How do I wash my dog without a bath

10 Ridiculously Simple Ways to Clean Your Dog Without Baths

Baths are one of the best ways of keeping your dog clean and odor free. But theyre not always convenient, and too much bathing can have a negative impact on your dogs coat.

Dogs should not be given baths after they have surgery or when they are pregnant. Many dogs also hate the bathing process, and will do everything they can do avoid it. If you have a large dog, it can be dangerous if your dog tries to run away during a bath.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to keep your dog clean without giving them a bath. Here are some of the best methods for cleaning your dogs coat without soaking their fur.

1. Pet Wipes

Pet wipes are one of the best ways to keep your dogs coat clean without any odor. Theyre easy to find, affordable, and only take a few minutes to use. Theyll also keep your dog from licking their fur.

When using pet wipes, make sure to clean off your dogs belly and rear end. The wipes can sting if they get near your dogs eyes, so take caution when cleaning their face.

If you dont have any pet wipes around, you can use baby wipes instead. Theyre safe and effective, although they may not work quite as well for getting odor out of fur.

2. Spray Clean

Spray cleaning is one of the best ways of giving your dogs coat a deep clean without having to get it soaking wet. All youll need is a spray bottle and vinegar, or a dry shampoo from a store.

Use the spray on the dirtiest parts of your dogs coat, rubbing it in with a damp towel. You shouldnt have to rinse out the shampoo, so you can just let it air dry.

Although dry shampoo is usually safe for a dogs coat, try not to use it too frequently. It can cause your dogs fur to dry out, and it may start to irritate your dogs skin.

3. Oatmeal Cleaner

Although unusual, this method is an effective way of getting heavy stains out of your dogs coat. All you have to do is cook oatmeal on the stove until it begins to thicken. Once its cool, apply it to the dirtiest part of your dogs coat.

Let the oatmeal dry, and keep your dogs tongue away from it. Once the oatmeal is fully dried out, use a brush to get it out of their fur.

Although often effective, this method is not a good choice for dogs who have long, curly fur, as the oatmeal can cause tangles.

4. Regular Brushing

This is one of the most effective ways of keeping your dogs coat clean and odor free. Regular brushing can prevent dirt from building up, as well as get rid of any tangles or mattes. It can also help you find any ticks that may be stuck to their body.

Invest in a high quality brush designed for your dogs coat type. Try to brush a few times per week, slowly working your way through your dogs coat.

You can also get a matte splitters and heavy combs that will help you bust serious tangles in your dogs fur. This can prevent objects from getting caught in your dogs fur and irritating their skin.

When you brush your dogs fur, also keep an eye out for any pests, such as fleas or ticks. These can be quite a nuisance for your dog, leading to scratching and chewing.

5. Clean Your Dogs Bedding

To keep your dog clean, youll need to make sure their environment isnt dirty. Theres no reason to clean your dog off, only to have them roll around in a blanket caked with mud.

Regularly clean your dogs bedding to prevent dust, dirt, and allergens from building up. You should also make sure that theyre crate is clean.

Check to see if the detergent you use to clean your dogs bedding is safe for humans and dogs, as some might irritate their skin.

6. Keep Their Ears Clean

Ear infections are a serious health problem for many dog breeds, especially those with big, floppy ears. Regular ear cleaning should be a staple of your dogs grooming routine.

You can find a number of ear cleaning products that are designed to get wax and dirt out of your dogs ears. Follow the instructions for the best results, and always take caution when putting any objects into their ear canal.

You can also use baby wipes to clean the outside surface of the ear. However, you should not try to use the wipes to reach into their ear canal, as this could cause further irritation.

If you notice that your dog is scratching their ears often or is having trouble hearing, they may have a serious ear infection. Take them to the vet, as they might need medical care to prevent permanent hearing damage.

7. Keep Their Hair Short

Not all breeds should have their fur shaved, especially those with natural shedding cycles. However, if you regularly cut your dogs fur, shaving it even shorter is a great way of preventing their coat from getting dirty.

Long fur is better able to hold onto dirt and odor causing molecules. By cutting it short, you can remove any serious odor and make it easier to keep their coat clean.

If your dog spends a lot of time outside during the summer, cutting their fur is a great way of preventing mud and dirt from building up, and can also help keep them cool.

8. Brush Their Teeth

Dont forget about your dogs oral health. Just like humans, dogs need to look after their teeth. If you dont regularly brush out your dogs mouth, plaque can build up, leading to gum disease and tooth decay.

You can find a range of toothpastes that are designed for dogs. You wont need to brush every night, but try to clean their teeth every few weeks to prevent plaque build up.

There are also a number of treats that freshen up your dogs mouth and help clean these teeth. Although not a substitute for regular brushing, these treats are a great way of keeping your dogs mouth clean.

If you notice a bad smell coming from your dogs mouth that doesnt go away after brushing, that could be a sign that they have rotting teeth. This is common in older dogs, and it can make eating quite painful.

Speak to your vet, as they will likely need to have the teeth removed so that your so can eat pain free.

9. Spot Clean

If your dog has some serious dirt buildup on their coat, you can still get their fur clean without resorting to a bath. Spot cleaning is a great way of getting mud or odors out of your dogs coat quickly without having to drench it completely.

Get two buckets, filling one with warm, soapy water and the other with just warm water. You should also have a few clean towels on hand.

Choose a gentle soap that has been designed to be used on dog fur. If you dont have any around, you can use a mild soap designed for humans. Just make sure that it doesnt have a strong scent, as this can irritate your dog.

Take a cloth, dip it in the soapy water, and apply it to the dirty spots on your dogs coat. Rub in the soap until the stain starts to come out, and then take another towel with clean water to rinse out the soap.

Make sure that you let your dogs coat dry off before you let them run around outside. Dogs will often try to dry off their fur by rolling around in the grass, which can undo all of your hard work.

10. Find A Groomer

If your dogs coat has some serious dirt and odor, you might want to consider hiring a pro. Although professional groomers can be quite the expense, they can make cleaning your dogs coat much less of a hassle.

There are a number of grooming services that come directly to you, so you dont have to worry about getting your dog loaded into the car.

Groomers usually have access to tools that you dont, which can make the experience much less stressful for your dog, as well give you better results.

You can also get more advice from your groomer on how to keep your dogs coat clean between appointments, so that you dont have to have them come as often.

Find Your Dream Dog

Before you can start grooming your dog, you need to find one. If youre still searching for the perfect dog, then head over to our puppy finder.

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How to Bathe a Dog the Right Way, According to a Veterinarian

Giving your dog regular baths is an essential part of ongoing grooming and good hygiene. Of course, baths help remove visible dirt your dog earned through happy walks and romps through natural environments. But in addition to keeping your dogs coat clean, bathing also helps keep it healthy and free from parasites. While bathing is important for all dogs, not all require bathing at the same frequency with factors like their breed, fur, and environment all affecting the appropriate interval between baths. Once you determine how many scrub downs your pet needs, make those baths as pleasant and stress free as possible using these expert tips for how to bathe a dog, backed by a veterinarian.

How to prepare to bathe your dog:

Before you even turn on the water, take the time to set up an environment where your dog will be as comfortable as possible, and will associate the experience positively. One way to do that is to prepare your dogs coat so the process doesnt trigger discomfort.

Its recommended that you take the time to brush your dogs coat, especially if theyre longer-haired pups that get frequent tangles, says Jennifer Freeman, PetSmart resident veterinarian and pet care expert. Tangled hair can mat once you start bathing your dog, making it an unpleasant experience for your pet.

Where to bathe your dog:

First, youre going to need to determine the right place to bathe your dog. As a starting point, Consider the size and breed of your dog to ensure you have space and to best determine whether to bathe your dog indoors or outside, Freeman says.

For particularly small dogs, a sink might work best. More likely, its a bath tub, which can accommodate a range of breed sizes.

Bathing your dog outside instead of indoors might be a solid choice for certain breeds in some seasons.

Ideal water conditions for bathing a dog:

Especially if youre bathing your dog outside where hoses might run cold or hot be mindful of water temperature and pressure.

Whether its a hose or shower head, make sure water pressure is low and the water is lukewarm, Freeman says.

Water should be warm enough for your dog to be comfortable, and also to get the job done; colder water doesnt clean as well. (If you wouldnt love a cold bath, consider that your pet probably wouldnt either.)

Supplies youll need to bath your dog:

Get ready to bathe your dog by dressing in comfortable, casual clothes you dont mind getting dirty and soaked. Then gather all the supplies youll need and keeping them handy. (Much better to do it now than to try to find missing items when your dog is shaking water all over you!)

Youre going to need absorbent towels, including an extra one for your pet to stand on when hes still wet after the bath. Youll need shampoo meant for dogs (you can ask your vet for the best brand for your pup). Get yourself a set of combs and brushes right for your dogs breed and coat type.

Bathing your dog:

Now youre ready to go. Test the water first to make sure its lukewarm. Then, make sure to fully saturate your dogs coat; this may be challenging for especially thick or water-resistant coats.

Next, shampoo your pet, taking care to avoid sensitive areas including his eyes and face. Work the shampoo into a lather, adding water as necessary. Massage your dog as you rub in the shampoo, in just the same way youd have your own head massaged at the shampoo bowl in a salon: it should be perfectly pleasant! Let the shampoo sit on your dogs coat for several minutes before thoroughly rinsing with water.

Drying your dog after the bath:

No matter where you bathe your dog, dont forget drying an essential part of the bathing process to keep your pup comfortable and healthy.

Regardless of where you bathe your dog indoors or out its important to dry him with a towel, Freeman says. Dogs with heavier coats should be dried thoroughly to prevent damp spots in the undercoat which can lead to hot spots. This is a common dog skin disorder also known as acute moist dermatitis; it causes sores and pain.

Safety tips for bathing a dog:

Whether your dog regularly enjoys baths or is always skittish about the whole prospect, youre going to want to line up some safety measures to keep bath time safe and secure.

Unless your dog can sit still during a bath or youre able to restrain them with your hand, its important to make sure you have somewhere to tether them if need be to avoid them escaping mid-bath, Freeman notes. Never leave your dog unattended.

She also warns pet bathers to make sure to thoroughly wash off any leftover shampoo. Not doing so can lead to contact dermatitis or hot spots, moist and infected lesions that itch, Freeman says.

With these tips in mind, youll be ready for a safe, successful, and stress-free dog-bathing process.