We all know that dogs are absolutely adorable, but there is something super attractive about dogs who have soft and flowy white fur. Their bright and soft coat of hair easily draws your eye and it makes us just want to cuddle with them all day.
However, as beautiful as your snow white pup may be, it is an inevitable fact that their perfect fur will eventually have minor stains, a dull appearance, or tear stains on them.
Just like we cannot seem to keep our favorite white blouse or a pair of white pants clean at all times, neither can they. They need your help to keep them clean, bright, soft, and glamorous looking, and we are here to help you accomplish just that.
Why Do You Need a Dog Whitening Shampoo?
You might be wondering why you cannot just use the same shampoo that you use on yourself with your pup. Many people do this and it ends up eventually worsening the quality appearance and health of their pup’s natural fur and skin. Dogs have a higher pH level in their bodies than we do, and that is why we do not recommend using human shampoo on dogs.
There are many dog shampoos on the market that will gently and efficiently maintain a healthy, voluminous, bright, clean, and a glamorous appearance. There are also some shampoos that are perfect for sustaining beautiful and healthy white fur and skin for dogs with allergies and sensitive skin conditions in general. There are many different types of whitening shampoos for meeting your pup’s specific needs.
Some dog whitening shampoo products are stronger than others. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you first start out with a mild whitening shampoo, before using a strong bleaching or dying shampoo. It is also very important to know your pup’s specific needs regarding their skin and fur prior to purchasing a whitening shampoo.
Common reasons why you need a whitening shampoo for your dog:
- Tear and saliva stains
- Mud and dirt stains from the yard
- Blood, urine, and fecal stains
What Makes a Good Dog Whitening Shampoo?
Okay, so now you are wondering what is the best dog whitening shampoo for your precious pup’s specific needs. Besides knowing your dog’s skin sensitivity and fur needs, it is also important that you use a product that consists of mostly natural ingredients.
Some of the most commonly used natural whitening shampoo ingredients are coconut oil (to moisturize), rosemary (to moisturize), fresh aloe vera, baking soda (to whiten), and more. Also, there are several different types of shampoos that whiten your dog’s fur.
The different types of whitening shampoo and their purposes:
- Bluing shampoos: This product is well known for using blue and purple as an optical illusion that reflects light and results in an appearance of a beautiful white coat of hair. Bluing is typically used for the lessening of light yellow stains that are caused by saliva and urine. When shampooing your pooch, it is absolutely crucial that you massage the product thoroughly from the root to the tips of the hair until the shampoo turns the white. Then rinse your pup off promptly after this shampooing and use a light regular shampoo afterward to ensure that your pup does not have a tinge of blue or purple to him/her.
- Enzymatic shampoos: This shampoo consists of natural enzymes that aid in the process of destroying unwanted proteins in your pup’s fur that result in a discolored fur coat. This shampoo removes urine, blood, and saliva.
- Clarifying shampoos: Clarifying shampoo is a product that is semi-harsh, so use this product as little as possible. It does successfully remove wax, oil build up, and any residue that has been residing in your pooch’s fur. This product is great for cleaning and whitening the fur of dogs who often get dirty and also have other skin and fur products that are frequently used on them.
- Bleaching shampoos: These shampoos are harsh, because of the usage of high levels of hydrogen peroxide. We recommend that you only use this if your pooch has very dark stains that have not gone away with the proper usage of other natural whitening products. Because of how harsh this product is we highly recommend that your pooch goes to a certified groomer for this treatment so that it is done correctly and without getting any of the shampoo in your precious fur baby’s eyes.
- Dye shampoos: These do not eliminate stains from your dog. They basically just dye the stains to the color (white) that you want.
What Are the Top Rated Dog Whitening Shampoos?
We understand that you only want to use the best products that yield the best results in a safe and healthy manner for your pup. Here are our recommendations for some highly rated and safe whitening shampoos for your dog.
- Lillian Ruff Brightening & Whitening Shampoo for Dogs
- Bio-Groom Super White Pet Shampoo
- E-Z Groom Crystal White Enzyme Shampoo
- Chris Christensen White on White Shampoo
Even though there are a handful of excellent dog whitening shampoos and talented groomers to help your pup stay looking amazing, we understand that you might prefer to simply do this at home with your dog and with natural products that are easily found and mixed together by you. Homemade natural whitening shampoos are a very safe alternative, especially for dogs who have intense skin conditions and allergies.
A Natural Dog Whitening Shampoo Recipe
- Gather and combine 4 tbsp. of sea salt and a gallon of distilled water. Then refrigerate this solution for a few hours.
- Mix in 5 tbsp. of baking soda and 3 tablespoons of the dog homemade whitening shampoo that was stored in the refrigerator.
- Put your pooch in a tub and then wet him gently with room temperature water.
- Gently scrub with a mixture of baking soda and the homemade whitening shampoo for 5 minutes maximum.
- Rinse your dog with a mixture of 4 cups of warm water and 2 cups of vinegar.
- Rinse the coat with warm water one final until clean.
As a side note, we want to let you know that you may also add a few tablespoons of pure aloe vera or lavender, or milk of magnesia for a natural and gentle moisturizing and healing effect. In addition to whitening, this recipe aids in the healing of minor irritated skin for dogs who get stains due to chewing and licking themselves as a result of being anxious or having allergies.
Keep it Shiny and White!
We love that you care enough about your precious fur baby to look up information about how to properly care for his or her beautiful white coat.
Remember that there are different types of dog whitening shampoo. We suggest that you always read the ingredients on every bottle of dog whitening shampoo before purchasing it to ensure you are using the most natural products you can.
If you want to make your own dog whitening shampoo be sure to use natural ingredients and remember to never get shampoo in their eyes.
Try your best to keep your dog from getting into muddy areas and brush and comb them several times a week.
