Why Dog Bathing and Hygiene are More Important Than You Think
Dr. Biggins, how does bathing and hygiene contribute to our dog's health?
It definitely can contribute to your pet's health. Bathing is really important for keeping your dog's coat clean. If you suspect that your dog has some type of environmental allergy, bathing them regularly with a gentle shampoo can help remove those triggers. It can help prevent skin infections, which are really common in our dogs. It can also help with dental health.
What happens with dogs and bacteria in their mouths?
Drinking out of the same water bowl constantly, a biofilm will form. A biofilm is basically a bunch of bacteria linked together, and it's really strong. If your dog's water bowl is finished and you stick your hand in that water bowl and feel that slimy, gooey stuff, that's the biofilm buildup, and it can definitely adhere to their teeth.
Keeping their toys super clean from biofilm and washing bowls and water bowls is super helpful. Another thing is their collars. I stick with neoprene or plastic collars. They're super easy to clean if you have a stinky dog or they're constantly in the water. Keeping those dry and clean, or rotating them out if you have to, can help too. Sometimes, I'll see dogs with scarring or chafing around their necks, typically from a really stinky, gross collar, and that's just a hygiene issue.
What are other things that I can do around my house to keep my dog clean?
Make sure that I'm keeping up with my dog's hygiene. I definitely think regularly cleaning out your food and water bowls is important. I toss mine in the dishwasher. Some people aren't comfortable with that, but regularly wiping off that biofilm and scratching it off is a good idea. Some of the toys you use, you can toss those in the dishwasher, scrub them, or put them in the washing machine. Keeping those clean is important.
Bedding is huge too, especially if you have a dog with allergies. Both my dogs have environmental allergies, so I notice them starting to scratch a lot if I'm not bathing them and regularly washing their bedding. Cleaning their ears is a good way to prevent ear infections and debris buildup in their ears.
Do any medical conditions contribute to poor hygiene in dogs?
Definitely otitis externa, so ear issues for sure, and yeast buildup. If you're bathing your dog or they're swimming a lot and get water in their ear, you've created the perfect yeast factory—a warm, dark environment. Those tend to build up and then create an infection. Regularly cleaning your dog's ears will prevent that. Bathing them, especially if they're itchy, will help prevent skin infections. Brushing their teeth regularly, if you're able to do that with your dog, and keeping their environment clean is crucial.
What about managing mats or tangles in dogs' coats, especially the long-haired dogs?
Yes, even our medium-coat dogs like Doodles. A lot of the longer-haired dogs, I recommend seeing a groomer. If you're not able to get in or want to try it at home, I think that's great. There are a lot of videos on YouTube to help guide you through that. You definitely want to make sure you're always drying their coats after they get wet and brushing them out. That hair will kind of ball up, knot up, and then turn into what's called a mat. That will actually adhere to the dog's skin, and when you try to remove it, it will peel the first layer of the skin off as well. They're super painful, so keeping up with regular grooming if you have a longer-haired dog is super important.
How should I bathe my dog, and what do I do if they're afraid of water?
Zeke's afraid of water. One of the things I do for him is bathe him inside, and I make sure the temperature is at a nice, warm, safe level. I'll take peanut butter or baby food and smear it on my shower wall, giving him something to do while I wash him. I wet their coat, lather up really well, and use gloves with rubber prongs on them. Those are great, like a curry comb, and you can remove old hairs and dirt. Then, obviously, rinse them really well.
Last but not least, how do I find safe and effective bathing products?
Can I just use my own shampoo and soaps on my dog? You can use your own soap on your dog. One thing I try to mention to my clients is to use something that a hairdresser would recommend for a woman's hair if they're washing their hair a lot. Use phosphate-free, paraben-free products that won't dry out their coat. Growing up, I would just use Dawn dish soap, but that's too harsh and will dry out their skin. Use something like an oatmeal base or something super gentle, especially if you're going to be bathing them every week or every two weeks.
At Alpine Animal Hospital, your pet is our priority. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call our team at (970) 963-2371, or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you!