When we talk about grooming our pets, we must take into account that changes in climate, exercise and contact with other pets are the main factors that force us to use the hairdressing service. When there are changes in climate and dirt appears, they usually bring fleas and ticks in the worst case, it is therefore important to dedicate our pets a space of time in the hairdresser to keep them clean, in good health, clean and free of external parasites.
All dogs need to have a bath routine, which incorporates the right water and soap for our pet. It is an essential habit to take care of your hygiene, which helps the animal to eliminate odors and to keep its coat and skin healthy. It is not difficult to bathe our dog at home. But there are some tips that should be known before undertaking the cleaning of our pet.
The outdoor walks through terrains with mud or sand, the pollution of the city, the placid naps of the animal on a surface not always too clean and the lively games in the park with other dogs are just some of the situations that make the newspaper bath of our pet.
Incorporating water and soap (specifically for dogs) into the hygiene habits of our dog is essential, as well, to prevent infections in the skin and to keep their fur healthy and shiny. However, the grooming of the dog has some mysteries that should be known.
How often should the dog be bathed?
The first obvious question that arises when talking about grooming in our pet is how often should I clean the dog? There is not, however, a single answer to this question: the frequency of the baths depends on the lifestyle of the animal. It is not the same as a dog that spends a lot of time outdoors, in a rural environment for example, than another that lives in a flat in a city.
A long-haired dog may need a bath a month, or one every three months if it has short hair.
A dog urbanite may need a bath a month (if you have long hair) or suffice with one every two or three months (if it is short hair). If the animal lives in the field, it is usual to need baths more frequently. The veterinarian will advise you on the appropriate time to be allowed between bath and bathroom in each case.
When it comes to hygiene habits , whether for a dog that lives in the city or for another that resides in rural areas, the length of our pet’s fur is a factor to take into account when it comes to planning your routine of bathrooms. It is not the same as an animal of coat (mantle) short that another one with the long hair, since this one will be more prone to get dirty.
The toilet should be a pleasant moment
As per one expert dog groomer Waunakee, bathing your pet can be a way to strengthen the relationship with her. However, as with certain children, for some animals bath time is, in principle, an unattractive moment. The nervousness of the animal, when it appears, must be appeased with kind words, tying the dog with a harness to prevent it from fleeing and with constant caresses.
Knowing some secrets of the can bath can help transform the moment of the bath into a more pleasant experience, both for the animal and its owner. Regularly regulate the temperature of the bath water, which should be around 39 ° C, or start cleaning the head, are some keys to a pleasant toilet.
If the dog begins to bathe after three months, in addition, it will get better used to water and soap. The first time you wash, you have to reassure and try to associate the bathrooms with a pleasant experience.
The soap and body odor of the dog
For a dog that is a little friend of the water, the bath can have an added disadvantage: it reduces its corporal odor . This can be a minor problem for your pet, since the smell marks its identity in front of the herd. It is worth remembering that the dog is a social animal, which interacts not only with the family with which it lives but also with the dogs it encounters in its environment.
The tiny odorous particles that the dog’s body secretes, and which we call odor, are used by the dog as a means of communicating with other animals, while at the same time warning of their presence. These volatile chemical compounds are unique in each animal: they help you create a position within that herd and distinguish yourself from other dogs.
This explains that habitually excessive grooming, notably higher than recommended, rarefies the social relationships of your pet. Abusing the baths with soap and water can also have negative consequences on the skin and the health of the dog’s coat.
Using warm water and loving words can help keep the animal relaxed during bathing
Abusing the baths with soap in our dog, with toilets above the frequency recommended by the veterinarian, can damage the fatty layer that protects the hair and skin of our pet. This cover of lipids is responsible for the shine and characteristic silkiness of the dog’s hair, and serves as a natural barrier against certain diseases. There are reasons that justify that it agrees to respect, as far as possible, the advised frequency of the bathrooms.
Skin and hair care
In the market there are many specific products to take care of the hygiene of dogs. The question is to choose the most appropriate and take into account certain guidelines at bath time. The shampoo of people is not suitable for the dog, although they are hypoallergenic and for babies, since the PH of their skin is very different from ours.
A shampoo for dogs should be effective to remove dirt, have maximum skin tolerance, conditioning effect for hair and skin, a texture that facilitates the application and generate a fine foam, not too abundant, homogeneous and with small bubbles.
Each dog, depending on its skin and the characteristics of its hair, has a shampoo suitable for it. There are products for dogs with very sensitive skins, for dogs allergic and others that are specific, for example, for each type of hair, since it is not the same as your pet has curly, short, long, dark or clear coat. The veterinarian will help you choose the most appropriate for each case.
Reasons why Grooming Is Vital To Your Dog's Health
- Skin and lustrous fur . If your dog has short hair, it is good to brush it twice a week. If you have long, hard hair, it should be done daily. This allows to keep it clean, lustrous, free of dust and knots.
- Free of infections . Many dogs are allergic to certain agents. By providing a complete toilet, such as weekly bathing and brushing, you guarantee that those signs of irritation are under control. There are dogs that are more prone to these conditions – if you have a white one, you know what I’m talking about.
It gives them confidence . Being clean and handsome, they will be accepted by others, they will receive many compliments and they will surely feel better, with renewed energy.
- Ensures good health . A good grooming routine makes us stay in touch with our dogs on another level. By giving them a good brushing with massage included, they relax their muscles. This is the perfect opportunity to find lumps or irritations, indicators of diseases .
- Let’s not forget the teeth . The teeth are of great importance to guarantee the dog a quality of life. That is why you should monitor your dental health, avoiding that you can splinter your teeth, lose them, accumulate too much tartar or develop diseases in the gum and tongue.
- Dental hygiene, in addition to preventing cavities, helps us avoid deeper problems – even heart disease -. In case your dog has bad breath, it may be due to an infection that must be treated by a professional.
Tips
A long-haired dog may need a bath every month, while a short-haired dog may only need one bath every three months
Bathe your pet can be a way to strengthen the relationship with her: do it with love, and use warm water of about 39 ° C.
The shampoo of the people is not suitable to bathe the dog: our PH is different.
There is a wide range of specific products for almost every type of skin and canine coat: ask your veterinarian which is the most suitable for your dog.
If the puppy begins to bathe after three months, Skin and lustrous fur . If your dog has short hair, it is good to brush it twice a week. If you have long, hard hair, it should be done daily. This allows to keep it clean, lustrous, free of dust and knots.
- Free of infections . Many dogs are allergic to certain agents. By providing a complete toilet, such as weekly bathing and brushing, you guarantee that those signs of irritation are under control. There are dogs that are more prone to these conditions – if you have a white one, you know what I’m talking about.
It gives them confidence . Being clean and handsome, they will be accepted by others, they will receive many compliments and they will surely feel better, with renewed energy.
- Ensures good health . A good grooming routine makes us stay in touch with our dogs on another level. By giving them a good brushing with massage included, they relax their muscles. This is the perfect opportunity to find lumps or irritations, indicators of diseases .
- Let’s not forget the teeth . The teeth are of great importance to guarantee the dog a quality of life. That is why you should monitor your dental health, avoiding that you can splinter your teeth, lose them, accumulate too much tartar or develop diseases in the gum and tongue.
Dental hygiene, in addition to preventing cavities, helps us avoid deeper problems – even heart disease -. In case your dog has bad breath, it may be due to an infection that must be treated by a professional. it will get better used to water and soap.
Author Bio:
Richard Thomas is a Pet lover & passionate blogger and writer from the U.S. I’ve worked at the Alpha Dog Training Center. He loves to write about pets. He started this blog to provide advanced materials for choosing the right products for your dog. Check out my Latest post here