Why not make your own pet shampoo and save money while making your very own balanced soap?

But before you start, check with your veterinarian. Lye-based shampoo may be wrong for your pet for many reasons – like the height pH, e.g. (Remember, all recipes on this site are to be used at your own risk).

Pets often have susceptible skin and should not be bathed at all, or only very seldom. This is why our recipe has a low cleansing effect. A lot of coconut oil will be drying to your pet’s skin.

For some reason, if your pet can´t use this shampoo, you can use it for sensitive human skin, so it will not waste your time or money to try this recipe out.

Essential oils in pet shampoo

In my opinion, there is no need for adding scent to any soap, but especially if you make soap for pets you should be careful. Many essential oils are toxic to dogs & almost all are toxic to cats, so be sure to check with your veterinarian before adding those to your soap.

Essential oils do no only contribute to the scent; they also give soap extra benefits. Rosemary essential oil, e.g., is added for hair growth. Some essential oils are great insect repellants like citronella and Tea Tree oil, so many prefer to add those to pet shampoo. It is not our recommendation, but mentionable.

Good additives to pet soap

• Vitamin E for a shiny coat. Just add it after trace
• Castor Oil for a shiny coat (and bubbles)
• Neem Oil relieves skin dryness, skin itchiness, and redness
• Oat to prevent itchy skin. Add 1 or 2 spoonfuls of grided oatmeal after trace
• Sugar to create bubbles for an easier bath
• Shea Butter has many benefits for dogs (link)
• Apple Cider Vinegar help treat your pet´s itchy skin

Read about how and why to add vinegar to a soap recipe here (link). (This recipe for pet shampoo is fully calculated, and you don´t need to do anything).

Recipe percentages, lye, and superfat

This information is for advanced soapers. Go to recipe if you are new to soap making.

• 40% Olive Oil
• 30% Shea Butter’
• 10% Neem Seed Oil
• 10% Castor Oil
• 10% Coconut Oil
• 25.767% Lye Concentration + 0.0357x amount of vinegar used
• 38% Water percent of oil weight
• 28% of the water is substituted with Apple Cider Vinegar
• 4% Superfat
• 12 oz Total oil weight (514)

Soap Quality

Soap Quality	Range	This Recipe
Hardness	29 – 54	32
Cleansing	12 – 22	7
Conditioning	44 – 69	66
Bubbly	14 – 46	16
Creamy	16 – 48	34
Iodine	41 – 70	69
INS	136 – 165	124

Recipe for homemade Pet Shampoo

Soap Fatty Acid Profile

Lauric	5
Myristic	2
Palmitic	10
Stearic	15
Ricinoleic	9
Oleic	48
Linoleic	8
Linolenic	0