Giving A Dog Wash or Cat Wash

There is a misconception that bathing makes pets’ skin dry and flaky. It doesn't. For most pets, the skin is improved by bathing when the correct shampoo is used. In fact, veterinarians recommend that dogs with allergies or with greasy coats receive frequent bathing—as often as twice a week. The idea that bathing dries pets' skin probably started because pet shampoos used to be harsh, but now there are many gentle shampoos, some with soothing herbs and essential fatty acids.

There are some pet guardians who don’t notice their pet’s skin until after it is washed. If the skin is dry and unhealthy before the bath, it will be the same after the bath. The skin and coat are kept healthy by what we feed our pets, especially by feeding Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

So, feel comfortable bathing your pet as often as is necessary—from once a week to once a month. Don’t fear that your pet’s skin will dry. Racetrack horses are bathed daily and they have glorious coats. Your pet can also have a glorious coat when bathed frequently—just use the correct soap and a low heat setting on the hairdryer.

Dog wash/cat wash

1. Exercise your pet first so it welcomes the opportunity to stand quietly in the tub.
Place treats strategically so you can offer them during the bath. Some find it helpful to put a smear of peanut butter high along the sink or tub for the pet to lick off while being bathed.
3. Moisten the hair all around the pet’s neck, apply the shampoo to the neck, and move progressively toward the tail. By starting with the neck, you create a soapy moat that fleas cannot jump across to the safety of the non-soaped head.
4. Massage the skin and coat as you shampoo and leave the shampoo on for 10 minutes to kill any fleas. During the 10 minutes, wash the face and ears with a washcloth. Gently massage the body while washing to remove scale and debris.
5. Rinse, rinse, and rinse again. Rinsing is the most commonly neglected step, and poor rinsing leads to dry skin. Two areas that many forget to rinse thoroughly are under the scrotum of male dogs and the space between the front legs and the trunk.
6. Towel dry.
7. Prepare for an exuberantly clean dog that runs around the house and yard after bathing. Some dogs rub themselves against sofas or bedspreads to finish drying. Others fly around like pinballs loosened from the pinball machine.

Why pets hate bathing and what to do about it

• They slip on the wet surface—use a nonskid bathmat.
• They don’t like soap in their eyes—wash the face with a washcloth. Use a tearless shampoo on the face.
• They don’t like water in their ears—wash around the ears with a washcloth. Place cotton balls in the ears to keep out water.
• They don’t like cold water—indoors use warm running water; outdoors use a kid’s pool filled with water warmed by the sun.
• They weren’t gently introduced to the idea, but just plunked into a slippery tub—re-educate the pet. Go slowly. Reinforce every action with delicious treats. Use bits of ham, cheese, cream cheese, or dried liver so the pet looks forward to bathing.
• They were put in front of a blasting, hot dryer—use a low flow, warm dryer, if using any dryer.
• The drier has a high pitched whine—use a quiet drier, or none at all.
• Their hair was pulled during the comb out—remove mats and tangles before bathing, even a day or two before. Clip out matted hair rather than trying to wash and comb it out. Wet hair tangles like a felt carpet and never untangles.
• They were left in a stainless cage with a drier blasting on them and couldn’t move away from the hot air—use sensitive, knowledgeable groomers and watch them in action before leaving your pet.

Can shampoo be diluted with water for a dog wash?

Yes. Diluting shampoo with water in a 1:10 ratio is beneficial because the mixture

• goes onto the coat more easily,
• doesn’t leave concentrated blobs of shampoo that are difficult to rinse out, and
• saves on shampoo.

However, diluting more shampoo than you’ll use at one bathing is unwise. Pets—in private homes and in grooming parlors—develop serious bacterial skin infections from soap and water mixtures that sit in bottles for long periods. These pets require veterinary care and antibiotics to recover. So, mix only what you’ll use for the bath, then rinse and dry the mixing container.

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