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| Bosca is a bit too big for the bath but happy to take a shower...if he gets a massage. |
Here at SAT we’re major
fans of grooming. Not so much the bouffant-shaping kind as the
keeping-fur-clean-and-eye-boogers-at-bay kind. And just to be clear I am
talking about my dog.
In my experience a lot of
clients worry about the prospect of over-grooming their pets, and it is
possible – though rare. When my dog is itchy, the first thing I do (apart from
look for fleas and flea dirt) is give him a wash. It removes surface allergens, soothes his
skin and also allows me to inspect him very carefully.
When it comes to shampoos
less is more. I avoid those that are scented or designed to whiten, and chose
based on the state of his skin (I’m a fan of Dermcare’s Aloveen as a
maintenance shampoo but if Phil has itchy skin I tend to select Malaseb). I don’t
wash the inside of his ears. Putting water in ears is playing with fire (or,
more literally, tempting otitis externa).
Washing is ONE PART of a
multifactorial approach to itching. i.e. depending on the skin, I use
adjunctive treatments including conditioner, moisturisers, antibiotics and even
steroids. And again, good flea prevention. If you’ve got an itch-prone dog
anyway, it just takes one pesky flea to send him over the itch threshold.
It really is worth making
sure that giving your dog a bath is a positive experience. Some dogs love a
bath but lots of them really loathe it and you can understand why –
difficult-to-stand-on, slippery surfaces, cold water, scary noises, being
manhandled and scrubbed on bits you don’t normally let people pat etc.
Approaching slowly,
placing a non-slip surface, ensuring the water doesn’t run too fast (or loud),
avoiding clanking showerheads against the bath, administering praise and treats
– all of these can help reduce anxiety in the bath.
Also being less anxious
yourself can help – if you dread your dog’s bath time, your dog picks up on
that too. On that note, if its really a battle to bath your dog I am not a fan of forcing it. Its worth chatting to an experienced groomer or vet who offers grooming. We have the benefit of purpose-built facilities and extra-hands, both of which can make a difference.
Life is just better if your dog enjoys bath time. Like this dog here (thanks Rachel for
the link):
