Your dog or cat is dirty, and you know they need a bath. Groomers are expensive, and you don’t want to put out the extra cash. It’s actually easy to bathe your pet at home, as long as you prepare in advance and keep a few basic things in mind.
Bathing Your Dog
• Brush your dog before you get started. You want to remove the knots or mats that your dog has in his hair before you get him wet, or they will get tighter and be impossible to remove. You also want to remove as much dirt or loose fur as you possibly can before you bathe him.
• Use regular dog shampoo and dilute it about 25%. Dog shampoo is usually too thick to work up a good lather. You can pour some shampoo in an empty bottle and add small amounts of water until it reaches the right consistency. If you are using flea shampoo, however, don’t dilute it. You will dilute the efficiency of the medication in the shampoo. Don’t use people shampoo or dishwashing liquid; it’s too harsh and can cause skin or coat problems.
• Wet the dog from the neck to the tail, omitting the head and face for now. Begin by shampooing the hind legs, then do the tail and rear. Shampoo the body, chest, and front legs, then carefully wet the head and lather it, being careful not to get soap in the dog’s eyes.
• Rinse, and rinse, and rinse again. Start with the head and face, and then rinse the body. Keep rinsing until you no longer feel shampoo anywhere on the dog and the water runs clear. Any residue of shampoo remaining on the dog can cause itching and flaking skin.
• When you’re sure all the soap is out, wrap the dog in a towel to absorb excess water and to prevent him from shaking. Towel dry each part of the dog. You can use a hair dryer on low to finish up if you wish, but don’t hold it too close to the skin.
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Bathing Your Cat
It’s best if you can start bathing your cat young and get them used to it, but even if you have an older cat that has never been bathed, it can be done without trauma to you or the cat. If your cat is older and has never been bathed, or if you think your cat is going to have a problem with it, it might be best to have a helper. Prepare everything ahead of time, and stay calm.
• Brush the mats and dirt from your cat’s hair. Just like dogs, mats won’t come out if you get them wet.
• Use cat specific shampoos, especially if you’re bathing for fleas. Dog flea shampoo can be toxic to your cat, and people shampoos dry out your cat’s skin and can make them itchy and irritable.
• Run 4 to 5 inches of warm water into your bathtub.
• Gently place your cat into the tub, and using a cup or hose attachment, wet their body with warm water. Don’t worry about the head yet; lather the cat’s body with the shampoo, including their tail, and make sure to lather their underside as well.
• Once the body is lathered, gently wet their head and then lather it, making sure not to get soap in the cat’s eyes.
• Rinse your cat’s body, and then do the head. Rinse until you can’t feel shampoo in the cat’s hair anymore.
• Wrap your cat in a towel to absorb the water, and then use another towel to gently dry. Don’t attempt to use a hair dryer on your cat. If he has long hair, just use another towel and get him as dry as you can.
Your pet probably doesn’t need to be bathed more than once a month; anymore than that can dry out their skin and irritate it. With a little practice and some preparation, grooming at home can be easier, less stressful, and less costly than taking them to a professional groomer.
Diluting your dog and cat shampoo is a great idea! Just be sure to not dilute more than you will use in one bath, and to sanitize your diluting bottle between baths. For more about the hows and whys, see my article here!
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