Non-Ingredients: What You Won't Find In 4-Legger's Organic Dog Shampoo
What's Never In Our Bottles?
The simple answer is all the bad stuff you find in traditional dog grooming products!
All of 4-Legger's products are USDA Certified to Organic through the National Organic Program.
There are strict rules and third party oversight on what can't go into our products. Everything listed below is not allowed.
Learn more about ingredients in our Dog Shampoo Ingredient Database.
- ◄Synthetic Chemicals
- 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
- ◄GMOs
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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 like 2,4-D (an ingredient in Agent Orange).
What to Look For
Look for ingredients that are not USDA Certified Organic.
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.
- ◄Parabens
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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
- ◄Petroleum Ingredients
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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)
- ◄Detergents: The Sulfates
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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
- ◄Artificial Fragrances
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What Are They?
Generally made from petrochemicals, they are a blend of hundreds of ingredients.
Why are they bad?
They have links to allergies and skin sensitivities, organ system toxicity and are not environmentally friendly.
What To Look For
- Fragrance
- Scents that aren't made from essential oils like "almond" and "vanilla"
- ◄Artificial Colors
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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
- ◄Synthetic Preservatives
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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
- ◄Animal Products
- All of 4-Legger's products are vegan. We don't have any animal products in any of our ingredients.
- ◄Artificial Thickeners
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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
Want to Learn More?
Check out our deep dive ingredient blog or read about our commitment to you to learn more about why pet parents need to remove environmental toxins from their furry family's bath routine.
You can also learn more about grooming products in our ingredient database.
