How to Dry Bathe a Dog

As most dog owners know, excessively bathing a canine can cause excessive skin problems, excess oil production and a greasy coat. Fortunately, you can dry bathe your dog and reduce skin irritations, dirty fur and that wet dog smell.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Essential oil
• Cornstarch
• Fine-bristled brush

1. Create your dry bath powder by adding 5 drops of essential oil for every cup of cornstarch. Stir the cornstarch and essential oil thoroughly, making sure that the oil does not cause the powder to clump up in potentially skin burning clumps. Select an essential oil for a pleasant scent, or select clary sage to soothe the skin, patchouli to heal wounds or tea tree to combat fleas.

2. Brush out any fur balls, tangles or clumps of dirt from your dogs coat. Apply the dry bath powder gradually, trying to get the powder as close to the skin as possible. Be careful when working around the face, as your dog's eyes and nose are sensitive to the essential oil.

3. Give your dog a massage, rubbing and scratching as your help move the dry bath throughout the coat. Finish the dry bath by brushing your dog's coat again thoroughly. Allow your dog to shake a few times and you are finished.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a baby powder dry bath to help remove sand from your dog's fur after a romp at the beach.
• Repeat your dry bath treatment every few months as needed.
• Do not add more than 5 drops of essential oil per cup of cornstarch. Essential oil has many healing qualities and smells great; however, it is extremely concentrated and may irritate your dog's skin.

[kinderkeeper]

on 1/18/2009 We tried this with our dog. We wanted a way to bathe her in the cold winter months.(This week it was -15 wind chill) We used Chamiomille Roman as an essential oil. Her coat looks and feels great and the oil we used is supposed to be great for dogs.

[MacDonald]

on 11/4/2008 Some essential oils are toxic to dogs, especially toy dogs. RESEARCH essential oil toxicity and dogs before doing this!

[Jane512]

on 5/28/2008 This is an interesting method that I have not tried before. I look forward to seeing how well it works!