Bathing your dog is an activity that can be very pleasant for him and for you if it is well done. But often people wonder about how often dogs should be bathed, and the correct answer is: it depends.
There are multiple factors to consider when bathing your dog, and in this article we want to tell you about the most important ones so that you can both enjoy this moment together.
Is It Bad to Bathe My Dog Often?
It is believed that bathing a dog too often is detrimental to his health, and the truth is that it is true. Dogs do not need to be bathed as often as humans. For example, if you wanted to bathe your pet every week, that’s more than he really needs, but if you wanted to bathe him every day as if he were a person, bathing would become detrimental to his health.
However, this does not mean that you should never bathe your pet, as bathing is really beneficial (in the right way). The purpose of a bath is to remove dirt, bad odors and especially pathogens that our pet carries with him.
Also, don’t forget that dogs are more in contact with bacteria and parasites than humans, so it is good to help them with a bath from time to time. But how often?
How Often Should I Give My Dog a Bath?
The answer depends on several factors, the most important of which are the length of the coat.
Depending on the length of your dog’s coat, he will need to be bathed more or less frequently. But, contrary to what you might think, the longer the hair, the less often you will need to bathe your dog.
– Long-haired dogs: a bath every 4 weeks is enough for them.
– Medium-haired dogs: a bath every 4 to 6 weeks is fine for them.
– Short-haired dogs: a bath every 6 to 8 weeks is ideal for them.
Age
Another important factor is the age of our dog, because depending on his age, he will be more or less active and his defenses will be more or less strong.
– Puppies: Puppies should not be bathed until they are 3 months old and have received their vaccinations. At the beginning of their lives, dogs are not ready for a bath, so it is VERY important not to bathe them before they are 3 months old, and even less so with a lot of water.
If you see that your puppy has gotten dirty and you need to clean him up, do so with wet dog wipes, or if that’s not enough with a damp sponge without excess water, and be sure to dry him thoroughly afterwards.
– Adults: Adult (young) dogs are the healthiest and most active, so bathing is very beneficial for them, as long as you do it at the right frequency.
– Seniors: Senior dogs are much less active and their defenses are also weaker, moreover they can suffer from a pathology that worsens if they are bathed in excess (respiratory problems).
Depending on the Time of the Year
In hot weather, bathing our dog can be something comforting for him, but in winter, it is better to reduce the baths to the minimum and to the essential. In fact, temperature changes are very harmful to the health of our dog, and by wetting him in cold weather, it is much more likely that he will develop a respiratory disease.
Tips for Bathing Your Dog
Finally, to make sure your pet enjoys his bath, we leave you with a few tips to keep in mind:
– Bathe him in a place where the temperature is appropriate.
– Pay attention to the temperature of the water, so that it is neither too cold nor too hot.
– Use a special shampoo for dogs, and if you are not sure, ask your veterinarian for one.
– Use a mat to prevent slipping while bathing.
– Dry him well after the bath, without moving him from the right temperature area.
– Do not leave him in a place with a temperature very different from the bathroom immediately after drying him, as this may affect his health.