Can I bathe my Shih Tzu once a week
How Often Should I Bathe My Shih Tzu? + How to Bath & Shower
Shih Tzus are a breed that have particularly sensitive skin, and this makes them prone to conditions like dryness and various other skin allergies (that they are also genetically predisposed to). This can be made worse by bathing as things like scented shampoos can act as an irritant, and frequent washes that serve to strip their skin of its natural oils.
With that in mind, how often is too often when it comes to bathing your Shih Tzu? I spoke to our vet about this to get a professional opinion, and heres what he said about washing regularity and how often Shih Tzus need a bath.
How often should you bathe a Shih Tzu? You should only bathe a Shih Tzu every 2 to 6 months in order to maintain a balance between their skin health and hygiene. However, the reality is this probably isnt practical, as Shih Tzus love to run in mud, so will need more regular baths and showers.
If youre a dog owner, you know that bathing any dog every couple of months is almost impossible, especially if you live in a wetter climate where mud is common.
So, in practical terms, if your Shih Tzu gets his coat muddy, and he starts to stink, you need to give them a bath outside of the regular bathing schedule.
However, due to Shih Tzus skin conditions, there are a few things you ought to know in order for their grooming and bathing regime to be happy, healthy and effective.
How to bathe your Shih Tzu in 5 simple steps
Smaller Shih Tzus can be bathed in a usual bathtub with a shower, but if you have a smaller Shih Tzu or a Shih Tzu puppy, you can bathe them in a sink with a sink sprayer.
I would not bother filling up the tub. I would instead recommend you use the shower or sink sprayer, but if you want to fill up the tub, I would advise only filling it insofar as your dogs ankles. This means they can still have their feet touching the floor and theyre paddling, not swimming.
This is especially important if your Shih Tzu is young, anxious or not a very confident swimmer.
1. Gently wet your Shih Tzus coat
The first step is to gently wet your dogs fur with the shower orsink sprayer. When doing this, you need to keep an eye on two things: the waters heat and intensity.
The water should be lukewarm: not too hot and not too cold, and if youre using the shower, you dont want to scare them off with the jets! I would only turn on the shower/sink sprayer halfway, so what you have is a gentle trickle rather than an intense spray.
It is incredibly important to get the temperature and the consistency of the water right, because not only do you risk harming your Shih Tzu with burns, but you also risk scaring them and making them associate baths with unpleasant memories, feelings and sensations making it incredibly difficult for you to give them baths in the future.
2. Use a specialist dog shampoo
Then, get a gentle, soap-free dog shampoo and use your fingers to lather and work the shampoo into the coat.
As mentioned, Shih Tzus have extra sensitive skin, which is why a soap-free shampoo is the best option.
What is the best shampoo for a Shih Tzu smell?
3. Rinse the shampoo away
Rinse the shampoo out and repeat the process as many times as necessary to get all of the dirt out.
4. Use a specialist dog conditioner
Once youre done with shampooing, get your conditioner specially formulated for dogs (scent-free again to avoid skin issues and allergic reactions for your Shih Tzu) and apply it evenly to the coat, brushing it through with a wide-tooth comb.
Give the conditioner no more than two minutes to set and then rinse again thoroughly.
5. Dry your Shih Tzu thoroughly
To avoid that nasty wet dog smell, you need to dry your Shih Tzu completely. Dry your dog with either a towel or a hairdryer on the lowest setting.
Handy Hint: If you dont dry your Shih Tzu off completely, they will probably run about like crazy after a bath. This is their way to get water off their coat and out of their ears.
Additional Shih Tzu bathing and washing tips
Now you know how to bathe a Shih Tzu, I wanted to get into a little bit more detail about how you wash some specific parts of their body in the bath or shower.
Cleaning a Shih Tzus face
When youre bathing your Shih Tzu, it is important to take steps to ensure they dont get any water or shampoo in their eyes. The dog friendly shampoos are designed not to sting, but I dont think its entirely comfortable.
One way of doing this is by applying protective ophthalmic ointment to your dogs face before bath time.
To clean your Shih Tzus face, use a flannel soaked with lukewarm water (no soap!) and gently wipe every nook and cranny of the face. This includes the outside ear flaps and the corners of the eyes to get rid of any stubborn tear stains.
I would do this instead of pouring water on their face not many dogs like this!
Cleaning a Shih Tzus ears
Due to the way Shih Tzus ears hang, they dont get a lot of air circulation, which unfortunately makes them more prone to infections. To avoid this, a Shih Tzus ears should be cleaned weekly.
Specially made dog ear-cleaning solution contains ingredients that helps to break down and remove wax, as well as anti-bacterial agents that soothes inflammation and prevents infection.
You should apply this solution to a damp cotton ball and gentle wipe the inside of the ear (use a different cotton ball for each ear in order to prevent spreading infection) and check for any injuries, infection, inflammation or scrapes.
If you notice something unusual, apply antibiotic ointment and go to your vet in order to seek further advice.
Taking care of your Shih Tzus toenails
If your Shih Tzus nails get in the way of their movement, this is a good time to get them cut. You can either do them yourself or take them to a vet or a groomer if you dont feel confident.
It is important to be careful when you are cutting your Shih Tzus nails, as inside each nail is what is called the quick which is extremely sensitive pink flesh that holds the blood vessels and the nerves that go into the nails.
If you cut into the quick, this will cause bleeding and extreme pain for your dog. It will also make it incredibly difficult to cut their nails in the future.
To cut your Shih Tzus nails, use a sterile pair of scissors to avoid infection and gently trim the very ends of the nails off this might take longer, but it is better to cut off too little than too much.
After cutting the nails, give your Shih Tzu a treat so that they have positive associations with the experience.
Caring for a Shih Tzus coat
Shih Tzus have what is called a double coat, which means that there are two layers of fur. The top layer is thick, waterproof and usually a brown colour, whilst the bottom layer is softer, more sensitive and yet also dense because it acts as an insulator.
It is usually white and is more likely to shed during the winter months. Luckily, with Shih Tzus being short-haired breeds, their coat, despite its complexities, is reasonably easy to care for.
- Brushing: Brush out dirt, prevent shedding and distribute natural oils throughout your Shih Tzu by brushing them at least once a week with a bristle brush, a hound grooming glove or or a finer brush if you want to remove excess dirt or hair. Brush your Shih Tzu more frequently up to three times a week during shedding season.
- Trimming: Shih Tzus dont really need trimming, but if you choose to trim them, it is advisable to lightly trim them with electric clippers. You should also pay attention to any fur around the feet or on the pads of the feet that you might want to trim for tidiness.
- Freshening up: To keep your Shih Tzu clean between baths, doggy dry shampoo is quick and easy to use you just need to sprinkle it on your dog and then distribute it with a brush. You can also use a spray-on dog conditioner in order to keep the coat looking shiny.
Conclusion
Although you should always keep in mind the allergies and skin issues that come with owning a Shih Tzu, bathing them can be a rewarding bonding experience that helps to keep them squeaky clean, happy, and free from infection!
With any dog, it is important to strike that balance between not enough grooming and too-much grooming. Whilst it is important to ensure your dog is clean, tidy and healthy, over-bathing can cause its own issues, making it ultimately more counterproductive.
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Here are some more guides to help you care for your Shih Tzu.
Image in header via https://pixabay.com/photos/dog-shih-tzu-animal-pet-cute-1495903/
How Often Should I Bathe My Shih Tzu? Vet Approved Advice
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Learn moreMost dogs dont require bathing that often. However, the Shih Tzu is an exception to this rule. They need bathing at least every 3 weeks, though some may do better with a bath every 2 weeks. Their coats are made of hair and not fur, so they arent waterproof. Unlike other dogs, their coat doesnt do a good job of staying clean. Youll need to wash and care for your dog similarly to human hair.
You should always use a gentle dog shampoo, as they can have sensitive skin (especially when being bathed so often). Feel free to adjust the frequency of baths depending on your dogs needs. Dogs with longer coats often need more baths than those with shorter coats. If your dog has a skin condition, they may need more or fewer baths, typically using specific shampoos/lotions recommended by your veterinarian.
Many factors determine how often you should bathe your Shih Tzu.
The 6 Factors that Affect Bathing Requirements
Not all Shih Tzus need the same number of baths. There are many factors involved that will determine how often you should bathe your canine. It is best to personalize bathing frequency to your dogs needs instead of strictly following a one-size-fits-all schedule.
1. Coat Length
Dogs with longer coats require more baths, as there is more hair to get dirty. A Shih Tzus coat doesnt stay clean well, so youll need to groom them very frequently and bathe them more often than other dogs. If you want to lower your dogs grooming requirements, cutting their coat shorter can reduce the number of baths and amount of brushing they require.
2. Allergies
Many Shih Tzus develop skin allergies from environmental allergens like dust mites, molds, pollen, and weeds. The best way to reduce their symptoms is to limit their exposure to these allergens as much as possible, which means more frequent baths to rinse them off. You may need to bathe your dog more frequently during certain times of the year to help prevent allergens from sticking to their coat for too long.
3. Activity Level
Dogs that spend more time running around outside tend to be dirtier than dogs that spend most of their time lying around. Puppies often need to bathe more for this reason. However, even older dogs can be quite active and require more frequent baths.
4. Environment
Some climates can make dogs dirtier than others. You may need to bathe your dog more often if you live somewhere particularly dusty. Similarly, those living in tropical areas may need to bathe their Shih Tzu more regularly, as the mugginess can lead to bacteria growth (and a smelly and itchy dog).
5. Skin Sensitivity
Some dogs are rather more to baths. If your dog has sensitive skin, you may decide to bathe them less often. Baths can cause skin irritation and dryness, only worsening coat health. Sometimes, the best option is to spot-clean your dog, increase brushing, or deal with a slightly dirtier dog between baths.
6. Health
Certain health problems may increase bathing needs. If your dog is sickly, their coat may not be as healthy as it once was, increasing their bathing requirements. At the same time, puppies and healthy dogs may need fewer baths.
How Often Should You Wash a Shih Tzus Face?
You should wipe your Shih Tzus face at least once a day. These dogs are known for dirty areas around their eyes, largely due to their flat faces. If you dont keep their eyes clean, they can develop eye problems such as infections or scratches
Sadly, there is no way to reduce their bathing requirement. Even if you cut your dogs coat short, they will still require daily face cleanings. It is not recommended to cut the hair around their eyes short. Once it starts to grow back, it may grow in the direction of the eyes, causing discomfort and even scratches. It is generally best to make face washings a regular routine. There are face wipes specifically made for this purpose. However, a damp washcloth works just as well.
There might be times when your Shih Tzu requires eye drops. Using the eye drops at the same time as you clean your dogs face typically works best, as some of the liquid does tend to run out of the eye. Its best to do everything at once. If your dog does need eye drops, speak to your vet about your daily routine and follow their advice on how and when you should clean your dogs eyes and face.
How Often Should You Wash a Shih Tzus Ears?
You should clean your dogs ears as regularly as possible. Generally speaking, they may only need cleaning once a week. Dogs with extra hair in their ears or those prone to ear infections may need them cleaned more often. Adjust the frequency and the product used to meet your dogs needs based on your vets advice.
Never shove anything into your dogs ears. Instead, just clean the outer ear flap so that the debris doesnt have a chance of going into the ear. You shouldnt wipe using a damp cloth, as this can introduce bacteria and moisture. Instead, look for specialized ear-cleaning wipes. In my experience, these often include witch hazel and similar cleaning agents.
You may also want to use drops to clean your dogs ears. Never shove q-tips into your dogs ear, as this can push the gunk back further. Specialty ear drops can help loosen any gunk trapped in the ear and kill bacteria. When in doubt, always speak to your vet about the best option for your canine.
Shih Tzu Grooming Routine
Shih Tzus require a lot of washing and grooming. It can be a bit confusing and overwhelming. Here is a short grooming routine that may help you stay on top of things. Feel free to adjust it to meet your dogs needs:
Daily:
- Wipe your dogs face as needed (and apply any necessary eye drops)
- Brush teeth using a quality dog toothpaste
- Brush your dogs coat (if longhaired)
Every Few Days:
- Clean the ear flaps
- Brush your dogs coat (if given a medium- to short-length cut)
- Use a dry shampoo as needed (especially for longer coats)
Every 34 Weeks:
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Conclusion
Shih Tzus have high grooming needs. Youll need to spend a little time grooming these dogs daily. However, they only need a bath every 34 weeks. You dont want to bathe your dog too often, as this can lead to problems such as dry and itchy skin. Not bathing enough can lead to skin problems, too, so finding a happy medium is important. Speak to your veterinarian about your Shih Tzus coat and skin needs. It is important to note that these may change throughout their lives depending on many factors such as their diet, environment, and general health.
While we described most Shih Tzus in this article, your dog may need slightly different care. Many factors determine how often your dog needs to be bathed, brushed, or wiped. Feel free to adjust my recommendations to better fit your dogs needs.
You can speak to a professional groomer about your dogs specific needs when in doubt. Shih Tzus often requires professional grooming, so there is no reason not to ask for advice when you pick them up from their appointment.
Featured Image Credit: Magicovice516, Shutterstock
