Baths are an incredibly important part of your dog’s grooming routine, as it helps maintain their skin health, prevent infection, and keep them smelling fresh. But while bathing is important, doing it wrong can lead to problems. If your pet needs a scrub-down, here are a few common mistakes you’ll want to avoid before you get to washing.  

5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Bathing Your Dog

1. Forgetting to Brush

Not brushing your dog’s coat prior to a bath can cause tangles to become matted, which is uncomfortable and can increase the risk of infection. For this reason, brush your pet thoroughly to make sure all the fur is straight and smooth before it gets wet.

2. Using Products for People

It might be more convenient to use your own shampoos and soaps on your pet, but these products can harm animals. Human skin is more acidic than that of a canine, so our bathing products are designed to maintain a different pH balance. Using these solutions on your dog may not only leave their skin irritated but also make them more vulnerable to parasites and bacteria. To protect the pH balance of your companion, use products that are designed specifically for dog grooming.  

3. Making the Water Too Hot  

A canine’s average body temperature is slightly higher than that of a person’s, so their bath water doesn’t need to be as hot to be comfortable. In fact, if you make the water too hot, you might burn their skin. Instead, aim for a warm—but not scalding—temperature.

4. Overwashing

Washing your pooch frequently may seem like you’re doing them a favor by keeping them clean, but too much grooming can strip protective natural oils from your dog’s coat. To avoid excessive dryness and itchiness, you shouldn’t wash your dog more than once every other week. If you do need to bathe your pet on a regular basis, ask your groomer about shampoos that will help preserve natural oils.

5. Air-Drying

After you’ve thoroughly scrubbed and rinsed your dog, you may think you’ve reached the finish line. However, you don’t want to rush through the drying process, as leaving it wet can increase the risk of fungal infections and bad odors. For proper drying, use towels to gently wipe your dog from top to bottom, while making sure to squeeze as much excess water out of the hair as possible. Once they are damp—not dripping—you can let them air dry.

Knowing that dog baths can be challenging at times, Evergreen Kennels offers comprehensive grooming services to pet parents in the greater Churchville and Rochester, NY, areas. Staffed by friendly experts, this team knows how to make the process as comfortable as possible, while taking time to ensure your dog is completely clean. To learn more about their grooming services, as well as their dog boarding and doggy day care amenities, visit this local groomer online. For reservations, call (585) 293-1920.