BEASTLY BATHS
ORGANIC SOAPS KEEP PETS CLEAN AND
SAFE
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Clive Barker, an adoptable pooch at Little Shelter in Huntington, N.Y., gets an organic washdown.
January 27, 2008 -- LAST year's frightening pet-food
recall taught owners the importance of reading
ingredient panels on food packages to avoid potentially
harmful gluten, and artificial preservatives and colors.
But food isn't the only pet
product animal lovers need
to take care with.
Most mass-produced pet shampoos contain ingredients
that are
unnecessarily harsh on pets' skins. These
include laurel sulfate (a
degreaser known
to cause skin
irritation in laboratory tests), chemical
preservatives such as DMDM hydantoin and anything ending
with the chemical suffix "-paraben" (i.e., methylparaben
or propylparaben).
While some pets don't experience adverse reactions,
sensitive or allergic animals become miserably itchy -
and when one of them scratches, its skin becomes
infected. This is a serious problem for white-coated
city dogs that
are magnets for urban grime and therefore
get groomed more frequently.
Since most of these chemicals are absorbed into the
bloodstream via the skin, exposing animals to toxic
substances like DMDM hydantoin, which works by releasing
formaldehyde, is a big risk. Thankfully, there are
several pet shampoos that contain only natural, nontoxic
ingredients - and they lather up nicely, too.
Organimals shampoo by Aubrey Organics replaces chemical preservatives
with citrus-seed extract
and vitamins A, C and E.
Preserved with rosemary extract, Vermont Soap
Organics pet shampoo (vermontsoap.com) contains coconut
and jojoba oils, plus aloe vera, and is the first
USDA-certified organic pet shampoo.
For long-haired "hippie" dogs, Parsley
Hollow dog shampoo is scented with lavender,
rose geranium and patchouli. There's also a conditioner
called Un-Tangle.
Spa Dog Botanicals offers gift
baskets containing essential-oil-based grooming
products, including shampoo, conditioner and lavender
spray.
Lastly, TheraNeem pet shampoo by Organix
South is soap-free and contains skin-soothing arnica that also
moisturizes, so it won't dry out a dog's 'dermis. It's
especially good for pets that suffer mild dermatitis or
psoriasis.
js@pet-reporter.com
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This non-toxic product has a fresh scent that is not overpowering, and
cleans without exposing your pet to chemicals which have been shown to be
harmful. Ask for it at your pet supply store, or grooming establishment.
Organic Pet Shampoo is also available on the web at
www.vermontsoap.com or by calling toll-free at 1-866-SOAP-4U2.
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TOLL FREE: 1-866-SOAP-4U2
(1-866-762-7482)
E-mail: info@vtsoap.com
616 Exchange Street, Middlebury, VT 05753
Local: (802) 388-4302 ~ Fax: (802) 388-7471
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