How to Give Your Dog a Bath

Dr. Karen L. Campbell, DVM, author of The Pet Lover's Guide to Cat & Dog Skin Diseases (2006, Elsevier Saunders, St. Louis, MO), offers the following tips and guidelines for the best way to bathe your dog:

• Dilute the shampoo with 5 to 10 parts water before starting (this will make it easier to distribute the shampoo over your dog's hair coat.


• The ideal water temperature for giving your dog a bath is between 95 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.


• Wet your dog's entire coat thoroughly (a spray nozzle works best)


• Apply the diluted shampoo over your dog's entire coat. If your dog is short-haired, you can rub the shampoo into his coat; if your dog is long-haired, then squeeze the shampoo through his hair to avoid matting


• Use a washcloth to carefully clean around your dog's face, being careful to avoid his eyes and ears.


• If you're using a medicated shampoo, for best results, leave the shampoo in contact with your dog's skin for at least 10 minutes


• Rinse your dog's coat thoroughly to avoid skin irritation, and pay special attention to the groin, the underside of the tail, and the feet (where shampoo residue often collects)


• Squeeze excess water from your dog's coat using your hands, then gently blot with a towel.


• Gently brushing your dog's coat as it dries will remove tangles and help "fluff" his coat


• If you use a hair dryer on your dog, be sure to keep the heat setting on low to avoid damaging your dog's hair, or irritating his skin

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Woof!
~Lisa

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