Bathing your dog regularly is one of the ways to keep skin infections away from your pet. Besides, it is a way of maintaining your dog’s physical wellbeing.
As simple as it seems, bathing a dog might be messy or time-consuming if you don’t know how to go about it. The fact remains that bathing your dog can be a fun and easy task if you know what to do. First, you need to eliminate the old belief that cleaning a dog should be done once in six months because it strips them of body oil. Keep in mind that regular bathing is highly beneficial to your dogs. Apart from getting rid of skin infection, as mentioned earlier, it reduces dogs’ allergies, scratching, and itching.
It is worth mentioning that the care of your pet does not stop at getting them Large Dog Beds. You should take their hygiene seriously. This article explains five simple ways to shower your dog.
There are things you need to put in place before you take your pet to the shower. The section below discusses what you need to do before bathing your dog.
Things to do Before Bathing Your Dog
Below are some essential things you need to do before you put a drop of water on your beloved pet:
Protect the ears and the eyes
During bathing, there is a likelihood of water getting into your dogs’ eyes and nose. You can protect its eyes by applying a bland eye ointment. If you don’t know how to apply it, consult your veterinarian to show you how to go about it. Furthermore, put a small piece of cotton in the ear canals to prevent water from entering. Do not forget to get them out after the bath.
Get the appropriate shampoo
There are different shampoos; they differ in properties, including pH, ingredients, and others. Hence, it is essential to know what works best for your pet dog and go for it. Better still, you can consult a veterinarian to recommend shampoo for your pet. Dogs with skin conditions need something medicinal; therefore, you should consider a therapeutic shampoo to get rid of the skin problem.
Source: Pixabay
Get everything you need together
Before you start the bathing, put everything you need in one place where you can easily get them. There is nothing as frustrating as leaving your dog to get a towel or shampoo in the process of bathing. Therefore, it is advisable to get all your supplies handy, except you love to play with a wet puppy around the house.
Brush your Dog
Brushing your pet before adding water helps to get rid of the mat. This practice enables shampoo to get into the coat, thereby cutting out the mat before bathing. Water makes the mat set in, making them hard to remove.
5 Ways to Give Your Dog a Shower
Once you have put everything in place to enable bath your dog without stress; then follow the methods below to take on the task without any stress:
Apply lukewarm water
A risk-free and straightforward way to give a shower to your dog is by applying lukewarm water. In simple terms, lukewarm water is not too cold or too hot, and it’s in between. Dogs’ skins are susceptible; thus, they react adversely when exposed to hot water. Apart from that, large dogs tend to become overheated; therefore, you should keep their water cool.
Reassure your pet using a calm and friendly voice
With proper communication, you can let your dog know that you mean no harm. This way, they will be more cooperative. Be gentle on them and do not force them to bathe.
Source: Pixabay
Use a shampoo formulated for dogs
Use a dog shampoo as it is more gentle on their skin. Using a shampoo meant for people might result in excessive skin dryness. Gently apply the shampoo lather all over your dog’s body. Be mindful of your dog’s eyes and ears when using the shampoo.
Rinse your dog well and air-dry
To avoid skin irritation, you must rinse your dog well with water to prevent leftover soap or shampoo. There is no limit to the number of times you can rinse your dog. Rinse as long as there are no leftovers in their fur. Furthermore, do not use a human blow-dryer on your pet as it can be too hot for their skin. Instead, air-dry or use a blow-dryer to make for pets like a dog. This way, you prevent skin conditions like dandruff or itching.
Compensate your pet
After the bath, reward your dog with gestures of appreciation like praising and petting. This kind of reward helps cool them down and prevents them from venting their frustration after shower.
Source: Pixabay
Conclusion
Showering your dog does not have to be a tug of war. There are myriads of simple ways to bathe your pet without any hassle. Once you get everything you need together, follow the recommended methods to enjoy the full cooperation of your precious pet.
