How to Know When to Wash Your Dog

Bathing your dog regularly is an important part of responsible pet ownership. A clean dog is a happy dog - and one who's likely to receive more love and attention. Plus, regular baths may help prevent skin disease, saving you money on veterinary bills.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Boxes For Dog Supplies
• Dog Bones
• Dog Brushes
• Dog Shampoo
• Towels
• Dog Shampoo
• Towels
• Blow Dryers
• Veterinarian
• Towels

1. Examine your dog daily to determine if he's dirty, has signs of skin disease or has parasites such as fleas or ticks. You should not find mats, sores, tenderness or bad odors.

2. Wash your dog immediately if he's had any contact with toxic chemicals, oils, sprays or other irritating materials.

3. Note that if none of these problems are present, a frequent bath is ideal for most dogs. Talk to your veterinarian regarding the optimal frequency.

4. Explore your dog's entire body and comb him prior to starting the bath, removing mats and foreign bodies from his coat while checking for lumps, bumps and wounds.

5. Consult your veterinarian about which shampoo is best for which breed, as variations in coats and predisposition to skin disease will determine what's optimal. As a general rule, you'll want a mild cleansing shampoo designed for dogs, without harsh chemicals, perfumes or parasite control agents.

6. Rinse your dog thoroughly after allowing the shampoo to remain in contact with the skin for 5 to 10 minutes.

7. Dry him with a towel or hair dryer (set to warm or cool - not hot) to complete this bonding time with your dog.

8. Take your dog to a professional groomer regularly if you're unable to bathe him yourself at home. Or use do-it-yourself doggy wash parlors, which may save you some money.

Tips & Warnings

• Bathe your dog to get him clean, not to control external parasites. If parasites are present, use products designed for parasite control, as recommended by your veterinarian.
• Quality shampoos developed for dogs can be used daily without drying the hair coat or skin.
• Bathing your dog weekly, beginning when he's a puppy, will make a bath as routine as going for a walk.
• Finding evidence of skin disease - such as rashes, open sores, hair loss, or excessive scratching and biting - indicates the need for a trip to the veterinarian right away.
• Signs of irritation or discomfort after bathing indicate that your dog is sensitive or allergic to the shampoo. Rinse him thoroughly in cool water and seek medical attention.
• Always read the label completely before using any shampoo on a puppy.

[nickiev]

on 2/14/2008 Make sure that when you are rinsing the soap from their face that you are careful not to get water in their nose. It hurts as bad for them as it does for us.

[DianeFM]

on 11/4/2007 Most critical thing when bathing a dog or when he goes swimming is, as mentioned above, keeping his ears dry to prevent infection. The best way to do this in addition to using cotton in the ears when possible is to use a canine ear cleansing solution whenever your dog gets wet. They contain drying agents to keep your dog's ears from becoming hospitable to yeast and bacteria. Just a squirt rubbed into each ear will do the trick.

[Ally]

on 6/6/2007 Florentino's comment is dangerous...do not use people shampoo on dogs, it's WAY to harsh and can eliminate needed natural oils and cause itchy, dry skin...which causes hot spots! not good!

on 11/22/2005 Dogs hate to get water in their ears, and it is also not healthy to let water in them. To keep the water from entering, tuck some cotton into the ear (not too deep) before bathing. Then remove when done. If your dog usually freaks when you wash his head, you will find that this will eventually help keep them calm once they figure out that the water is no longer going to get into the ear.

on 11/22/2005 Only bathe your furry companions when they are obviously dirty. They need the natural oils in their skin, and bathing them unnecessarily will do more harm than good.