Bathing Your Dog

• Posted on 1 March 2023
• By Louise's Pet Connection
• 2

If there is one thing people and their dogs can agree on it's that nobody looks forward to bath day. Grooming is one of the most essential aspects of pet care. Keeping our pets clean is more than just looking good and smelling nice but it's also for keeping their skin, coat, and paws healthy as well.

If there is one thing people and their dogs can agree on it's that nobody looks forward to bath day. Grooming is one of the most essential aspects of pet care. Keeping our pets clean is more than just looking good and smelling nice but it's also for keeping their skin, coat, and paws healthy as well. If you have a pet suffering from any skin issues or allergies, this step in your pet's life is even more vital to their wellbeing. Regular bathing means your animal’s coat will be in its best condition which in turn also means less shedding and who doesn’t love that. 

When bathing your pets the first step is making sure you're using a good shampoo. Many shampoos out there use incredibly harsh ingredients and chemicals which in the long run will do more damage to your pets skin and coat.  The shampoos we carry are scrutinized to be the best quality with all ingredients being the best for your pets skin and coat. It's important to note how imperative it is to your pets coat to also stay away from all human shampoos & dish soaps. These items have different PH levels and can have significant impacts to your pets skin which will dry out their skin and coat. In many cases they will also cause skin irritations and rashes. Even when using the best shampoos you must rinse your pet thoroughly of all shampoo at the end of their bath as any leftover residue will build up and cause itchy flaky skin. Overbathing is another thing that can do a lot of damage to your pets skin. The perfect schedule for bathing is once per month. Weekly baths will strip your pet's coat of its natural oils which means your pet's coat will either start to overproduce or underproduce its natural oils. This means your pet's coat will become incredibly dry and flaky or overly oily and smelly. When it comes time to dry your pets off avoid using any heat sources as these will also dry out your pet's skin just stick to towel drying your pets. Getting all that excess water off of them while making sure they are completely dry means you won't have a damp dog running around recollecting more dirt and pollen. Pollen can affect all dogs some more than others. Wiping your pets off with a wet washcloth or grooming wipes every time they come in from the outside is super important for your more skin sensitive animals. Wiping off all the pollen and whatever else they've been exposed to outside like fertilizers and pesticides will help protect your pets and help to keep their skin safe and clean from reaction. This also will help your pets from developing red and itchy paws as their pads can absorb things they walk through very easily. Grooming wipes can be the perfect tool in between baths but are also wonderful for cats who don’t usually need a full bath as they keep themselves quite clean. These wipes help rid your pets top coat of dirt and dander and pollens while also helping to freshen up their scent. Regular brushing will help to limit shedding and keep dirt off your pets while keeping their coat healthy. When you get into a good brushing routine this will help you keep an eye on your pets skin and notice if there's any changes or issues you need to focus on.

All of your pets grooming needs do not all have to be taken care of in one day. Focusing on a bath one day, brushing their coat another and nail trimmings the next is ok and can even be less stressful for some animals. Taking your time just means you're building more trust with your pet. Bath day doesn’t have to be the bane of you and your pets' existence. Some pets live for the water while others would love to avoid it. Staying calm during bath time will help your pet feel safe but a few treats can make things even easier. A calm bath means it will be over much quicker with less puddles!