How often do you bathe your dog? Every couple of weeks? Once a month? Perhaps once every few months. The truth is, there is no magic method outlining how often you should bathe your dog but maintaining good hygiene of their skin is one of the most important and underrated responsibilities of pet ownership. In fact, regular bathing is actually an excellent way to help manage and prevent recurrent skin conditions in dogs.
Bathing your dog: Not too much, not too little
The general rule of thumb is that you should bathe your dog whenever they are stinky or dirty, which for some dogs can be more often than for others. The heat and humidity of the spring and summer months can often exacerbate certain skin conditions or simply make your pooch smelly more frequently, which is worth bearing in mind. Regardless of how often bathing your dog is required – be it every day, a couple of times a week, or less frequently – it is important to know how to bathe your dog effectively.
How to bathe your dog
If you have a puppy, be sure to get them used to positive experiences in the bath early on in life which can help make bathing a considerably less stressful experience for them as they grow into adults. Use a gentle non-toxic shampoo, ideally made with all-natural ingredients and no nasty chemicals, which can be irritating and cause drying to the skin. Wet your dog, apply the shampoo, and lather your pooch from behind the ears back down to the skin to make sure it is properly cleansed, and any dirt or debris removed. Make sure to lather the shampoo on those areas prone to skin irritation, such as the armpit, belly, legs, and of course, paws. The latter of these is the most exposed when it comes to contact with environmental allergens, such as grass or pollen. Be sure to rinse thoroughly as residual shampoo can also cause irritation to their delicate skin.
Choosing the Right Shampoo
Now you know how to properly bathe your dog, let’s talk about what kind of shampoo you should be using. A dog’s natural pH levels are different from that of a human’s, and doggy shampoos are specially formulated with the appropriate pH. You should also look for a shampoo that is free of any chemical irritants or preservatives which can cause itchiness and dryness, such as parabens and sodium laurel sulphates.
Here at Herbal Dog Co, we have developed an extensive range of shampoo blends, each made with only the freshest natural ingredients to gently clean and soothe your dog’s sensitive skin. Best of all, they are so gentle that you can even use them on your puppy’s delicate skin! For those dogs that have itchy, inflamed or irritated skin, give them some much-needed relief with our Antibacterial Dog Shampoo containing a potent mix of ingredients with natural antiseptic and antifungal properties, especially useful in the case of yeast infections. Whichever blend you choose, you rest assured that your dog’s skin and coat will be cleansed, soothed, and protected.
So, to recap, you should bathe your dog and gently disinfect their coat and skin on a regular basis, keeping an eye on whether they are dirty or smelly which are good indicators that it’s time for a bath! Finally, if you’re looking to extend the time between bathing or want to give your dog a hygiene boost, take a look at our range of dry shampoos!
