Non-Ingredients: What You Won't Find In 4-Legger's Organic Dog Shampoo

The words "organic" and "natural" are not regulated.

Only 2% of dog grooming products are truly all natural and organic.

To meet this criteria, the product must be certified as organic through the National Organic Program.

Most companies use a blend of organic ingredients and synthetic chemicals and make claims they are all natural and organic.

Why Are Synthetic Chemicals Bad?
Synthetic chemicals have been linked to itchy skin, allergies, hormone disruption and cancer. 

What to Look For?

The phrase "derived from" when talking about an ingredient such as "derived from coconut oil" or "derived from plants"

• Caprylhydroxamic Acid
• Coco-glucoside
• Decyl Glucoside

What Are They?

GMOs are genetically modified
organisms like corn, soy, wheat, etc. The DNA was altered to make them less susceptible to disease, application of herbicide, drought resistant, etc.

Why Are They Bad?
GMOs have been responsible for the "superweeds" and "superbugs" that are resistant to less toxic methods. GMOs can only be killed with more toxic poisons.

What to Look For?
A lot of companies that make the claim of using a "naturally derived" ingredient use GMO crops because they are cheaper and they are only using a chemical derived from the plant - not the whole plant.

What Are They?
Parabens are synthetic preservatives that prevent growth of bacteria or mold. They are frequently found in dog shampoo.

Why Are They Bad?
They have been linked to hormone disruption and can cause environmental damage. They have also been found to cause red skin rashes, and
allergies.

What To Look For?

• Methylparaben
• Propylparaben
• Ethylparaben
• Butylparaben

What Is It?
Petroleum ingredients or petrochemicals ingredients that are made from crude oil and oil. They are commonly used
to make ingredients.

Why Are They Bad?
They commonly contain a contaminant called 1,4-dioxane, a substance linked to cancer and toxicities in the body.

What To Look For?

• PEG (polyethanol glycol)
• DEA (diethanolamine)
• Mineral Oil
• MEA (ethanolamine)
• Butylparaben
• EDTA
• Ingredients with "propyl" in it like cocamidopropyl betaine
• Fragrances (95% come from petroleum)

What Are They?
Ingredients generally made from
petroleum (petrochemicals), they are low cost cleaners, foam boosters, and thickeners commonly found in grooming products. 

Why are they bad?
Sulfates (detergents) are linked to skin irritation and skin allergies. they may also be contaminated with dioxane - a byproduct of the manufacturing
process known to cause cancer.

What To Look For?

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Sodium Laureth Sulfate
• Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
• Sodium Coco Sulfate
• Coconut based surfactant
• Natural Cleaner
• Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
• TEA
• Lauryl Sulfate
• MEA

What To Look For On The Label:
Dimethicone, Dimethyl silicone (and other names)

Why We Don't Want it In Our Products:
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive).

What Are They?
Synthetic dyes generally made from petroleum.

Why are they bad?They have linkages to organ system toxicity and are known to bioaccumulate in the body. 

What To Look For

• FD&C
• D&C
• Color

What Are They?
Ingredients generally made from
petroleum (petrochemicals), they are low cost cleaners, foam boosters, and thickeners commonly found in grooming products. 

Why are they bad?Sulfates (detergents) are linked to skin irritation and skin allergies. they may also be contaminated with dioxane - a byproduct of the manufacturing process known to cause cancer.

What To Look For

• DMDM Hydantoin
• Caprylhydroxamic Acid
• Quaternium-15
• Imidazolidinyl urea
• Phenoxyethanol
• Methylisothiazolinone (MIT or MI)
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)
• Isothiazolone
• 5-chloro-2-methyl

All of 4-Legger's products are vegan.

We don't have any animal products in any of our ingredients. 

What Are They?
Ingredients generally made from
petroleum (petrochemicals), they are low cost cleaners, foam boosters, and thickeners commonly found in grooming products. 

Why are they bad?
Sulfates (detergents) are linked to skin irritation and skin allergies. they may also be contaminated with dioxane - a byproduct of the manufacturing
process known to cause cancer.

What To Look For?

• Cetyl alcohol
• Stearyl alcohol
• PPG-5-Ceteth-10 Phosphate

What To Look For On The Label:
Cocamide DEA, Cocamide MEA, DEA, TEA

Why We Don't Want it In Our Products:
A
foam producer that started as a coconut and has been chemically altered
into a moderate cancer causer, hormone and thyroid disruptor and an
organ toxin due to contamination issues in manufacturing.

What To Look For On The Label:
Cocamidopropyl betaine or Cocomide betaine

Why We Don't Want it In Our Products:
A synthetic surfactant associated with irritation & allergic contact dermatitis. Reactions could be due to the ingredient itself or impurities. Nitrosamines (a common contaminant) are known to cause cancer. 

What To Look For On The Label:
Tetrasodium EDTA or EDTA

Why We Don't Want it In Our Products:
Used as a preservative - organ system toxicity (non-reproductive). Increases the ability of other chemicals penetrating skin. 

What To Look For On The Label:
DMDM Hydantoin, Doazolidinyl urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Quaternium-15

Why We Don't Want it In Our Products:
Formaldehyde is a known cancer causing agent. While slow releasing versions do release formaldehyde more slowly - they are still releasing formaldehyde! 

What To Look For On The Label:
Fragrance

Why We Don't Want it In Our Products:
Your dog's sense of smell is 50 times more sensitive than yours.

Artificial fragrances can lead to compromised immune function, allergic reactions, neurotoxicity, and cancer.

Commonly found in dry dog shampoo.

What To Look For On The Label:
SD-40, isopropyl alcohol, rubbing alcohol, isopropanol, 2-propanol, and propyl

Why We Don't Want it In Our Products:
Destroys the skins moisture balance & causes irritation. Makes susceptible to bacterial & viral infections. Nerve toxin, lung & heart irritant, and liver toxin.

What To Look For On The Label:
Mineral oil

Why We Don't Want it In Our Products:
A byproduct of distilled gasoline - made from crude oil - it coats the
skin and inhibits its ability to release natural oils or eliminate
toxins. 

What To Look For On The Label:
Phthalate

Why We Don't Want it In Our Products:
Help bond fragrance to the soap (surfactant) base. Known male and female hormone disrupters, linked to birth defects, asthma, neuro-developmental problems in newborns, fertility issues, & obesity. Banned from children's toys. 

What To Look For On The Label:
Polysorbate-20
Polysorbate-80

Why We Don't Want it In Our Products:
Bind oil with water and dissolve fragrances into a solution. Commonly contaminated with the cancer causing 1,4-dioxane. 

What To Look For On The Label:
Propylene glycol

Why We Don't Want it In Our Products:
Used as a humectant (moisture retention). Strong skin irritant and
liver/kidney toxin.