Tick Shampoo with Oatmeal for Dogs, 16.9-Ounce
Natural shampoo with essential oils; chemical Free – No Pyrethrins or Permethrins. Contains Cinnamon Oil, Cedar Wood Oil, Clove Oil and Vanillin. Also contains Colloidal Oatmeal to moisturize, nourish and revitalize dry skin & coat. Kills and repels fleas & ticks – effective on black flies and mosquitoes too! Available at Amazon.com for $7.99
Oatmeal Shampoo
Earthbath All Natural Shampoo, 16-Ounce
- Totally natural pet care, 100-percent bio-degradable and cruelty free
- Soap-free shampoo
- Heavenly-scented
- Safe, gentle and effective
- Available at Amazon.com for $8.99
TOMORROW: Make your own dog shampoos
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GROOMING YOUR MORKIE?
Wish your Morkie had a long, flowing coat?
In this brand new, 80 page ebook, you’ll learn just how easy it can be to groom your Morkie yourself, at home, and keep his coat long and luxurious.
Available at Amazon
Read it on your Kindle, smart phone or pad
