Washin your dog

Washing Your Dog

A quick glance at the shelves of your nearest Veterinary clinic, supermarket or pet shop will reveal the hundreds of different shampoos, conditioners and rinses available - no wonder many owners are confused about what they should be using to wash their dog!

Can I use human shampoo?

Dogs have very different skin and hair growth to humans. Dogs have thinner skin, different types of sweat glands and a more rapid turnover of skin cells. They also have more hair that is grouped as bundles that grow and then are shed rather than solitary hairs that continually grow. Dog skin is also pH neutral whereas human skin tends to be more acidic. Because of these differences we recommend only using specially formulated pet shampoos and skin treatments rather than human shampoo.

Can I use laundry detergents to wash my dog?

Products such as Martha Gardener's Wool MixÔ should not be used on animals' skin. These detergents have an inappropriate pH, often due to extremely high levels of alkali salts (ie. caustic soda) and inappropriate neutral surfactants (detergents) that strip the skin and hair coat of sebum (oil). Many of these products also contain eucalyptus oil, which is toxic to dogs and cats.

How often should I wash my dog?

There is no definitive answer. A dog or cat with normal skin should only be bathed when they smell or become dirty - in other words when they need it!

Pets with skin problems may require bathing more frequently to help treat the skin condition - a Vet will advise you of this during the examination of your pet.

It is possible to over-wash your dog. If bathed too frequently a dog’s skin can become dry and flaky.

Washing will effect how well many of the less effective flea treatments work. If your dog is bathed frequently, flea control products such as FrontlineÔ and AdvantageÔ are best, as they are not removed with washing.

What shampoo should I use?

We recommend specialty animal shampoo and skin treatments. All dogs and cats are different and so specific shampoos may be necessary. You should speak to a Veterinarian for advice.

Practical Tips For Shampooing Dogs

1. Thoroughly wet your dog all over.

the more water you get into the coat, the easier it is to shampoo

2. Use a sponge to wash the face.

this gives you more control and most pets hate water sprayed on their face

3. Rub off some of the excess water so your dog is wet but not dripping

too much water will dilute the shampoo

you can always add some water if there isn't enough to make a foam

4. Pour the shampoo in a line down your dog's back

be generous, especially when using a medicated shampoo

pour some onto your hands and apply to your dog's legs and belly

5. Apply some shampoo to the face, either on the sponge or on your hands

be careful around the eyes

6. Rub your dog all over until a good lather has been created

make sure you get under the tail, between the legs and around the muzzle as these areas can harbour bacteria and yeast

if you need more shampoo or water, add as required

7. Give the shampoo time to work

most medicated shampoos need to be left on for 10 minutes

give your dog a ball game or something to distract it while you wait

use a clock t time yourself

never guess the time because usually you end up rinsing too soon if you guess

8. Rinse thoroughly

this is also time consuming

remember there is a lot of shampoo in their hair

rinse for at least 5 minutes to help remove debris and dirt off the coat

9. Dry the dog off

use plenty of towels or a blow drier

try to dry right down to the skin

another ball game can help with drying

10. If you have warm water available, use it.

it is much more comfortable for the dog and helps the water penetrate the fatty substances on the coat

11. If in doubt, wear gloves and an apron

- some people can develop rashes, allergies and other skin problems with any product