Fetch the 4-Legger Blog

Phenoxyethanol is used primarily as a preservative and sometimes as a disinfectant in dog grooming products.

While it is an organic compound, that doesn't mean that it is certified organic. Let's dive in and see what this means in terms of safety for your dog! 

Ok. The Methyl sisters aren't dogs but these dogs do kinda look like sisters and they were way cuter than chemical structures! 

The methyl sisters are two preservatives you find in many so called "natural" dog shampoos. Discover the true origin of these preservatives in Meet the Methyl Sisters! 

We need your help. We're trying to pinpoint when dogs made the transition from outdoor to indoor dog? 

Do you remember having a "family dog" that lived outdoors? They only got to came inside at night or in bad weather? Did you dog sleep in the garage or in a dog house?

Do you think this transition had a direct correlation between their health and their lifestyle? We do and we'll tell you why. 

Unlock the mystery of your itchy dog's discomfort!

Explore how food quality, allergies, and grooming products can contribute to their misery. Discover the shocking truth about common dog shampoos and their hidden dangers. Protect your furry friend and the environment. Shop all natural dog shampoo for itchy skin today!

Happy Earth Day 2016! We've compiled some tips for spring time safety and how as dog owners we can be good stewards of our planet!

Check them out in the blog!

 

Our organic oatmeal dog shampoo is made without synthetic chemicals and is now ready for purchase!

Learn about our thought process in developing this formulation, which dogs it was developed for, and the benefits of oatmeal and lavender!  

Your dog has allergies and you want a mild dog shampoo for sensitive skin. You search for shampoo that says, "hypoallergenic and perfect for dogs with sensitive skin and allergies". How do  you know it really is hypoallergenic?

Easter means different things to people and how ever you choose to celebrate this Easter holiday, we hope you'll be sure and consider the safety of your pets during your celebration activities.

The fact is, there is a very strong probability that your dog will die from cancer if you don't work to lower their risk. Only 5% of dog cancers are genetic; the remaining 95% are environmental and lifestyle.

Read our seven steps to help lower your dog's risk of cancer.

We have seen this question time and time again: "Can I use dish detergent to wash my dog?"  

Many ask this question after seeing commercials where dish detergent has been used to effectively clean wildlife after oil spills.

Here is our opinion...

Someone recently searched the 4-Legger website for "benzyl benzoate" and there zero search results. We decided to fix that! 

What is benzyl benzoate, when might it be used, and is it safe? We have the answers!

What inspires someone to one day decide they are going to start making a certified organic dog shampoo?

For Melissa, it was a personal journey that started when she lost her dog to cancer on the same day that she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  

We've captured the story in this short video. If you've ever lost a pet to cancer or other health conditions, this video is for you. If you have a pet now that you would do anything for, this video is for you. 

We got a question from Otis and his Dad. His veterinarian said that you could wash your dog with wood oil soap. He wanted to know if that was safe. Want to fetch the answer?

In this short article, we give you just 2 reasons why you do not want sulfates in your dog's shampoo and a quick guide on what to look for on the label so you choose a healthy shampoo. 

Remember - a certified organic dog shampoo like 4-Legger is always safe and just as effective as the toxic alternatives. 

The oils on your dog's skin and coat give your dog its distinct odor. They also serve to protect your dog against environmental toxins and are important for healthy skin and coat. Dirt and pollution accumulate naturally on a daily basis and need to be removed from the skin and scalp so the follicle remains clear, balanced, breathing and growing.

Waterless dog shampoo is intended to absorb excess oils - making the coat appear less oily and "clean". 

In fact, waterless dog shampoo retains the environmental toxins on your dog's skin and coat where they can then lick it off and ingest it! 

Want to see what they may be ingesting? Take a look...

Buying a natural dog shampoo isn't easy these days. Manufacturers have learned that adding the word “natural” to dog grooming product labels equals increased sales and higher prices.

Channel your inner bloodhound and learn how to discern between a truly naturally shampoo an imposter! Then, pin our infographic to help make smart decisions for you and your dog!

Lesson 2 looks at preservatives - the chemical substances used to prevent food or other materials (such as your pet’s shampoo) from going bad.

Unless you make a product at home and kept it refrigerated, you do want “something” in your product to keep it from growing bad stuff. Otherwise, you and your pet could get sick from what is growing in it (mold, fungus, yeast, or bacteria).

Let’s look at the difference between USDA certified organic dog shampoo and other dog shampoo.

If your dog's scratching isn't caused by a parasite it may be time to look at ALLERGIES! 

Yes, just like humans, your dog can suffer from allergens like mold, pollen, perfumes, smoke, medication, shampoo, and food. Allergies can make your dog's eyes runny, their skin dry/itchy or the opposite - greasy and oily - both resulting in itching, biting, chewing, and scratching! It can also cause sneezing, vomiting, diarrhea, swollen paws, and even snoring caused by an inflamed throat.

Feeding your dog a low quality diet results in your dog not getting the essential nutrients that make their skin healthy and their coat shiny.  As a result, your dog may have itchy, red, or flaky skin.  

There are as many options on dog food as there are dog breed (maybe more)~ Many people now choose to feed their dog a raw food diet so they can have ultimate control over the quality of the ingredients.

Vitamin E is important to your dog's body to help protect the skin and other cells from free radicals and fight off infection. 

The antioxidant properties of a component within vitamin E make it very valuable in natural products. 

A component of Vitamin E, called Tocopherol, is one of the few ingredients that can be used in certified organic formulations to serve as a preservative - antioxidant.

Saponification refers to the process by which a vegetable oil is turned into soap! It's a simple reaction that occurs when an oil, like coconut, olive or jojoba is mixed with an alkali and results in two products: soap and glycerin. 

Literally, saponification means "soap-making" and oils are chosen based on what final properties of soap is desired. For instance, if you saponify coconut oil, the result is a very bubbly and glycerin-rich soap. Glycerin is an important product for its usefulness in helping retain moisture and prevent dry, itchy skin. Olive oil creates a very creamy soap that is rich with antioxidants.