Organic Oatmeal Dog Shampoo! Is it Really? Let's Take A Look!

Last week we fielded another customer call about ingredients in a competitor's product. This is the result of closely examining those ingredients and comparing them to ingredients which are known to be associated with significant health risks for dogs.

Product Title: 
Oatmeal Dog Shampoo & Conditioner – All Natural for Dogs and Cats – Organic Oatmeal & Aloe Helps to Relieve Itchy Dry Sensitive Irritated Skin by [Brand Name]

Product Ingredients: 
Oatmeal and Aloe Vera Extracts, Lauryl Betaine, Rinsing and Moisturizing Agents, Sodium, Coconut Fragance and Purified Water. [Note: We copied/pasted this from the Amazon.com listing and yes "Fragrance" is mis-spelled. We aren't perfect either!]

Our analysis: 

• The company did not follow standards when listing ingredients. Typically, ingredients are listed in order by high to low - so the first ingredient listed is the highest percentage in the bottle.  It is simply not possible for oatmeal to be the highest percentage ingredient. 
• The first three ingredients (while not in order of percentage in bottle) don't look bad.  It doesn't say whether or not the oatmeal or aloe are organic - in the title it does say organic. Is it a marketing ploy or are those ingredients really organic? Who knows. 
• Lauryl Betaine is not the same ingredient as Cocamidopropyl betaine, a synthetic surfactant. Lauryl Betaine is a synthetic vegetable-derived based moisturizer and can increase foam. It is generally considered safe.
• Rinsing and Moisturizing Agents sends off alarm bells in our heads. One word - greenmarketing. Whatever it is they are using they don't want to list the ingredients. 
• Sodium. This is a big question mark. We went to the manufacturer's website and there are no ingredients listed. On the bottle it says "Sodium Sulfate". Is this Sodium Lauryl Sulfate? Not knowing what it is - we suggest staying far away from it!
• Coconut Fragrance again sends off alarm bells. Do NOT use artificial fragrance on your dog - period. See what EWG has to say. Artificial fragrances are a mixture of undisclosed ingredients that have links to skin irritation, allergies, immunotoxicity, organ system toxicity and hormone disruption. Hormone disruption is linked to cancer.

If you don't think there is a connection between the vast increase in dogs being diagnosed with hormone / thyroid issues, cancer, and dog shampoo, think again.

Millions of pet parents buy "all natural" and "organic" dog shampoos for their furry family and those millions of pet parents are being duped by an industry that is more interested in making money than they are the health of your dog. 

This formulation that claims "Helps to Relieve Itchy Dry Sensitive Irritated Skin" has links to skin irritation, allergies and hormone disruption in just the few ingredients they disclosed. I dare guess what they didn't disclose. 

Our dogs and cats can't tell us when their skin is irritated except by scratching and often we only realize their hormones are out of whack or they have cancer when the symptoms are at a tipping point. 

We urge you to look at the ingredients in your dog's grooming products and to purchase only certified organic dog shampoo.  4-Legger's Oatmeal and Lavender Dog Shampoo is all natural. That promise is backed by our USDA certified to organic standards! We use organic oatmeal and we list our ingredients!

Our dogs deserve the best. 4-Legger's standards for safety and product integrity will change the grooming industry - one healthy bath at a time! Thank you for helping spread 4-Legger's mission!