In the same way that we take care of our dog’s health and nutrition, it is very important to maintain proper hygiene. That does not mean that you should bathe him a lot, more washes do not mean more happiness for him. Dog hygiene is not as exhaustive as ours. In fact, bathing him too often could damage his skin and coat.
The main question that arises is: how often does a dog bathe? or how many times do you bathe a dog? Knowing how often a dog is bathed is one of the fundamental aspects of its hygiene. And although this is not daily or weekly, bathing and brushing a healthy dog that for some reason has accumulated too much dirt is not too much, especially if they live in urban environments, since they may have more pollution than usual on their skin. If you notice alterations in their skin or fur, remember to always go to your vet.
DOES YOUR DOG NEED A BATH?
- If you notice that he feels very hot, it is advisable to cool him down with a bath, especially in summer.
- If he has been exercising a lot, comforting him with a nice bath will give him great pleasure.
- If it is dirty with grease or oil it will be very uncomfortable and you will need to remove it from your skin to feel good.
- If it has excessive dirt such as beach sand, stains, mud or dust.
- If he has been in contact with toxic substances you should bathe him immediately.
- If his fur has a bad smell, he should be bathed.
- If it is in the molting season, it is essential that you brush it daily to remove dirt and tangles.
HOW OFTEN IS AN ADULT DOG BATHED?
suitable frequency
Washing your furry regularly makes his fur look so splendid that you want to pet him all the time. But remember that bathing him too much harms him. The soaps and shampoos that you apply to it can dry out its skin and diminish the natural oils that add shine and vigor to its fur and also protect it from skin diseases.
Cada cuánto tiempo se baña a un perro dependerá un poco de cada animal, del estado de su salud, de su raza o de si tiende al mal olor, pero lo recomendable es no bañarle más de una vez al mes. Incluso con 2 veces al año sería suficiente en algunos casos. Otros perros lo necesitarán cada 3 meses, pero lo más importante es no perder de vista el límite de lo recomendable, que está en 1 vez al mes o cada 3 semanas como máximo.
Demasiado frecuente
Si nos planteamos cuántas veces se baña un perro, es importante saber que bañar a tu perro una vez a la semana es demasiado, pero bañarle cada día es absolutamente desaconsejable. Los perros no necesitan ser aseados con la misma frecuencia que nosotros, sus necesidades son distintas. Un exceso de higiene hace que su piel se vuelva vulnerable y no esté suficientemente protegido ante problemas dérmicos, además de provocarle irritaciones, picores y descamaciones por culpa de la sequedad que le provocan los jabones y champús en la piel.
Likewise, if for some reason your dog needs more frequent baths than the recommended maximum (one every 3-4 weeks), we advise you not to use conventional shampoo, but rather a soap-free agent that cannot affect the natural protection of its skin. Another alternative for dogs that need more frequency, such as those who live in cities, would be a dry bath every 2 weeks.
WHEN CAN YOU BATHE A PUPPY?
The answer to the question of whether you can bathe your puppy is yes, absolutely. But not before three months, because first you have to be well vaccinated. Still, it’s best to wait for him to grow up a bit and gain more defenses. Small puppies are so fragile that they could develop respiratory problems if, for example, we don’t dry them well after bathing.
First time
A dog is considered a puppy until approximately the first year of life, but from 3 to 12 months the precautions to be taken during the bath are different.
The most advisable thing is to bathe him after three months to minimize the risk of him catching cold, but if for some reason you need to give him his first bath before, instead of bathing him you can wash him with a well-wrung wet sponge, without the need to wet him completely, and use different gauze for the eyes and for the ears.
If you have been able to wait until 3 months to give him his first bath, what you have to take into account is the temperature of the water, which should be warm, use a special shampoo for puppies, prevent him from slipping by placing a towel at the bottom of the basin and most importantly: dry him very well after the bath!
Making sure that his first experience is good is also important, in this way it will be much easier for you to bathe him in the future when your puppy is already an adult dog.
suitable frequency
How many times does a puppy dog bathe? The cleaning frequency for your puppy after the first bath will be once a month at most, the same frequency that we have previously explained for adult dogs. The reasons are the same, to avoid damage to their skin and fur.
Special cares
It is normal that you want to bathe your puppy when he has just arrived home, but you have to take into account his age and state of health before doing so. If your puppy is too young, he is sick, has a cold or has distemper, you should not bathe him, you would put him at risk unnecessarily. Especially if he suffers from distemper, in this case you should not bathe him under any circumstances. The best care you can offer him is pampering and patience, letting him grow a little more and taking care of his illness.
If you are going to bathe him, the ideal is to use an oat-based soap that hydrates and calms his skin or a special shampoo for puppies.
CLEANING PRODUCTS FOR DOGS
The pH of the skin of dogs is higher than ours, so it is essential that you choose a soap that respects the natural pH of your dog’s skin and never products for humans, they are too acidic for them. From here, the specific choice of the type of shampoo will depend on the characteristics of your dog, such as its coat or possible skin problems.
SITUATIONS IN WHICH WE SHOULD NOT BATHE IT
If you suspect that your dog may have distemper, it is better not to bathe him. Take him to the vet to clarify your doubts. If your fears are confirmed and indeed your dog has distemper, do not bathe him! It is a serious disease that if not properly treated can be fatal. If you bathe him while he has distemper, he could catch a cold from the cold and worsen his health even more.
ADVICE ACCORDING TO ITS CHARACTERISTICS
Fur
The coat or coat of each breed is different, depending on its qualities it gets more or less dirty and therefore the frequency of washing is also more or less. A greasy coat is not the same as a dry one or a short one than a long one. Those with long fur tend to smell more, so it is advisable to brush them often, thus eliminating the dirt that causes the bad smell. It is also good for reinforcing the affective bond and activating your blood circulation. Curly-coated dogs like poodles don’t need brushing, but I’m sure you already know that.
Lifestyle
Active dogs need more frequent grooming. It is reasonable, since dogs that practice outdoor activities such as running on the beach or in the mountains get more dirty than dogs that are less active or spend more time at home.
Age
This factor is closely linked to their lifestyle: an elderly dog gets less dirty because it is much less active than a young dog that needs more activity.
Special cares
The concept of the bath changes from hygienic to therapeutic in the case of dermatological pathologies. If your dog suffers from skin problems such as seborrhea or other disorders, your vet will most likely prescribe “shampootherapy” with specific products for the treatment of his ailment and more frequent washing