Can you bathe a dog with a rash
How to Make an Oatmeal Bath for Dogs With Itchy Skin
Many dogs will experience dry skin, itchy skin, or some type of skin issue at one time or another, whether its due to a change in weather or allergies.
When your pup is feeling itchy or their skin is irritated, its natural to want to help them. One at-home remedy for itchy skin that can help your dog feel better is an oatmeal bath.
More consistent itching or hot spots will need a veterinarians expertise, but if your dog only has minor itching or you notice some flaking in his coat, an oatmeal bath is a convenient and inexpensive home remedy.
Heres everything you need to know about oatmeal baths for dogs.
Benefits of Oatmeal Baths for Dogs
Whats so magical about an oatmeal bath? Oatmeal is a skin protectant with anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe itchy and irritated skin.
Oatmeal baths can help relieve a number of bothersome skin conditions, such as canine atopic dermatitis.
Oatmeal baths also help the skin form a protective barrier that keeps moisture in and slows the loss of hydrating ingredients from your dogs skin.
Dog Oatmeal Bath Ingredients
This at-home remedy is so simple that you may have all the ingredients in your kitchen pantry already.
Blender, coffee grinder, or food processor
Plain, unflavored oatmeal (instant oatmeal, quick oats, or slow-cooking oats all work equally well)
Warm waterbut not hot, as hot water can dry out the skin and can worsen inflammation
A bathtub
You can add either of these options to increase the moisturizing properties of your homemade oatmeal bath:
- 1 cup of high-fat milkfor an extra-creamy mixture
OR
- 2 tablespoons of avocado oil or olive oil
Dog Oatmeal Bath Recipe:
Now that you have your ingredients, heres the recipe for the perfect oatmeal bath shampoo.
Blend or process the oats on the highest setting in your food processor, blender, or coffee grinder until you have a very fine, consistent powder.
Test 1 tablespoon of the powder to see if the oats are ground fine enough to absorb water. Stir the tablespoon of the ground oats into a glass of warm water.
If the oats easily absorb the water and the liquid becomes milky-looking with a smooth feel, you've blended long enough.
If the liquid doesn't turn milky, process the oats to grind them even finer. Test again. Repeat until you get a milky solution with a fine, silky feel.
How to Give a Dog an Oatmeal Bath
Once your oat powder is prepared, you are ready to give your dog a bath.
While bathing your dog, try to keep your pup from drinking the bathwater, although a lap or two of the solution will not be harmful.
Pour the oat powder into a tub of running warm water and stir evenly.
Fill the tub as much as your pup will allow. Most dogs will tolerate the water level to at least the bottom of their stomach, if not higher.
Put your pup in the tub.
Using a cup, slowly pour the solution over their body. You can gently rub some of the oatmeal directly onto any particularly bad areas.
After you have massaged the oatmeal into your dogs skin and fur and let him soak for 10 minutes, rinse the mixture off with warm water.
Use a towel to dry your dog off and brush out their fur. Never use a hot hair dryer on a dog. Your pup will be slippery due to the moisture of the bath.
Oatmeal Bath for Dogs: Spot Treatments
If your dog has a localized itch or minor skin rash, it isnt necessary to do a full-body oatmeal bath and soak.
You can apply a thicker paste directly to the affected area and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes.
Use the same blended oatmeal recipe, but only mix in enough water to form a thick paste.
While oatmeal baths are not a cure all for skin conditions and diseases that dogs can get, they can be a great addition to your dogs grooming routine, especially during drier winter months.
If your dog is suffering from fleas, yeast or bacterial skin infections, or another problem such as an endocrine imbalance, they will need prompt treatment from your veterinarian.
By: Laci Schaible, DVM, CVJ
Featured Image: iStock.com/Wojciech Kozielczyk
Can I Wash My Dog With Soap?
When its bathtime, the best way to keep your pet clean is with products specially formulated for dogs. But what happens if you run out of dog shampoo? Can you use soap made for people on your dog?
What Can I Wash My Dog With?
Dog shampoosmade with detergentswork best on canine skin. They support the dogs skin without irritating it, and they dont disrupt the skins pH balance. ThepH scalemeasures acidity or alkalinity. A pH of 7.0 is considered neutral. Depending on size andbreed, a dogs skin pH ranges from 5.5 to 7.5, while human skin pH tends to range from 4.0 to 6.0.
Because soap tends to be alkaline, or higher pH, using soap instead of detergents to bathe your dog could raise the pH of your dogs skin and disrupt the protective natural acid mantle of your dogs skin. When purchasingdog shampoo, check the label to make sure the product is pH-balanced especially for dogs.Natural skin moisturizers, including vitamin E or aloe vera, can be soothing bonuses.
Quality dog shampoos are sometimes more expensive than others, but a little goes a long way. Even after a wash and a repeat, a bath doesnt need a lot of soap suds to get the job done.
Manufacturers recommend using only a tiny amount of the product mixed with water. Prepare a fresh mixture of diluted shampoo every time you bathe your dog. Then, dispose of any leftover shampoo to avoid bacterial growth.
When shopping for canine shampoo, youll find many types for hypoallergenic conditions or formulas specifically created for oily, dry, or long coats. If youre unsure which dog shampoo to buy, ask your breeder, veterinarian, or groomer for recommendations.
Can I Wash My Dog With Human Shampoo?
You can, but after a couple of shampoos, youll notice the dogs coat is dry, itchy, and dull, DiMarino says. People shampoo is formulated to replenish the outer layer of human skin according to human pH levels. One or two baths wont hurt the dog, but if you use people shampoo too frequently, the coat will lose its luster. Some human shampoos also contain artificial additives, dyes, and perfume, which can irritate your dogs skin and cause allergies.
Can I Wash My Dog With Dish Soap?
Is dish soap a permissible option for dogs? No. Dish soap used to clean food bits off dinner plates and to scrub off your pots and pans is not an option, says Teri DiMarino, President of the California Professional Pet Groomers Association. This products job is designed to cut grease.
Canine skin contains natural oils that maintain sufficient hydration to keep the coat soft and lustrous. Dish soap gets rid of oils on the skin, but a dogs coat needs those natural oils. And while dish soap manufacturers may advertise their wash-up liquids gentle nature, this degreaser can irritate a dogs skin.
If dish soap accidentally winds up in a dogs eyes, it can cause irritation. Many dish soaps produce a large volume of lather, which also takes time and effort to rinse thoroughly.
But if your dog has a flea infestation, washing them with dish soap can be a helpful first step. Dish soap has been used to remove oil from the feathers of rescued wildlife, and the chemicals in it are effective at killing some fleas on dogs. However, dish soap doesnt repel or prevent dog fleas from returning, and its not a viable long-term strategy for managing these parasites. A more effective way to deal with a flea-infested dog is by washing them with a dog- or puppy-safe flea shampoo, grooming fleas or eggs out of their coat with a flea comb, or applying an age-appropriate flea-killing product.
Can I Wash My Dog With Baby Shampoo?
Mild baby shampoos with neutral pH levels may be effective for hairless or short-coated dog breeds. Baby shampoo doesnt tend to dry out the skin and is gentle enough to use when bathing puppies. It can also soothe irritated skin. Just as you would with canine shampoo, be sure to thoroughly rinse your dog to remove all of the suds. Follow up with warm towels for drying or a canine dryer on a low setting.
Dog Cleansers for Itchy Skin
If your dog is scratching up a storm, ask your veterinarian or groomer about a medicated shampoo. Medicated dog shampoo can come in various types, both over-the-counter and prescription, depending on its formulation and ingredients. Some medicated dog shampoos are antiseptic, anti-fungal, anti-itch, or designed to control oil production, all depending on what the issue with your dogs skin and coat may be. Some newer formulations may help address allergy symptoms by reinforcing the skins natural barrier. Your vet and your groomer can help you decide whats best for your dogs individual case.
Dog belly rash? Heres how to soothe it
Dogs get belly rashes for a variety of reasons. Without pinpointing the exact cause, treatment can be ineffective and leave your pup still scratching and chewingso its essential to find the underlying cause. When your vet examines your dog, theyll be searching for signs of certain causes as the culprit for their belly rash.
Skin infections
Skin infections are one of the most common causes of belly rashes in dogs. These infections can be caused by multiple pathogens, like bacteria or yeast. A common type of bacterial skin infection is pyodermaTrusted SourceVCA HospitalsCommunity of veterinarians with up-to-date veterinary information.Go to source or impetigo. It can cause pimple-like, pus-filled lesions, and crusty, dry, flaky skin.
A pyoderma infection, on the other hand, is often caused by the staph species of bacteria, which usually occurs because of bacterial infiltration that stems from the skins surface. If the skin has been traumatized, such as through a cut, licking, or chewing, bacteria can multiply.
Fungal skin infections
Fungal infections, like ringworm and yeast infections, are also common. Ringworm is characterized by circular lesions that are usually hairless. These spots can appear red and scabby and generally dont cause itching, but that isnt always the case.
Keep in mind that ringworm is contagious and can be passed from your pup to you and other pets in your household.
Yeast dermatitis, caused by the fungus Malassezia pachydermatis, can appear as thickened, scaly, or flaky skin. Changes in skin pigmentation, a musty smell, itching, and redness are also common. Youll probably need antifungal medication from your vet to fully resolve this type of issue.
Excessive heat
Like people, dogs can also develop heat rashes. Often caused by the Staphylococcus bacteria, heat rashes can flare up in hot, humid weather. Heat rashes most commonly pop up in areas where the skin rubs, like under the tail, the neck, and the ears. Typically, a heat rash will start as mild skin irritation (or hot spot), which leads to excessive scratching. With time, it can progress to pimples or scabs that have a foul odor.
To soothe the heat rash, soak a washcloth in cool or room temperature water and apply it to the affected area as it may provide temporary relief from any inflammation.
Dont apply ice packs directly to your pets skin. Instead, wrap packs in a dry towel or washcloth to create a cold compress.
Allergies
A belly rash is a common sign of allergies in dogs. Pets who are allergic to certain fabrics, shampoos, cleaners, fertilizers, and other chemicals can develop itchy, red skin and pimple-like bumps on their stomach.
Seasonal allergies can also cause belly rashes on your pup. If your dog has an allergic reaction to grass, pollen, weeds, or trees, they may develop a belly rash after playing in the yard.
Parasites
Parasites, like fleas, ticks, and mites, can cause your pup to break out in a belly rash. Bug bites and stings from ants, bees, and wasps can also lead to irritated skin, and mites in particular can lead to painful conditions like sarcoptic mange. In the cases of bites or bug-related irritation, youll likely notice hair loss, hot spots, scabs, or a rash on your dogs lower back, hind legs, and tail base.
Keep in mind that fleas like to hang out on your dogs hind end, though, so they may not cause an abdominal rash.
