Can I wash my dog every few days
How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog?
For a lot of new dog owners, it can be difficult to determine how often you should bathe your puppy or adult dog. The truth is, the answer depends on a lot of factors.
How frequently a pet needs a bath greatly varies based upon their breed, lifestyle, length of coat, and how much homework a pet owner is willing to do, says Beth Cristiano, owner of Pretty Paws LLC, headquartered in Harrison, N.Y.
Whats Your Dogs Coat Type?
The type of coat your dog has is a big factor in how often they require baths. However, its not as simple as the shorter the hair, the less bathing required. Hairless breeds, such as the Chinese Crested and the Xoloitzcuintli, are actually quite care-intensive, according to Cristiano, who says these breeds require weekly baths.
At the other end of the spectrum are the long-coated breeds, such as the Maltese and the Collie. Obviously, the more hair a dog has, the more work is involved, including the frequency of the bath, says JorgeBendersky, a celebrity doggroomer, pet expert, and best-selling author of DIY DogGrooming, From Puppy Cuts to Best in Show: Everything You Need to Know. He adds, For dogs with medium-to-large coats, a bath could be needed from weekly to every four to six weeks, as long as the coat is properly maintained in-between baths.
But a breed such as the Puli, which is technically long-haired, is not bathed as often when corded. According to the Puli Club of America, the Puli doesnt develop that typical doggie odor, and really, a Puli probably doesnt require as many baths as most other breeds.
So, what about dogs that fall somewhere in the middle? Thick or double coats on breeds such as Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Siberian Huskies, etc., naturally insulate the dogs seasonally, explains Monica Handy ofWoofiesMobile Pet Spa. Overbathing could strip too much oil from the skin and disrupt this process. Using a product specifically for shedding will help avoid this.
Does Your Dog Have Specific Health Conditions?
If your dog suffers from certain health conditions, your groomer and/or veterinarian may suggest that you use medicated shampoo while bathing your dog. Even if your canine companion is healthy, a grooming regimen usingproducts like de-shedding tools and brushes helps keep them that way. All pets benefit from monthly ear cleaning and nail trimming, Cristiano comments. Thorough coat-brushing and combing and conditioning are more integral to the pets health than bathtime.
Then, theres the health of the owner. Sometimes the bath is for the humans comfort, not the pets, Cristiano continues. For owners who suffer from allergies, theyll typically react to their pets dander, which can be managed with a weekly bathing routine. A dander-removing shampoo may also help manage human allergies.
Whats Your Dogs Lifestyle?
Bendersky notes that an active lifestyle may be easier with a short-coated breed, given that keeping the dog clean in-between baths typically requires less effort. You can get away with giving short-haired dogs a good rubdown with a damp washcloth to remove the dirt that was picked up during a busy visit to the dog park, he says.
Of course, dogs that are playing in oceans, hunting in muddy waters, or herding sheep all day may end up needing more baths than pups that spend most of their time indoors regardless of the breed.
At the end of the day, Bendersky offers this advice: We should wash our dogs when they are no longer huggable.
How to clean your dogs paws in 6 easy steps
Cleaning your dogs paws is a very important and easy thing to do. Keeping your dogs paws clean benefits your pup in several ways. It protects your pup from parasites or irritants that can make them sick and helps pet parents monitor for injuries on the paws.
Cleaning paws also helps humans too! It keeps germs and dirt out of the home that your dog may track in from their walks. Most of the time, youll be able to clean your pets paws in just a few minutes. Here are six easy steps to clean your dogs paws (no matter how muddy they might be):
What youll need
1. First, wipe your dogs paws down with wet wipes
When it comes to simple paw cleanings, wet wipes will be your best friend. Use one wipe per paw (dont wipe two paws with the same section of one wipe) to make sure each paw is getting completely clean. This is a great routine to establish with your dog after every walk to prevent germs in the house and keep your pups paws gleaming.
If youre on the go, we recommend a portable dog paw cleaner like the Dexas MudBuster Portable Dog Paw Washer. Its easy to use and the silicone bristles get your pups paws totally clean. It holds all the dirt and mud so you dont have to worry about transporting dirty wipes. When you get home, the MudBuster is extremely easy to clean too no mess, ever!
2. Consider a full foot bath
For extra muddy feet, give your dogs feet a bath with pet shampoo and a bowl of warm water. Dip your dogs feet in the soapy water, rinse, and wipe down with a towel. Yes, you may have to carry them inside to avoid getting their paws on the floor, but its the best way to clean those extra muddy paws.
If its warm outside, you can use a hose or sprayer (with a gentle setting) to wet your dogs paws, then use soap, a soft sponge, and a towel to clean them off. Its a little messier than using the sink or bathtub, but at least the inside of your house gets clean dog paws!
3. Always check between your dogs toes and paw pads
Water and soap do wonders against dirt and bacteria, but they dont get between the toes and paw pads. This means you should check them yourself after washing.
Make sure nothings stuck between your dogs toes. Check for twigs, foxtails, or other foreign objects that may get lodged in your pups paws. Also check for any cuts, abnormalities, or parasites like ticks. These nooks and crannies in your dogs paws are easy to forget about, but theyre also some of the most vulnerable spots on your dogs entire body.
4. Dry their feet off with a grooming towel
Your dogs feet arent completely clean until theyre dry wet feet can be problematic for dogs, too. A dogs fur can remain wet in between the toes and foot pads for prolonged amounts of time, causing dermatitis and infections. Its a bit like a human wearing wet socks around the house all day.
Take a clean towel and wipe your dogs feet until they are completely dry. Use a grooming towel theyre super absorbent and will help you get your pups paws clean faster. If you dont like the thought of having soggy toes, remember that your pup doesnt like it either.
5. Remember to keep foot hair trimmed
The fur on your dogs feet can become overgrown, just like the rest of their coat. When overgrown, the fur around the toes and foot pads traps moisture, dirt, and bacteria. This makes overgrown fur near the feet potentially harmful for your dog.
Use a pair of grooming scissors to carefully trim long hair around the bottom of your dogs feet. If the fur is sticking through their toes and foot pads more than a quarter of an inch, its a good idea to trim it back a bit. If your pup doesnt sit well for a trim or you feel uncomfortable trimming their paws yourself, have a professional groomer take the lead on this.
This has no effect on your dog, other than keeping them safe from infections.
6. Reward your dog with a treat
Your dog likely doesnt understand the importance of letting you clean their paws, so its best to reward them with a treat. This gets them used to the process and teaches them that patience during cleaning is rewarded.
If your dog is especially impatient or fussy when having their paws cleaned, you can use a licking mat to keep them distracted. Put some peanut butter on the mat and theyll be so preoccupied with their treat they may not even notice you cleaning their paws!
Can I Reapply Flea Treatment Early?
Are you still seeing fleas after using atopical flea prevention treatment? What should you do now? This is a question asked by frustrated people with itchy pets every day.
You might be applying the medication incorrectlyand, if you did, wondering whether you should reapply. Or maybe theflea treatment simply stopped working for your pet(yes, that can happen).
Heres why you might still be seeing fleas on your dog or cat, and what you should do about it.
Is It Safe to Reapply a Flea Treatment Early?
If youre finding fleas on your pet even after their topical flea treatment, you might be tempted to reapply it early. But this solution is not recommended, as it can lead to an overdose.
Because there are so many different flea and tick medications for dogs and cats available on the market, its difficult to speak to all of them in broad strokes. But to be safe,you should always follow the instructions on your specific topical flea medication package.
Flea preventions typically use one or two active ingredients. Each brand uses different active ingredients that work in different ways to prevent fleas.
If you have already reapplied your pets topical flea treatment early, stay alert for signs of an overdose and call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline for assistance. They can determine the potential level of toxicity expected.
For most flea preventatives, overdose symptoms include:
Call your vet immediately if you notice any of these symptoms.
How Long Does Flea Treatment Take to Work?
The time it takes your flea treatment to begin working depends on which flea preventative you use and the number of fleas on your pet, as small and large flea burdens often respond at different times.
Most topical flea preventions can clear an active flea issue on dogs and cats in 1248 hours. Oral preventions often work much fastertypically within two or four hours. Know that there are exceptions, and you can call your veterinarian with questions about your specific product.
Why Isnt My Flea Treatment Working?
Youve been diligently applying topical flea prevention to your pets, but you are still seeing them scratchand you might even beseeing flea eggs or dirt. Here are four common reasons why this might be happening.
1. Youre Applying the Flea Treatment Incorrectly
Incorrectly applying topical flea prevention is the most common cause for why its not working.
Topical medication should be applied directly to the skin, not to your pets fur.You must part their hair so you can apply it to the skin. Read the instructions on the packagewhile most topical medications tell you to apply it all in one spot at the base of your pets neck, a few will have you apply it to several spots along your pets back where they cant reach.
Be sure to completely empty the tube, as the liquid is measured for your pets weight and the entire dose is required to be effective.
Topical medication should be applied directly to the skin, not to your pets fur.You must part their hair so you can apply it to the skin.
2. Your Flea Medication Has Become Ineffective
Always talk to your veterinarian to find the best and most effective flea treatment for your pet.
Your vet will know which products work well in your region, as some that may have been effective at one timemay no longer be killing fleas the way they used to, often due to resistance. Your vet may also have recommendations based on your pets particular needs.
3. Your Home Hasnt Been Treated for Fleas
Most flea preventions do not repel fleas. Rather, flea preventions kill fleas by direct contact with the parasites or from the fleas feeding on your pet. New fleas from the environment canand willjump onto your pet to feed.
So, along with using topical treatments on your pets, you need to treat your home to provide the best defense against fleas at the same time. Any area your pet has been should be considered to have fleas and promptly treated.
And its notjustadult fleas you need to watch out for. In fact, adult fleas only make up less than 5% of the flea population. You should be treating your home the other 95%flea eggs, larvae, and pupae. Flea eggs and larvae can live in the environment for days or even weeks.
To keep fleas out of your home:
Regularly vacuum everywhere your pet spends time
Wash your pets begging in hot water
Treat every pet in the household for fleas (even indoor-only cats!)
Treat the home (either with a professional exterminator or apet-safe flogger)
4. Not All of Your Pets Are on Flea Treatment
Dont forget to treatalldogs and cats in your house, not just the itchy ones.If one pet in the house has fleas, they all have fleas. Its best to keep all pets on flea medication to prevent reinfestation.
And remember: Just because you dontseea flea doesnt mean your pets dont have them or dont need to be on flea treatment.
How to Apply Topical Flea Treatment
Flea prevention is expensive, and you dont want to waste a dose! But applying topical flea medication correctly can be a little tricky.
Here are a few major brands and how to apply them.
Note: While all these products are made for dogs and cats, they are species-specific. Always make sure you are using the dog product on a dog and the cat product on a cat. Its also very important to use the appropriate weight range for your pet.
Bravecto
Bravectois a prescription flea and tick medication for dogs and cats. It can provide 12 weeks of protection against fleas and ticks, and eight weeks of protection againstLone Star ticks.
Hold the tube upright and turn the cap one full turn.
Make sure the seal is broken but DO NOT remove the cap.
For cats:Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply the entire tube to the skin. You can apply to a second spot directly behind the first if there is overflow.
For dogs:Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply to the skin; do this in one or more spots depending on the size of your dog. For larger dogs, choose two or three spots along the spine to continue the application.
Revolution/Revolution Plus
Revolutionis a once-a-month prescription product for dogs and cats.Revolution Plusis only for cats. These products prevent heartworm disease and kill fleas as well as some intestinal parasites, and Revolution Plus also kills ticks.
Hold the tube upright and press the cap firmly until you hear a click.
Remove the cap and make sure that seal has been broken.
Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply the entire tube to the skin.
Keep the tube squeezed so the liquid isnt sucked back into the tube.
Make sure the tube is empty.
Advantage Multi
Advantage Multiis a once-a-month prescription product for dogs and cats. It prevents fleas, heartworms, and many intestinal parasites, but doesnt have any tick prevention.
Hold the tube upright and remove the cap.
Flip the cap upside down and push the tip into the top of the tube.
Twist the cap to break the seal, and then remove the cap.
For cats and dogs under 20 pounds:Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply the entire tube to the skin.
For dogs over 20 pounds:Part the hair at the base of the neck and apply to the skin; do this in one to three more spots from the neck to the upper back depending on the size of your dog.
Keep the tube squeezed so the liquid isnt sucked back into the tube.
Make sure the tube is empty.
WRITTEN BY
Liz Bales, VMDVeterinarian
Dr. Liz Bales is a graduate of Middlebury College and The University of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine. She focuses on unique...
