Bathing your Pet

by Helen Zulch

How often you should bath your pet will depend on your pet’s lifestyle – those that sleep on the furniture, as well as those that have specific skin conditions may need to be bathed more often than those that don’t, for example. It is always a good idea to discuss with your vet how often you should bath your pet, as well as what shampoo you should use. Also remember that your dog or cat’s skin is very different from human skin, so it is important to use a shampoo specially designed for animals and never a human shampoo.

The major differences between human and animal skin are the following:

• The pH of human skin is acidic at around 5.5 whilst dog and cat skin has a pH of around 7.5, or almost neutral. A shampoo formulated for the skin of your pet will be formulated at this pH so that it is not irritant.
• Human skin’s superficial layer is about 3-5 times THICKER than that of a dog and thus may be less susceptible to damage, infection and irritation.
• The human epidermis regenerates itself in about 28 days as opposed to about 20 days in the dog.
• Human hair grows continuously, whilst dog and cat hair grows in a cyclical manner with the old hairs being pushed out of the hair follicle by the new hairs, hence the shedding we see.
• Human skin has sweat glands that your dog’s and cat’s skin does not have.

Bathing not only removes debris, dirt and dead hair and controls strong odours, some shampoos will in fact aid in keeping the skin hydrated and improving coat quality. These shampoos should leave the coat shiny and soft and aid in maintaining its health.

Pets should be bathed in lukewarm water at a time of the day that will allow them time to dry after their bath. Wet your pet thoroughly, right down to the skin, with the warm water and then rub the shampoo into the coat, all over but being careful not to get it in their eyes and ears. Once they have been washed all over, it is important to thoroughly rinse the shampoo out of their coats using more clean, warm water. You can gently wipe around their faces with a sponge or some dampened cotton-wool if you need to.

After the bath, towel them dry as much as you can and then allow them to dry on their own. Try to keep them away from sandy areas in the garden whilst they are drying or else they may roll and end up almost as dirty as before!

If you are using an insecticidal shampoo or a dip, be sure to follow the instructions very very carefully and NEVER use it on any pet that is not listed on the label, many insecticides are poisonous for cats or tiny puppies.

It is always a good idea to get kittens and puppies used to being bathed from when they are young as they are then less likely to get upset when they are older. Always make these experiences pleasant for puppies and kittens, giving them treats whilst you are busy washing them as well as afterwards.