Learn About Ingredients to Find a Safe and Non-Toxic Organic Dog Shampoo

A nitrogen rich compound that promotes the healing of skin. It is synthetic or derived from the urine of animals or plants (like Comfrey). You'll need to verify the source of this ingredient given the high number of synthetics. 

Note: Allantoin is considered a drug and should be regulated by the FDA.

ALES or ALS

See Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (below) 

Babassuamidopropyl betaine
A salt used to boost foam and help condition.

Balsam Fir Essential Oil (Abies balsamea)
Balsam is a natural stimulant, antiseptic and analgesic. It is great for muscle and joint conditions, respiratory conditions, inflammation and will help to naturally reduce cortisol levels. It is generally non-toxic, non-irritant, and non-sensitizing. 

As with all essential oils, using a high grade essential oil that has been naturally extracted is imperative for the health and safety of your pet! 

Benzyl benzoate 
A synthetic chemical used as a fragrance ingredient and preservative. It is also considered an over the counter drug used as a scabies or lice treatment.

It is linked to allergies, skin irritation, and hormone disruption.

Botanical Extracts
While botanical extracts sounds like they are single ingredient extracts, that may not be the case. 

Take for example a cherry botanical extract - it may be extracted into parabens or it may be extracted into glycerine and water. Since there is no way to know, we've added it as a caution but noted they are likely natural.

Note: If it is mixed with a synthetic, the safety of the ingredient can dramatically change. 

Citric acid
Typically used in dog grooming products to adjust the pH of the product closer to the pH of your dog's eyes (pH 7 - neutral) to reduct eye irritation so the manufacturer can claim "tear free". Unfortunately, these same shampoos use ingredients that you would not want on your dog's eyes. So, yes they may be tear free, but the product is not safe and non-toxic!

As a note, your dog's skin is better served by a more alkaline pH and you being careful around their eyes.

Also, some dogs may have skin sensitivity to citric acid although rare. 

Decyl Glucoside
A newer ingredient that is a glucose based surfactant. While there isn't a lot of data yet about this ingredient general indications are that it appears to be safe and non-toxic but that it can cause allergic contact dermatitis.

Ethylhexylgl Glycerin
A weak preservative and skin conditioner. While no shampoo should be used around the eyes, this ingredient does have links to eye toxicity making it very important it does not come into contact with eyes. 

Fragrance
A "catch all" for added scent that generally means it has a lot of ingredients linked to allergies and immune issues.

Most have links to organ system toxicity and are not friendly to the planet (ecotoxicology). 

Panthenol
A form of Vitamin B5 it is used for skin conditioning and to control static. It has no links to toxicities.

Petroleum Jelly
Derived from petroleum (not planet friendly - ecotoxic) with links to organ system toxicity with contamination concerns by PAHS - with links to endocrine disruption, cancer, bioaccumulation, and organ system toxicity.

Note: There are many different brands of petroleum jelly with a vast spectrum of ingredient purity. While we'd not use it on ourselves or our dogs, if you are going to use it, make sure you buy a reputable name brand.

Phenoxyethanol
A relatively new preservative. Let's first note that it is safer than some other preservatives like formaldehyde, paraben, and methylisothiazolinone preservatives. There is some evidence that it may cause skin irritation or allergies in some dogs and that it may have links to organ system toxicity. 

It is also is a sensitizer meaning your dog can develop an allergic reaction to it after using it for some time with no problems.

Note:  This is a synthetic ingredient that is not allowed by Ecocert for use in natural or organic products.  If the bottle says "natural" or "organic" and it also says "phenoxyethanol" you would be wise to avoid any products manufactured by this company. 

Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
We gave this ingredient a green rating but want to point out a caution. There are animal and petroleum sources so you will need to ask for the ingredient source wen you see this ingredient listed.

A synthetic combination of 4 glycerine molecules into 1 large molecule that makes it more moisturizing, added to a fatty acid under alkaline conditions - that joins the 2 chemicals into one new molecule. 

It is generally regarded as a safe and effective moisturizer - certainly safer than the alternatives like polyethylene glycol (PEG) and triethanolamine (TEA). It is also approved to be used in ECOCERT certified organic products. 

Potassium jojobate
Saponified jojoba oil!
Safe and non-toxic!

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
A relatively new surfactant. Generally regarded as safe but may cause skin irritation. 

Sodium c-14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
A detergent cleansing agent that produces a lot of foam. 

The name may be misleading, but sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate is not a sulfate. Sulfonate is related to but not the same as sulfates. In a sulfonate the sulfur is linked direct to a carbon atom where as a sulfate is linked directly to the carbon chain via an oxygen atom.

They do however have similar qualities when it comes to propensity of being irritating to the skin. 

It also has links to organ system toxicity.

Vitamin E (Plant Based High Grade Tocopherol)
This ingredient is where you have to put a lot of trust in the manufacturer to ensure they are purchasing a plant based high grade (expensive) source. If a manufacturer skimps and purchases a lower grade petroleum based less expensive ingredient there could be contamination concerns from hydroquinone.

Natural = d alpha-tocopherol
Synthetic = dl alpha-tocopheryl

Xanthan Gum
Used to help prevent ingredients from separating and as a thickening agent, it is very safe and non-toxic. 

Xanthan gum is considered a synthetic made from fermentation and is on the accepted list of ingredients for use in USDA Organic products.