See how to give your pet a bath in a way that's good for him and the environment

When our puppy or kitten no longer smells so good, we soon want to give him a bath. But what are the necessary concerns? check out

When to bathe?

There are people who bathe their pets more than once a week. This is unnecessary and even dangerous, as it can dry out the animal's skin and remove the natural protection, causing dermatitis.

Bathing once a week is more appropriate for long-haired dogs and some dog breeds that tend to have oily skin and get "stinky" more often, such as the cocker spaniel and the German shepherd. Short-haired dogs only need bathing once or twice a month. Cats, only every three months, as they take a “bath” by themselves (but be careful: if your kitten is licking itself more than usual, it could be an indication of problems).

Brushing

Brushing the animal before bathing removes dead hair, increases the shampoo's efficiency and prevents these hairs from falling down the drain (at bath time), causing clogging. After showering, brush once more to give it a shinier look.

The animal's collaboration

This is probably the most important item. If your pet is one that hides when he hears the word “bath”, you'll have double work and he's also stressed a lot, in addition to being able to escape and get hurt because of the agitation. To prevent this from happening, he will need training and rewards - be patient. At the beginning of training, prevent him from seeing the bath preparations and trick him into luring him into the bathroom. When you arrive, close the door, have a snack, play some relaxing classical music (at low volume, as they have a much more sensitive hearing than ours), give it a lot of care before starting the shower, but don't take too long , otherwise the water will get cold. Show him the shower so he doesn't get scared when it's rinsed off.

The choice of shampoo

Many shampoos for dogs and cats are available in any supermarket, but they may contain chemicals that are harmful to your best friend's skin as well as the environment. Go for products with natural ingredients, such as Propovets, a line of animal care products made from green propolis. (Also available from the eCycle Store).

How to save water in the bath

Use a tub or basin of warm water at a height just above the animal's “elbows”. Soak and soap the animal in this water. Then, to rinse, use the shower head.

hair drying

It is very important to dry the animal's fur, especially if it has long fur, to prevent the proliferation of fungi. Also, dogs, when they're wet, like to roll around in the dirt (or on the clean rug in your living room) to dry off.

Use a towel first to remove excess moisture and then the dryer. So you spend less energy. It is important that the dryer is not too hot so as not to hurt the animal. Feel the temperature in your hand constantly to see if it's pleasant.

dry bath

It is a little known alternative and should not be done all the time, only when, for some reason, you cannot give your pet a complete bath. To give your dog or cat a dry bath, take it to an open, easy-to-clean area. Brush his hair and apply a mixture of a cup of cornstarch and ¼ cup of baking soda, massaging so that the mixture absorbs oils, odors and dirt. Attention: do not put anything on open wounds, as it hinders healing. Then brush the animal again to remove the mixture completely.

Perfumes

Like shampoos, perfumes can have chemical components that are harmful to the animal and the environment, so if you use it, prefer those made with natural ingredients and essential oils. But know that the scents of dogs and cats please only the owners. Animals have a very sensitive sense of smell and the scent bothers them.

Other animals

The tips we've given here are for dogs and cats. Anyone who has a different pet must take care according to the species. Chinchillas bathe themselves by rolling in marble dust, which you find in pet stores. Birds also bathe themselves if you leave a (not too full) bathtub with water available. Do not use shampoo to bathe a bird unless the veterinarian has recommended it to treat a possible illness, otherwise you can cause a problem for the bird's skin, removing the natural protection of the feathers. As for hamsters and rabbits, they should only be bathed if there is any sticky or toxic dirt on their fur. The ideal is to take it to a veterinarian, as he will know how to give a safer bath. If, after cleaning the cage, you notice that your hamster has a bad smell, consult a veterinarian, as it may be a ringworm or breeding behavior (in the case of females, the heat period, and in the case of males , territory marking).

Important note

Never use products intended for humans and much less cleaning products (such as detergents and washing powder) on animals, as they can cause allergies, injuries and even burns.



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