How frequently must you bathe your dog?
A fundamental aspect that must never be neglected when having a dog is the hygiene, because many times we share our home with them and sometimes the couch or the bed. But, with what frequency do you bather your dog? Take note, your four legged friend will thank you.
First, we must take your habits into consideration: if you take your dog to play/run at the park, the garden or the beach or if they have ended in a mud puddle or a ditch you must bathe them without a doubt: their haircoat will be dirty and can smell badly. It is important to eliminate all the sand or soil residues, also because once the haircoat dries, the dry mud could bother the dog and they will try to scratch it frequently and possibly get hurt. Remember that dirtiness is the favorite hiding place of parasites such as fleas and ticks.
Also, dogs who live in cities are subjected to daily contact with smog and fine dust concentrated at their height. The haircoat catches the dust and the dog cannot get rid of the waste through sweat as we do.
Bathing frequency in adult dogs and puppies
Beyond those exact moments of physical activity or playing as we have said, an excessive hygiene may be counterproductive and damage your dog’s haircoat and skin up to a point of provoking dermatological diseases.
An adult dog can be bathed every 25-30 days. To avoid from getting dirty and for their hair to look pretty and soft, remember to brush them frequently, even daily, that way you will get rid of the hair that will naturally come off and with it, part of the dirtiness.
As for the puppies, they must not be bathed before 3 months old because first the vaccines are necessary to boost their immune system without risk of disease. In some cases it is advisable to wait until their first year to bathe them for the first time, but if it is really necessary, take all the possible precautions: a wet sponge, warm water and a special shampoo for puppies, a warm environment and above all, once finished, dry them carefully.
The experience of their first bath will be recorded in their memory and this will determine their behavior in the future at the time of cleaning and sometimes even in relation to water.
Must I bathe my long haircoat dog more frequently than other dogs?
Yes, because long haircoat catches dirt more easily and the thicker haircoat may hide redness and inflammation of the skin.
A professional groomer may help in this cases to take better care of our super… fluffer.
What shampoo must I use?
Never human soaps, even if they are baby products, this because a dog’s skin pH varies between 7 and 8 and it is neutral, while that of people is between 4.2 and 5.6 and is slightly acidic.
This is why it is very important to use specific products available in many stores dedicated to our four legged friends or trust our furry friend to a professional.
In case of an emergency, you can use dry shampoo or wet pads as long as they are products specifically for dogs.
In any case, remember that your dog’s bath not only depends of his age and haircoat, but of our living habits. To make sure you are acting for the better good of your four legged friend, ask your veterinarian.
Immortalize all the fun moments, including their first bath, and make him a social media star with the customized milestone cards of Buba y Mac®, available at the store.
