Tips For Bathing Your Dog At Home The Right Way

Wondering what is the right way  to bathe a dog, even if you have done it a number of times before? Read this post to understand the best way to give your dog a wash and other tips that can be super useful and smooth.

How often should dogs be bathed?

Now, let’s bust the age old myth that harps about how you shouldn’t bathe a dog very often. Veterinary specialists are now very inclined to advise that  you can definitely give your dog a bath once a week as opposed to once in 15 days to 1 month. Typically, vets would often say that dogs don’t need a bath every week as it leads to excessive shedding and drying of the skin. However, looking at the several infections that are affecting dogs, doctors are now concluding that a regular bathing routine can actually save your dog from many bacterial and fungal infections and can reduce itchiness to a large extent.

Well, most pet parents end up waking to their pet’s scratchy sounds through the night! So, why not put in a little effort and bathe your dog at least once in 10 days if not once in a week.

You would also want to keep in mind that your dog’s dental health is just as important as keeping their body clean. It is recommended that you brush at least twice a week to keep plaque and tartar at bay. You can also use healthy dental chews as an alternative to brushing during the rest of the days.

Let’s look at how to bathe your dog the right way! Here are some dog bathing hacks that can make both your dog’s and your life easy.

Choosing the right shampoo for your dog’s coat and skin sensitivity

The first cardinal rule to follow is to not use shampoos made for humans! They have different compositions and they also contain a high amount of cleansers that can irritate your dog’s skin. Well, the best way to figure out which shampoo is the best for your pet, is to ask your vet. Every shampoo available has a specific PH balance which is the measure of how acidic or alkaline a certain component of a shampoo is. Unlike humans, dogs have thinner skin and the acidic mantle that protects the skin from fungi, yeast and bacteria is absent. Therefore, they are more prone to skin infections that develop due to different external factors. So, the best thing to do is use the right  shampoo for the right coat. If you suspect that your dog has caught an infection recently, you can check the symptoms and remedies to understand what you can do in such a situation.

Bathe your dog by covering its ears

This is something most pet parents don’t follow but is an important note to remember to keep your dog’s ears free from infections. Extra moisture and water that reside in your pet pooch’s ear can lead to a change in the PH balance that can further turn into a nasty bacterial or yeast infection. To avoid water from running into your dog’s ear , you can use a disposable dog wash shower cap, a cone or cotton inside their ears. You should be sure to remember not to stuff it deep into the ears, instead just place them in the opening of the ear canal. Or you could simply try and make sure that you dry your dog’s ears with a dry towel after every bath thoroughly but softly.

Brush your dog’s coat before every bath

Most of you may already know this wonderful hack that will fluff up your little pooch’s coat like cotton balls and velvet. But for those who haven’t tried it, this is an easy way to allow the shampoo to travel inside the coat and cleanse your dog’s skin quite thoroughly. If your fur baby is a breed with a  long coat then you might want to remove the mats in their hair while brushing and before bathing. Mats can be a little tricky to tackle once they are wet from a bath.

Find the perfect bathing spot

Find the perfect spot to bathe a dog, both for your convenience and for that of the dog, like the corner of the tub, where you can hold on to your dog and stop them from slipping or running away from you. You could use an anti-slip mat beneath to avoid all the slippery and sloppy movements of your dog. And you are better off sticking to warm water while bathing your pet to make sure all the grease or dirt or mud stains wash away easily.

Use yummy and healthy treats to lure your dog into the bathtub

What better way to make them love their bathing routine more !? Using healthy and yummy treats are a great way to help your dog warm up to the whole process and get them to think of it as a happy occasion. Try organic treats that are simply irresistible to your dog’s taste  buds and also highly nutritious with Vitamins, proteins and antioxidants.

Right way to apply the shampoo and the right way to scrub

Before you bathe a dog, keep a mug handy to dilute the shampoo with water before application. This enables the shampoo to be applied properly everywhere. You could use a loofah sponge or your hands to nicely wash the coat and the skin by massaging the shampoo into their skin slowly. Once you have covered all the places like pads of the feet, under belly and armpits, you can wash off with a hand shower that has medium pressure. You can use a conditioner once you have finished the first round of washing. This way you are trying to retain the oil content in their coat.

How to dry your dog after a bath?

You can start drying off your dog with the face first and then move down to the neck and the body and towards the tail. You can then dry the lower parts of the body, especially the paw area where most of the water would have trickled down. Using a microfiber towel will make sure the water is absorbed thoroughly without the towel getting too soppy. It is important to dry their coats well to avoid fungal infections.

Conclusion

These were some ways to bathe a dog to make the process more pleasant and enjoyable both for you and your dog.