Avoid Toxic Ingredients In Pet Grooming Products

Although we must groom our pets, we should be very cautious about the products that are used on our animals, as many of these can be quite toxic and adversely affect not only your dog’s or cat’s health, but the heath of your entire family and especially younger children. This article will advise you how to Avoid Toxic Ingredients In Pet Grooming Products

Some synthetic based grooming and anti-parasite, treatment products, can not only cause health problems externally for your pets; e.g. rashes and itchiness, but they can also cause serious and potentially even life threatening, internal health issues for your animals, as well as being toxic and a serious health hazard to those people that regularly come in contact with their fur. Another concerning issue is that many brands of animal grooming products are actually tested on animals!

Many of the conventional products used in dog & cat grooming, much like human hair and beauty products, can often contain harmful ingredients e.g talc, synthetic fragrances, parabens, propylene glycol and sulphates, not to mention the highly dangerous chemicals that are used in flea, mange and tick powders, shampoos and treatments, including flea collars.

The Problem With Flea & Tick Shampoos & Treatment Products

Flea and Tick treatment products have been shown to stay on dog and cat fur for weeks. These treatments contain pesticide chemicals that are known carcinogens and can cause damage to the brain and nervous systems. Some flea collars have been tested and shown to contain residues of pesticides, that are 1000 times higher, than the EPA’s accepted levels.

Children who come into contact with these collars are at risk of not only cancer, but damage to their neurological systems. So although the more natural treatments for tick and fleas may not be as instantaneously effective, they are far safer for both the four- legged and all the two- legged members of your family.

Here is a very informative article by NRDH about Toxic Flea and Tick Treatments & harmful pet products.

The Dangers Of Talcum Powder Use In Dog Grooming

Talcum Powder is another commonly used product in pet grooming. Groomers and both dog and cat owners, commonly dust their animals fur with this product, as it leaves the animal smelling as fresh as a baby and absorbs the oil and grease on their fur.

Talc is also a common filler used in flea and tick powders. Talc is an ingredient that is best avoided, many people nowadays know not to use it on themselves, or on babies and children, yet it still is commonly used on our pets.

Unrefined Talc, which is talc in its natural form, can contain asbestos, which is known to cause lung cancer and various respiratory diseases, yet the jury is still out on purified and refined talc. There is evidence to suggest that it may cause ovarian cancer read here.

What we do know is, that breathing in, or ingesting, even refined talc, can cause serious harm, especially breathing difficulties. This makes it not only dangerous for your dog/cat, but the person grooming them and the entire family, especially young children who love to bury their faces in their dogs fur for a cuddle.

How To Find Safe, Natural & Cruelty Free Dog Shampoo & Pet Grooming Products

The solutions are easy, simply opt for natural, shampoo and conditioning products, as well as natural flea and tick control products.

If you get your pet professionally groomed, then shop around till you find a groomer that uses all natural products.

When shopping for grooming products such as shampoo, conditioners, danglers and pet perfumes please be sure to buy from companies that are certified cruelty free, to ensure that no animals were tested on so that your pet can look pretty.

Here at livingsafe.com.au we recommend searching for cruelty free brands through Cruelty Free International and their Leaping Bunny Programme list.

If you still would like to use a powder on your pets fur, choose to use a safer alternative to talc e.g. cornstarch powder.

You may prefer to make your own all natural dog shampoos, anti- parasite treatments and even doggy cologne.

Coconut Oil As Dog Conditioner

Virgin Coconut Oil as a Dog Conditioner after shampooing is fantastic not only to soften and shine your pets coat but the coconut oil will soothe and heal irritated, itchy, inflamed dog skin, including treating skin yeast infections and dermatitis, flea allergies and eczema.

Read Find Out Why Raw Coconut Oil Is So Good For Us. Learn What Coconut Oil Can Do and The Best Top 10 Uses For Raw Coconut Oil

Shampoo your dogs fur with your normal all natural, cruelty free certified, dog shampoo, rinse well and then squeeze out excess water from your dogs coat.

Scoop out a tablespoon of coconut oil from the jar for small dogs and 3 tablespoons for large dogs.

* Tip – If the coconut oil is in a cold, white, solid state then simply massage about a tablespoon full to start with, between your hands to melt the coconut oil, it into a creamy, workable paste. Do not double dip your hand or spoon into the jar of coconut oil, as you will be adding in bacteria. Alternatively you can mix the solid coconut oil with some hot water to melt it and use it this way.

Massage coconut oil through your dogs coat right to the ends of each hair. Be sure to give your dogs skin a really good massage with the coconut oil also.

Leave it on for 10 minute and then rinse with warm water. It is perfectly fine, in fact it is beneficial to leave some coconut residue on your dogs fur and skin.

Aromatherapy Used To Deter Fleas On Pets – But Be Careful

Aromatherapy has become very popular for use on dogs and it can be very effective, especially the use of essential oil treatments to deter fleas, but it is extremely important that you first check with a vet, or a certified aromatherapist, to find out which essential oils are safe for use on dogs, as certain essential oils can be highly toxic to animals. You should also be sure to find out what are the safe amounts of these oils to use our your pets and what percentage of essential oils to carrier oil should be used. Also be sure to use only pure, grade essential oils by certified cruelty free companies.

Essential oils and herbal treatments, although natural, can still be highly toxic, when wrongly administered.

Living Safe found a great site for all things natural and safe for your pets called Organic Pet Digest, here is their article on Dog Aromatherapy, which gives you some great and easy recipes for using Aromatherapy to treat your dog for ticks, fleas and even bad breath!!

It is important to do a weekly inspection through your pets hair, which is easily achieved during a petting, or grooming session. It is always easier to treat skin conditions and parasitic infestations using natural based products, if you get onto them earlier rather than when they become full-blown.