Rub a Dub Dub, Tazzy in a Tub

No doubt about it, Tazzy needs a bath. She's looking a bit scruffy lately, and her skin is getting itchy. You may not realize that bathing a pet can be a medical procedure in some cases. Regardless, proper grooming is essential for the health and comfort of your furry friend, particularly the longer haired ones like Tazzy. Mats in the fur can twist all the way down to the skin and cause pinching and bruises. Owners who have tried to cut these out have inadvertently cut the skin when they used scissors in awkward places like armpits and behind ears. Dirt or urine and feces that soils the hair and skin can cause dermatitis or inflammation or infection of the skin, especially in skin folds or under the tail and between legs. Fleas are terrible little pests that certainly cause itching and allergies in a lot of animals. Dogs and cats can also get many of the same types of skin conditions that humans can, seborrhea or greasy skin, dry, flaky skin or dandruff, alopecia or hair loss. Even some metabolic issues like hypothyroidism and Cushing's disease can exhibit some skin problems.

There really are some important "how to's" when it comes to bathing a pet. First you need to understand the reason for bathing. Some may be healthy but just got dirty or rolled in something stinky. (Verbal just loves to do this! I think I mentioned once that the stinkier dogs are the most popular ones-they have a better story to tell when others come up to sniff them.) Long-haired critters frequently get things stuck in their fur, especially in the long hairs under their tail and along the back of their hind legs. Is the pet covered in fleas? Do they have a diagnosed skin infection or condition you need to treat topically with a medicated shampoo? Are they particularly itchy?

After answering those questions, you can choose the type of shampoo to use on your pet. Your veterinarian may have prescribed a medicated formula to use. There are many over the counter pet-friendly shampoos at pet stores, feed stores, even in grocery stores. Safety is particularly important if you are bathing a puppy or kitten. Be sure to avoid the types of "flea shampoos" that have pyrethrins as the active ingredient. 1 in 5 dogs and many more cats will have severe reactions such as tremors or seizures and some could die. We recommend simply using a regular shampoo and then using a safe flea product such as Frontline Plus after the pet is completely dried.

For a routine bath, it is nice to use a mild, soap-free shampoo with omega fatty acids. This will keep the pet's skin healthy and won't strip it of the essential oils needed to maintain healthy hair. There is also a lot less flaking and itching as a result. The omega fatty acids also make the topical flea product, Frontline Plus, work much more efficiently, so important knowing how expensive it can be!

The process of bathing isn't very complicated, but does require some work on your part. When using medicated shampoos remember-we are treating the skin, not the hair. If the pet's hair coat is particularly dirty, you should do a "pre-bath" with a general cleansing shampoo to remove the dirt. The second medicated shampoo will require much less of the more expensive medicated product. I like to dilute out the shampoo in a pitcher of water and pour this solution over the pet, allowing for a more even coverage over the body. Some medicated shampoos don't lather up very much, but do work them into the skin for 10 - 15 minutes (your veterinarian will have specific instructions) and then do a COOL water rinse. Warm water generally makes the skin tingly, and tingly skin can be itchy. Cool down the water if your pet is itchy. Be sure to rinse thoroughly-then rinse again! It is important not to leave any shampoo in the hair coat where it could rub against the skin, especially in the armpits or groin. There are some leave-in conditioners available, again some have essential fatty acids and/or antihistamines to relieve itching which can be worked into the skin after rinsing out the shampoo.

How often should you bathe your pet? Some cats never get a bath their entire lives and seem to do just fine. They are meticulous groomers-if they stop doing this it is time to visit the veterinarian. During the summer when Verbal gets to go to the lake, she'll get a quick bath every time due to the algae and duck poo found there. She develops "swimmer's itch," a type of skin infection if I get lax in giving her those baths after swimming. Sometimes she just needs a "de-stinking" bath, and Kristina, my hospital attendant, is wonderful at taking care of her. Medicated baths will have instructions for frequency and length of treatment, often multiple times a week at first.

Remember to thoroughly brush out the hair coat BEFORE you get it wet-matted hair will shrink up in the water and be virtually impossible to comb out afterward. Also, use an ear drying product in the ear canals after any bath. We can't get our fingers deep enough in the ear canals to dry them out manually, so the liquid cleaner/driers are essential to good ear health. Wet ears like to grow yeast organisms and infections result.

Tazzy is a different dog after her bath-she's white again! She got her nails trimmed and anal glands emptied as well as those ears cleaned out-a full spa day! Her owners will be very pleased and much more likely to cuddle with her now that she looks and smells so much better. That is, until she decides to find her own "perfume" to roll in.

Peace,
DrReneigh