A good pampering in an epsom salt bath isn’t just for humans, it’s also a great way to treat our four-legged friends as well. Treating your best friend to a pampering session with epsom salt for dogs is beneficial in several ways.
Is Epsom Salt Safe For Dogs?
Bathing in epsom salt is a safe activity for dogs as long as their owner is there to oversee the experience. Dogs should not be allowed to drink the bath water, they should be discouraged from licking their fur, and the salt should be rinsed away after the bath is complete. If the dog does not ingest any significant portion of the salt, it’s a perfectly safe and effective way to provide your dog with some comfort and soothing.
When using epsom salt soaks during a dog bath, make sure that any essential oils used in the soak are dog safe. Not all human safe essential oils are necessarily recommended for dogs, and a few essential oils that should be avoided include:
- Ylang ylang
- Tea tree
- Pine
- Sweet birch
- Cinnamon
If you are using epsom salt with safe essential oils, giving your dog an epsom salt bath can be a special bonding experience and a way to show them how much you care with a little bit of pampering.
How To Give A Dog A Bath With Epsom Salt
Giving a dog a bath using epsom salt is a simple and straightforward experience. First, fill your bathtub with warm water. The water shouldn’t be too hot or too cool, and similar in temperature to a regular bath. Once the bath has been drawn, use about 1 to 2 tablespoons of epsom salt soak per gallon of water used. This doesn’t have to be an exact measurement and starting slower with 1 tablespoon per gallon is recommended if its your dog’s first time having an epsom salt bath. Depending on how they handle the bath, you may choose to go up to 2 tablespoons per gallon if you’d like.
Once the epsom salt soak has been added to the water, agitate the water to make sure all epsom salt dissolves. The better the salt dissolves, the more evenly distributed the salt will be in the water and the more effective the aromatherapy will be. After the salt has fully dissolved, it’s time to introduce the dog to the water.
If a dog tends to lap up water or struggle in the bath, a little peanut butter can do wonders. Simply spread a smear of peanut butter far away from the bath water on the wall of the tub or shower, giving your dog something interesting and safe to lick instead. This can help your dog to focus and keep still as the water works to comfort and relax them.
An epsom salt dog bath should take around 15 minutes, after which it’s time to rinse the dog off. Because dogs continuously groom and lick their fur, it’s important to rinse the salt away to minimize how much salt may be ingested after the bath. First drain the bathtub of water while the dog is still in the bath, and then rinse the dog with lukewarm water thoroughly making sure to get any fur that may have been exposed to the salt. Once the dog has been rinsed, it’s time to dry off and enjoy the feelings of freshness and calm.
Epsom Salt Blends Great For Dog Baths
Not all epsom salt blends may be appropriate for dogs, but many are. A few blends that work particularly well in dog baths are:
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Deep Relaxation – A simple, minimalist, and basic salt, Deep Relaxation is both effective for people and effective for pets. This is an excellent choice for a first epsom salt dog bath as it features all-natural ingredients and only one essential oil. Deep Relaxation is comprised of USP grade epsom salt, fractionated MCT coconut oil, Vitamin E oil, Vitamin C crystals, and natural Lavender essential oil. Lavender is a safe and effective oil to calm and soothe dogs and using just one aroma this isn’t a blend that will be overwhelming to a dog’s sensitive nose.
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Lilliuma Relaxify Bath Salt – Lilliuma’s Relaxify Bath Salt uses Mediterranean Sea salt instead of epsom salt, as well as a gentle blend of calming essential oils. In this soak you’ll find Mediterranean Sea salt, fractionated MCT coconut oil, jojoba seed oil, Vitamin E oil, and all-natural essential oils of lavender, chamomile, and geranium. With just a little more complexity than Deep Relaxation, it’s still a simple soak that won’t overwhelm the dog’s senses while providing a calming and soothing effect.
- Detox Bath Soak – Warm, clean, and refreshing, Detox Bath Soak is perfect for calming and deodorizing during an epsom salt bath. This soak is made up of USP grade epsom salt, fractionated MCT coconut oil, Vitamin C crystals, Vitamin E oil, and essential oils of lemon and ginger. The lemon essential oil is excellent for leaving behind a fresh clean scent, while the ginger is warming and comforting as the dog enjoys their bath.
When Would I Give My Dog An Epsom Salt Bath?
Epsom salt baths are excellent stress relievers for people and their pets. If a dog tends to get stressed during thunderstorms, fireworks, or during hectic times in the home, an epsom salt bath can work to soothe and comfort them into a more relaxed state. Additionally, every dog owner knows about the “doggy smell”, and a fresh bath in an epsom salt soak can help to deodorize and leave behind a cleaner smelling and relaxed pet.
