How to bathe a dog: learn to do it without leaving the house

Taking care of the hygiene of pets is essential, since many people like to have pets close by. Therefore, it is important to know the correct way to clean them without harming the health and well-being of pets.

Thinking about it, in this article Minuto Healthy will give tips on how to bathe the dogs at home and what products are needed for that. Check out!

Contents

How to bathe a dog at home?

Bath time is a very important time in the routine of pets, to do this at home it is necessary to have some care.

In order to bathe dogs inside the house, it is necessary to take some precautions in order to be able to properly sanitize the animal and maintain its health.

Thus, it is important to know the characteristics of the pet to choose products suitable for it. The only way to have this information is to take the pet to the veterinarian, who will evaluate the animal and diagnose possible allergies or diseases that he has.

It is worth remembering that many dogs do not feel comfortable during bath time, which can hinder the action, however, even if it is stressful for the person who is doing it, it is necessary to be patient and careful with the animal so that it relaxes and feels feel at ease while being sanitized.

To help, it is important to choose a time when the pet is a little tired, such as after playing or taking a walk, as this is more likely to remain calm during the bath.

Step by step to bathe a dog at home

  • Make sure you have all the necessary items: it is recommended to be beside the dog during the entire bath time, so that there is no chance of it escaping and ending up spreading dirt throughout the environment. Therefore, it is important to have all the necessary items close by, such as shampoo, conditioner, towel, cotton, dryer, brush, among others; 
  • Choose a suitable space: for comfort when cleaning the dog, it is ideal to find an area with a size that is sufficient to bathe and that has no gaps for the animal to escape. In addition, you should not have objects that are too close to you that are dangerous for the dog.
  • Brush the hair: to remove the coarse dirt stuck to the animal’s hair, it is advisable to brush. During this stage, care and tranquility must be taken when running the brush / comb through the dog’s body, otherwise the animal may be restless and want to escape the bath;
  • Protect the animal’s ears: before starting the bath, it is necessary to protect the dog’s ears with small pieces of cotton, as this way it is possible to ensure that no water will enter the area and that the pet’s hearing will not be affected;
  • Leave the water at the right temperature: the warm temperature is more suitable for bathing dogs, as pets feel uncomfortable with cold water and should also not be exposed to very hot water;
  • Apply the shampoo and conditioner: after carefully wetting the animal, it is time to apply the shampoo over the entire length of the dog’s body. Spread the shampoo by scrubbing carefully to prevent the substance from entering the pet’s eye. Then rinse. It is worth remembering that the shampoo must be a specific product for dogs and that it does not cause any irritation to the animal’s skin.
  • Apply the conditioner: after removing all the residue from the shampoo, it’s time to use the conditioner. Like the shampoo, the conditioner must also be especially for dogs. The conditioner helps to make the hair softer and shinier, so apply the product and spread by massaging slowly. Then rinse.
  • Dry: first use a (or more depending on the need) towel to remove excess water from the animal’s fur, then, to finish drying the dog, a hair dryer can be used (be careful with the temperature, which should warm or cold). If the dog is uncomfortable with the noise, it is better to let the hair dry naturally.
  • Perfume and accessories: this part is optional, so if you like to keep your pet smelling longer, you can spray a perfume or cologne made exclusively for animals. Likewise, if desired, clothes or accessories can be placed on the dog.

What is good for bathing a dog?

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There are several special items for bathing pets without causing allergic irritations.

Nowadays it is possible to find several items manufactured especially for the bathing routine of dogs, such as soaps, shampoos, conditioners, brushes and cottons. They can be purchased according to the owner’s preference and the animal’s needs.

In addition, there are products with formulations that offer benefits such as the prevention of ticks, fleas , infections, allergies, among other things that harm the health and well-being of the dog.

It is legal to take the pet to the veterinarian who will pass all the guidelines in relation to the most suitable products for bathing at home.

Brush

Using a brush it is possible to align the animal’s hair and remove the thickest dirt from the dog’s body, facilitating the bathing step.

In addition, if the brushing of the animal is done carefully and unhurriedly, it will feel more peaceful and relaxed, making it want to repeat the experience, facilitating the next times.

The brushes available are of 3 types: steel, bristle and rasping machines. The choice will depend on the characteristics of the dog’s coat.

Cotton

It is very important to protect the dog’s ears during the bath, as the animal’s ears are favorable to the entry of water. Thus, it is recommended by cotton pieces at the entrance of the ears.

In general, the best option are waterproof cottons (or hydrophobic cotton) that are soft, comfortable and do not allow water to be absorbed, ensuring the protection of the dog’s ears.

Soap

Those who have more sensitive dogs, can opt for neutral soaps or with substances (such as sulfur) that do not cause allergic reactions in the animal (which cause itching, flaking and skin wounds). In addition, there are also special soaps for dogs that suffer from ticks, fleas and scabies.

Among the products available, there are:

  • Veterinary Soap PowerDog Fleas and Ticks ;
  • Pulgoff Plus Soap for Veterinary Use ;
  • Neutral Pro Canine Soap ;
  • Matacura Sarnicida and Flea Soap .

Shampoo

There are different types of shampoos that can help with dog hygiene, in addition to providing greater cleaning of the hair, they offer other benefits that favor the health of the animals, such as protection against parasites and bacteria that are harmful to the dog.

Some dog shampoos that can be purchased are:

  • Veterinary Shampoo Power Pet’s Clean 2 in 1 puppies ;
  • Pro Canine Veterinary Shampoo Specific Breeds for Sensitive Skin ;
  • Actio Hágil Veterinary Shampoo Control of External Parasites ;
  • Veterinary Shampoo 2 in 1 Pro Canine Plus neutral .

Conditioner

The conditioner, as well as for humans, is a complement to the shampoo. In the case of dogs, it helps promote hydration, nutrition and softness, being a great resource to protect and restore the animal’s coat and prevent them from falling out.

How often do you bathe the dog?

In general, the estimated frequency of bathing for dogs that have short and dense hair is between 15 days and 30 days (French Bulldog, German Shepherd, mixed breed dogs), long-haired dogs like the Poodle between 7 to 15 days, those with hair similar to human hair, such as those of the Maltese, Yorkshire and Shih-tzu breeds, the bath can be weekly.

However, the correct frequency for bathing dogs varies, as each animal has its own number of baths defined according to the type of fur, daily activities, accumulation of dirt, and environments it frequents. Therefore, it is valid to check with a veterinarian.

It is important to remember that if the dog is a puppy, it is only possible to bathe after 3 months of age, according to the veterinarian’s instructions.

Can you bathe with shampoo for humans?

To safely bathe your dog, only specific products should be applied to the puppy.

No! Bathing dogs with products made for humans is a very serious mistake that some people end up making. Dog hair has its own characteristics, so shampoos, conditioners, soaps, moisturizers, perfumes or any other substance used by people on the animal should not be applied.

In addition, the PH (the unit of measurement that establishes the level of acidity or alkalinity of a substance) in dogs is not the same as in humans. While the pH of human skin is between 4.5 and 5.9. Dogs are between 6.3 and 7.5.

Therefore, there are chances that the pet has irritation, itching, peeling, stains, among other reactions, due to the use of inappropriate products.

How to dry the dog after bathing?

Drying the dog after the bath is a very important step to finish the bath and make sure that no residue will be stuck to the animal’s fur. In addition, it reduces the chances of the animal getting dirty faster, since the wet hair causes flakes of earth, grass, sand, among others to settle on the animal’s body.

The first step in drying the dog, is to remove the excess water with a towel (or more than one if necessary), to prevent that when the dog is swinging, splashing water drops everywhere.

Then, a regular dryer can be used to speed up the process and leave the animal’s hair light and free of moisture. It is worth mentioning that the temperature of the dryer must be adjusted to reduce the chances of hot air burning the animal. So, choose the warm or cold temperature.

If the dog is uncomfortable with the noise and intensity of ventilation, it is more appropriate to stop using the dryer and let the dog’s hair dry naturally.

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