Do dogs really need to be washed

Is a Dog Bath Necessary?

A dog bath is not necessarily a requirement for all dogs, and this will depend on a number of different factors. If your dog has an offensive odor or is dirty from playing in the mud, then a bath should be given. Other factors such as the breed and the overall dirtiness of the dog will also be considered. In addition, dogs have very thin skin with no sweat glands, unlike humans.

Because humans sweat, they need regular baths to stay fresh. Granted that your pet stays out of the dirt and does not smell offensive, a bathmay not be needed.

Dogs and Hygiene

Humans are covered in sweat glands all over the body, and require regular bathing to remain clean and hygienic. Dogs, on the other hand, do not have any sweat glands on the body. In addition to this, a dog's skin is much thinner and more fragile than human skin and has a different pH level. Most dogs do not need to be bathed regularly, unlessthey are covered in dirt or are smelly.

Bathing a dog too often will damage the fragile skin of your pet, anddry it out. Even worse, using harsh shampoos that are intended for human use or soaps that are too strong will likely cause extreme irritation to the skin and coat of your pet. A dog's skin is not meant to be washed that often.

Bathing your pet every so often when he needs to be cleaned is fine, however. Most dogs do develop a natural odor, and this smell can become offensive after a long period of time. Dogs also like to play in the dirt, and it usually does not take long for a dog to become somewhat unclean. When this occurs, it is recommended that you bathe your pet with a gentle shampoo that is intended for use on canines.

Do not use shampoo or soap that is for humans or other animals, as dogs have a different pH level. Harsh shampoos can be very drying to a dog's sensitive skin. Pet owners should also use special care when washing sensitive areas such as the eyes and the genital regions.

Grooming a Dog Regularly

Even though your pet does not need to be bathed that often, he shouldbe groomed frequently. Brushing and combing your pet's hair is necessary, and it prevents tangles and knots from forming in your dog's hair. If the hair becomes matted it can also cause discomfort and pain for your pet, as well. The nails should be clipped regularly, and kept at a healthy length. Dogs with excessive tearing or mucus in the eyes should have their eyes cleaned and washed often, and very carefully. Dirty eyes and stains under the eyes can also cause offensive odors whenleft uncleaned.

Dogs with longer hair should be trimmed frequently, to prevent the hair from getting too long and also from getting in the face and eyes. Dogs who have fleas or other parasites should be bathed to get rid of the insects and to clean the entire body.

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 often should you really wash your dog?

Whether your pooch loves her weekly wash or trembles at the sight of water, as a dog owner you've probably wondered how often you should be washing your pet.

The answer is: probably less than you think although some forms of grooming do have great benefits for your pet.

If you have a regular, healthy dog without a skin condition, "you actually don't have to wash your dog ever," says Samantha Crothers, a Melbourne-based vet at a specialist centre.

Robert Hilton, a veterinarian who practises in the field of veterinary dermatology, agrees.

"In general, healthy dogs only need to be bathed if they smell. There's no reason particularly to bath a healthy dog, unless they're dirty," Dr Hilton says.

Keep in mind that in the wild, feral dogs generally don't bathe (and they definitely don't use shampoo).

So when we wash our dogs, it's mostly because we want to keep them from muddying up our homes, particularly after they roll around in the dirt, says Dr Crothers.

"Or some dogs develop a doggy smell and people want to remove that, or they get dusty or dirty," Dr Hilton says.

ABC Everyday in your inbox

Get our newsletter for the best of ABC Everyday each week

Does this mean we're over-washing our dogs?

Some of us are.

"In general, dogs are bathed more often than they need to be," Dr Hilton says.

But unless your dog has a skin condition or other health problem, it's probably not causing much harm.

"If I see a normal healthy dog, they can wash their dog as often as they like," Dr Crothers says.

What if my dog has a skin condition?

If your dog has any form of skin disease or an allergy, it's important you consult your vet before washing your pooch.

Depending on the condition, your dog may be better off with no washing, or may need more regular bathing.

For dogs with some forms of skin disease, the washing process can dry out the dog's skin and should be avoided, says Dr Hilton.

"The danger is dogs with allergic skin disease commonly have a defect in their skin barrier, which manifests as drying of the skin and that contributes to their misery," he says.

"And using harsh shampoos harsh being anything that strips any further lipid [fatty protective] layer off the skin or damages it potentially makes the itch worse."

Avoid any products intended for use in humans, as human skin is very different and less sensitive than a dog's, says Dr Hilton.

Also, stay away from products containing coal tar or harsh strippers such as selenium or benzyl peroxide, products designed to treat scale/seborrhoea if this is not present, as well as cheap or unknown brands.

A vet can point you towards the right (milder) options for your pet's skin.

On the other hand, dogs with bacteria and yeast infections, or with an accumulation of dandruff scale, do need to be bathed to remove "the pathological build-up of stuff on the skin," Dr Hilton says.

But if you do bath a dog with skin disease, you should almost always use a medicated conditioner afterwards, as recommend by their vet.

How often should I brush my dog?

Keeping your pet clean isn't just about bathing.

Brushing him or her is beneficial for the removal of shedding fur, prevention of painful tangles, removal of that "doggy" smell by scraping away old oils, and removal of ticks and grass seeds which can wiggle down into the skin and hurt your dog.

"It also allows the dog to keep clean areas that it might otherwise struggle to, [such as] the tail and the chest," says Paul McGreevy, a professor of animal behaviour and animal welfare science at the University of Sydney's School of Veterinary Science.

Being aware of any lumps or bumps under the skin are other benefits, adds David Cunliffe, head of an animal hospital in Melbourne.

Remaining vigilant about brushing is ideal in the months approaching summer, when many dogs shed more hair than normal, explains Dr Cunliffe.

"It happens as the days start to get longer, basically from the footy grand final [in late September] onwards," he says .

"It's a seasonal response to summertime."

The exact amount of brushing your dog needs depends on the length and type of the dog's coat.

If your dog has a well-developed undercoat as do samoyeds, huskies and other arctic breeds you'll need to brush as often as once a day during shedding season to avoid knotting and dreadlocks, which can cause serious skin conditions if old hairs are left in the coat, says Dr Cunliffe.

Dogs with regular or less dense undercoats, such as poodles, don't need quite as much brushing and once a week will do.

But if their coat is growing long, it can get tangled and should be regularly brushed (you might also consider a trim).

The extra benefits of grooming

Brushing also has behavioural benefits such as teaching them to sit still that are often overlooked.

"It's one-on-one time [that's valuable] especially if you're attentive to what the dog's behaviour is telling you," Dr McGreevy says.

"The best owners are so attentive to the dog's behaviour that they can tell they're grooming an area that the dog really loves being groomed, and that's often the front of the chest and the tail those hard-to-reach places."

Brushing can be a joy for a dog and owner, or a real chore, says Dr Cunliffe.

"My tip is get your dog used to being brushed young, and make sure they associate it with lots of rewards here's a treat, here's a tickle with the comb, here's a treat, here's a tickle with the comb."