You wouldn’t think that something as simple as bathing a pet, an act we all hopefully engage in ourselves on a regular basis, would require lengthy instruction. But the truth of the matter is that our simple lather, rinse, repeat directions can be a bit more complicated with our pets. Not all pets like to be bathed. Anyone that has ever tried to bathe a cat can attest to that. However, even pets that don’t like to be bathed can be taught to be okay with it. The key is to take things slow. To start, there are a few thing that can cause an anxious pet to panic.
- Slippery tubs. Dogs, especially older dogs, are more comfortable on surfaces with good traction. This can easily be fixed with a good no-slip bathmat.
- The Faucet. A faucet or a hose with water rushing out can be loud and a bit frightening. You may need to use a detachable showerhead or a bucket of warm water with a cup for rinsing.
- The water temperature. Dogs are very sensitive to water that is too hot or too cold just like we are. The water should be warm but not too hot. Similar to warming a bottle for a baby. You want it at a normal body temperature.
If you have a pet that is apprehensive, getting them accustomed to a bath can take a few days or a even a few weeks. Be patient.
Step 1: Start by placing your pet in an empty tub, sink or wherever you wash your dog. Don’t run water yet!
Step 2: Give him treats or his favorite toy to play with. Keep giving him treats for just a few minutes and then take him out. That’s it. Keep repeating this step every few days until your pet gets accustomed to the tub and starts to associate it with a positive thing like treats or a special bath only toy.
Step 3: Slowly introduce the water. You may need to start out with just a wet washcloth that you wipe over his body, then slowly progress to water being poured over him and eventually the faucet.
Step 4: Once your pet is comfortable being wet you can proceed with the Shampoo.
When its time to bathe your make sure to gather all the supplies you will need before getting your pet. A few things you will want close at hand would be things like shampoo, washcloth or sponge, towels, cotton balls and a few treats or toys.
Finally it’s time for a bathe!
Wet your dog’s body with water. Wet your pet from neck to tail making sure his coat is fully saturated. This can take awhile for dogs with thicker coats. Generally you don’t need to bathe a pet’s face unless they just spent the morning rolling in a mud puddle or if instructed to do so by your veterinarian. If you need to bath your pet’s head or face use a sponge or wash cloth, carefully avoiding their eyes and ears, to shampoo and rinse. Avoid dumping water directly over a pet’s head.
Shampooing. You should never use a human shampoo to wash your dog. Dog’s skin has a different pH balances than our skin does and altering their skin’s pH can make them more susceptible to parasites and infection. If your pet has a skin condition, there are special medicated shampoos that can be prescribed by your veterinarian to help maintain healthy skin. Just like with people you should bathe your pet twice. The first shampoo is to remove dirt and oils from your pets fur, and the second it to allow the shampoo you’re using to condition the pet’s skin. This is specially important of you are using a medicated shampoo. Since the first shampoo is for cleaning you can use a a simple shampoo and save your more expensive medicated shampoo for the second round of bathing. When you are bathing your pet for the second time, really massage in the shampoo so that it gets down to the skin and then let it sit in their fur for approximately 10 minutes. Then rinse out all the shampoo fully.
Time to dry. Depending on how thin your pet’s coat is, you may need multiple towels to dry them fully. Getting your pet dry is especially important in the colder winter months. It is also important to dry out your dogs ears with cotton balls. Ears harboring water can lead to ear infections.
Finally, avoid washing your dog too often. Most dogs only need a bath every few months to monthly as long as they haven’t spent the day getting into something dirty. In between bathes, brush your dog’s coat often. to help keep him clean and to help promote healthy skin.