Wednesday, July 8, 2009

How Can I Bathe My Dog? Here's The Easy Way To Wash Your Dog!

By Cliff Stone

Most of us have one of two opinions about bathing a dog. Some people believe you don't need to bathe dogs very often - maybe once a year. Others feel that their dogs should be bathed every month.

Bathing is good for dogs, but it can cause problems if you do it too often.

Just like us, dogs naturally have oils in their fur and skin. Bathing your dog too often will cause drying of the skin, which means itching, scratching and possible sores and injuries. Remember that the natural oils have some benefits, since they provide protection from bacteria and other elements.

If you want to make bathing fun for you and your dog, there are a few things to pay attention to.

1. Ear protection is important for your dog in the bath. If the ear canal gets soap and water in it, an infection could occur. This could be temporary, but serious damage could also occur. Infections can cause harm to the ear drum, leading to possible deafness. Some signs that your dog could be suffering from an ear infection, he may shake his head often or develop a discharge from his ears.

To make sure that this doesn't occur, all you need to do is use cotton balls to stop your dog's ears. Never force these into the ear canal - just place them securely at the entrance of the ear, keeping water out. Once the bath is over, dry the ears to keep moisture out - a finger wrapped in a cloth works well. If you decide to use a cotton swab, make sure you don't put it too deeply into the ear canal, since it could damage the ear drum.

2. Make sure you use the right shampoo. Products made for people are irritating, harsh, and full of scents your dog may be allergic to. Dog shampoo protects your pet's skin and fur.

3. How frequently you'll need to bathe your dog will depend on breed. Dogs that have longer hair need to be washed more often than dogs with short hair. Spaniels and other hairy dogs may need to be washed as often as every two months. Some other breeds can go as long as eight months. Outdoor dogs get dirty more quickly and will need more frequent bathing.

Starting your dog off right with routine bathing is important. Be compassionate and patient, since scaring your dog makes it a lot harder to bathe him. Make bathtime fun if you can, since lots of dogs enjoy swimming or being sprinkled with water.

If you can, set up your bath outside. Encourage your pet to run through or sit in it. Use toys to distract your dog from the water. Once he's calmed down a little, start the bath. Some people put their pets on leashes to keep them from running away.

Collect everything you'll need for the bath well in advance, including soap, towels, and a bowl for pouring water. Hoses usually are full of water that's too cold - use water from the bath instead.

If you show your dog that the bath is fun, you and your pet will both enjoy it and look forward to it.

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