How Often to Bathe a Dog

According to most advice on the internet, you should wash your dog several times per year. Nowadays, dogs love shampoos and conditioners with no harsh chemicals. But, washing your dog too often will strip his coat of natural oils. Indeed, washing often can remove the sebum (oil). Many pet owners wonder how often they should bathe their dog. Let’s take a look at this post to answer this question.

General Dog Bathing Guidelines

It’s best to bathe your dog with normal skin once a month. You should use a dog shampoo or human baby shampoo for this. If you want to wash him more often, you should think about using a soap-free or moisturizing shampoo. They will help to prevent your dog’s skin from becoming dry. But, avoid bathing him more than once a week.

How Often Should You Wash Your Dog?

This depends on a number of factors such as the breed, activity level, coat, health, and the place he takes part in these activities. If your dog often rolls around in things, you need to wash him more regularly than ones who spend their most time on the couch.
If your dog becomes dirt or dried mud, it’s time to give him a bath and grooming. According to Coates to chose the right dog grooming clippers, you should consult your vet about guidance on how often to bathe your dog. In addition, ask your vet about what products to use as well.

Daily Maintenance Is Key

It’s essential to keep your dog’s coat clean as well as free of debris between baths. Besides, don’t forget to establish a routine of daily brushing. It can help to distribute natural oils evenly through your dog’s fur. Moreover, by this way, you can also give your pet a glossy and healthy appearance. Sometimes, you can wipe down for a lot less time-intensive than a full bath.

Does your dog live outdoors or indoors?

If you are living with your dog in your house, you need to consider washing him regularly. Depending on the breed, you will have to wash your dog from once a week to once a month. Even when your dog sits on your sofa, you surely don’t want any dirt, insects, poop, and other grime on the sofa.

Breed of dog

Harsh-textured coats can be able to repel dirt pretty well. These breeds won’t get as dirty as a soft-coated one. There are some breeds with harsh-textured coast such as Collies, Shelties, and labs. You can wash them once a month. Dogs without undercoats include Yorkies, Maltese, Shitzus, and Afghans. You need to wash these breeds once a week.

Anyone in your household allergic to dogs

If there is anyone in your house allergic to your dog, you need to bathe him as often as possible. According to the American Lung Association, washing your dog often may remove the dander accumulating on a pet’s fur. If you don’t do this, you may get wheezy and sneezy.

Your dog’s activities

You may take your pet to the dog park. Or, you can also let him play in the sand or dirt. Sometimes, your dog can roll in the grass, go hiking, or go swimming. Even when your dog just partakes in several of the above activities, you still need to wash him regularly. Once again, it’s important to think of the trade-off. If you wash your dog, he will get better smelly.

Whether Your dog has itchy skin

The fact is that we can get allergens through our noses and mouths. On the contrary, our dogs can absorb allergens through the skin. That’s why you should consider weekly bathing and grooming your dog. It helps to protect your dog from itchiness. Also, it can wash allergens away before they penetrate your dog’s skin.

Look for the right bathing products

There are some differences between the human and canine skin. The skin PH is an important factor when it comes to choosing the right bathing product for your dog. According to Coates, human skin has a pH level of under 5 in most cases while dog skin comes in at a pH of 7. That’s why our dog’s skin is essentially neutral. So, there are some products made especially for human skin can be not a good choice for canine skin. For routine baths, you should use a moisturizing dog shampoo.
In fact, many dogs have reactions to topical shampoos, conditioners, as well as rinses. You can see some clinical signs of a skin reaction such as itchy skin, red, and hives. Ingestion of pet shampoo can result in some symptoms including drooling, vomiting, and decreased appetite. Once you see these signs, it’s time to re-wash your dog with warm water. Then, you need to take your dog to your vet.
If you can’t determine the type of shampoo to buy, it’s best to ask your vet for advice. Sure, your vet will give you individualized recommendations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we should wash our dog every 2-4 weeks depending on the above circumstances. But, remember that you should choose a gentle pet shampoo as well as the conditioner. It’s wrong if you use your own shampoo.