Groomers - tips for bathing dogs?

[betsyk]

Until recently, I’ve had farm dogs who got baths when they were muddy or rolled in something, usually in the washrack at the barn. Now we have two very itchy house dogs, who are going to the vet on Friday, and we’ve been warned there will be lots of baths ahead as we work through the problem.

Can anyone share their best dog bathing tips? How on earth do you effectively wash their feet? The little fluffy dog has licked her toes raw. We have a hand held shower and decent bathtub where I can either get in with them or sit on the edge. Treats, yes or no? Blow dry, to get them dry down to the skin? Wash faces with a washcloth? Help!

[jetsmom]

It’s more likely allergies causing the paw kicking than needing a bath. Try a grain free alternative protein food, like a salmon food, or bison snd venison. Make sure dog doesn’t get treats that contain chicken, beef or lamb or any grains.
Then I’d try bathing with microtek anti itch shampoo.
Ask your vet about allergies, antihystamines while there. Sometimes there are fungal infections of the pads of the feet/toes that need vet help.
If it’s environmental allergies, try to see when it started, and if you changed floor cleaning products, or carpet powders. Or if it is seasonal, like with grasses, or pollens. You can put t shirts on dogs and booties when they go out if it’s a contact allergy to grasses.

[Mosey_2003]

The red paws aren’t a problem with the skin itself, like jetsmom said. My vet always gave a long-lasting cortizone shot, maybe ask about that?

[betsyk]

Jetsmom, we’re on it - have done most of that already, and this is the latest in a long saga of health problems for one of them. It was the vet’s suggestion that we get in a routine of washing off any (possible) environmental allergens as well as the topical stuff we’ve been putting on some of the sores - long story. Mosey - the small dog may end up needing some prednisone but the other dog can’t have it. We’re trying to find the common thing that both dogs are reacting to, and why they’re both reacting this year.

Anyway, I have a great respect for good dog groomers and the job they do!

[csaper58]

Perhaps they are not reacting to the same thing? Could both just be having dermatitis from different causes?

Food, carpets, floor cleaner, grass mites if they go outside, are some allergens to consider.

Is a bacteria or yeast infection jumping on board?

A friend has a Wheaten Terrier that is allergic to her other dogs (all Aussies, all related). Could they be allergic to other pets or human dander?

[PintoPony]

How you bathe will depend partially on what treatment your vet prescribes.
In general, I like to put the dog in a dry tub and use the sprayer on low and start wetting them from the feet up, keeping the sprayer close to the skin. Apply whatever shampoo you’re using, lather up and then rinse from the top down with the sprayer close again.

I give treats at the end along with a vigorous towelling. I never blow dried one but all my dogs were short haired so they really didn’t need it.

And I did wash the face with just a wet washcloth, no soap. Got inside the ears too.

[betsyk]

Anything’s possible, I guess, and thanks (all of you) for the lists of stuff to scare me! Food=maybe (venison and chickpeas, with the occasional meal swiped from the cat). Other stuff, cosequin, fish oil, claritin=unlikely, I hope. Carpets, floor cleaner=all hardwoods, not washed very often (can they be allergic to Bona?). Grass mites=who knew grass had mites? Eesh. Cats=both were raised with cats, no new ones in the household. Cat litter=have changed brands this year but problems preceeded that, I think. Flea stuff=same product as always. Barn=they’ve been to the barn less this year than ever before. Horse dander carried home on humans=if this is our problem, we’re sunk.

Biggest problem appears to be yeast, and I am holding my breath that we don’t get bacterial infection too, hence the vet appointment for Friday. We’ve had skin stuff before, but never like this. Interestingly, neither has ears involved this time, just skin, just front legs where they can lick/bite and the undercarriage, back legs and tail. Cats aren’t itchy, no sign of fleas in the house or on the dogs, we’re not itchy…

[csaper58]

I have had luck controlling yeast with a shampoo made from

1/4 cup Original Dawn dish soap

1/4 cup plain white vinegar

2 cups water

only use this if there are no open sores

wash dog beds and brushes in hot soapy water, if possible dry in the sun.

My back kills me if I bend over my dog to wash him, so he stands on an old child’s pick nick table. When he was small I use to use a RubberMade storage container for a tub.

Jingles for less itch pups in the near future

[JanM]

Do you get anything put on the lawn? Pre-emergent, pest control, fertilizers can all react with some animals. If you do any lawn treatments, make sure you water it into the lawn before the animals touch it. Have you used rug shampoo or other cleaners that might have stayed where the animals walk?

My one dog was allergic to cheap dog biscuits, and licked her feet sometimes. I know because the day I bought another brand the licking (she only did it sometimes in the evening) stopped.

Make sure any shampoo is washed out thoroughly, or the soap can make them itch.

[Bicoastal]

If you’re getting into medicated baths, take a kitchen timer to the tub (don’t want your phone taking a bubble bath by accident!) and let the shampoo work for exactly as long as prescribed. It’ll feel much longer than it is, to both of you. A quick shot of warm water mid-timer is appreciated by shivery little dogs. You may also be able to wrap them in a warm towel while the shampoo sits.

Cotton in the ears. Mineral oil in the eyes if you’re worried. I use baby shampoo on faces. It’s totally ok to scrub the face, even tear stains (usually yeast). I rinse heads by holding the dog’s head up with one hand under the chin and placing the nozzle on the topskull then letting a gentle stream of water soak down. Similar treatment for rinsing the muzzle.

For yeast especially, I would blow dry. Blow drying has much better results than air drying. A big bonus in your situation is the skin will be dried thoroughly and quickly and you get a really good look at it during the blow drying. Blow dry on zero heat. What size dogs and how much coat?

I always shampoo, condition, and blow dry. Now that I know the difference, I don’t expect to every only shampoo again. In the tub is a good time to clip nails because they’ll be a little softer after sitting in water. For medicated baths, the prescribed routine may be different.

[j_feil]

I bathe my 40ish lbs Aussie Shepherd mix in the bathtub every two weeks or so. It is a joint effort between SO and me. SO feeds treats, and, given all the horse bathing experience in my past, I scrub. At this point the pup realizes it’s treat bonanza, so she’s pretty patient. I stand in the tub with her (usually in already dirty gym or barn clothes).

I use the same process as Bicoastal for washing her face. The feet I just hold and scrub with my hands. That is far and away the pup’s least favorite part, because I think she feels unsteady on three feet in the tub.

I have a scrubby mitt like this, which is critical for the long coat: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Flexible-Pet-Massage-Glove-Pet-Dog-Multifunction-Removal-Brush-Washing-Glove-Needle-Comb-For-Dog-Cat/32696018866.html?spm=2114.40010408.3.4.IKd3hF

And then, since I cannot control the post-bath full body shake, I have to clean my bathroom after every dog bath as she coats the walls with hair and fur…

Also, get something like this for your drain if you use your bathtub: http://www.petsmart.com/dog/bathing-equipment/top-paw-pet-hair-snare-zid36-12685/cat-36-catid-100096

I don’t blow dry because the pup WILL. NOT. allow it, but I try to time it that I can take her for a walk in the sun after. And she has several designated towels for drying by hand.

[jetsmom]

[QUOTE=j_feil;8813725]
I bathe my 40ish lbs Aussie Shepherd mix in the bathtub every two weeks or so. It is a joint effort between SO and me. SO feeds treats, and, given all the horse bathing experience in my past, I scrub. At this point the pup realizes it’s treat bonanza, so she’s pretty patient. I stand in the tub with her (usually in already dirty gym or barn clothes).

I use the same process as Bicoastal for washing her face. The feet I just hold and scrub with my hands. That is far and away the pup’s least favorite part, because I think she feels unsteady on three feet in the tub.

I have a scrubby mitt like this, which is critical for the long coat: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Flexible-Pet-Massage-Glove-Pet-Dog-Multifunction-Removal-Brush-Washing-Glove-Needle-Comb-For-Dog-Cat/32696018866.html?spm=2114.40010408.3.4.IKd3hF

And then, since I cannot control the post-bath full body shake, I have to clean my bathroom after every dog bath as she coats the walls with hair and fur…

Also, get something like this for your drain if you use your bathtub: http://www.petsmart.com/dog/bathing-equipment/top-paw-pet-hair-snare-zid36-12685/cat-36-catid-100096

I don’t blow dry because the pup WILL. NOT. allow it, but I try to time it that I can take her for a walk in the sun after. And she has several designated towels for drying by hand.[/QUOTE]

You can get the rubber bath mats with suction cups on the bottom to give the pup more stability.

[j_feil]

[QUOTE=jetsmom;8813744]
You can get the rubber bath mats with suction cups on the bottom to give the pup more stability.[/QUOTE]

Can’t believe I didn’t think of that - thanks!! Off to order from Amazon…

[S1969]

Yep, rubber bath mat is a must. Otherwise they wipe out and learn to hate the whole process.

Mine get bathed a lot because we show them. I will admit to not being anywhere near as careful as others here…but for a “newbie” with itchies, I would be more careful. (E.g. I put shampoo on their head and muzzle and spray them in the face to rinse (carefully) but that might be scary for a dog that is not often bathed.)

Usually I wet fully, and start at the bottom – legs and feet soak in shampoo as I work my way up to the back, then rinse from the top down – I usually use whitening shampoo because I show them, but an oatmeal or calming shampoo would also be good on their feet while you wash the rest of the body. The more often they are bathed, the easier it gets. Mine are pretty used to it because they get rinsed daily in “mud season” as well.

I don’t usually blow dry at home but a good force dryer is a worthwhile investment if you can swing it. Then you always know you can dry them quickly if you need it. http://www.valuepetsupplies.com/metro-air-force-commander-dryer-1-7-peak-hp-orange.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=CNjJ_aCM284CFVdbhgodXy0AhA

[Griffyn]

I have a 160 lb Newfoundland. With allergies. As a former groomer also- caring for different coats means different things… What sort of dogs are they? Medicated shampoo really can help, as will a damp cloth face wash daily and wiping/rinsing paws more frequently. Yes to a force dryer if your dog is bigger or has any coat at all.

[vacation1]

Not a groomer, but the best dog-washing tip I ever heard was to do the head last. This may be obvious to everyone else, but I spent years methodically working head first, like reading a book left to right, and the whole time it was WWIII fighting dog’s efforts to escape. Starting with the tail made it 110% easier.

[Angela_Freda]

[QUOTE=Mosey_2003;8811294]
The red paws aren’t a problem with the skin itself, like jetsmom said. My vet always gave a long-lasting cortizone shot, maybe ask about that?[/QUOTE]

or what about seasonally treating with Zyrtec?

Also if the dog is allergic to outdoor allergens, what about a wipe down with a damp towel when s/he comes inside from being on a walk or whatever, ro remove what you can without a bath?

[Bicoastal]

Face washing by a pro groomer with lots of photos. The photo with the Maltese is pretty much how I rinse faces and it doesn’t seem too offensive to the dogs.

[betsyk]

You guys are awesome - this is exactly the conversation I was hoping for. Small dog is a yorkie mix, so hair that grows long (but isn’t) and suffers for lack of professional grooming. Larger dog is a border collie mix with a very soft coat, thicker than a regular border collie, sort of fluffy like older dogs will get. Larger dog is extremely well behaved and actually pretty relaxed; smaller dog hunkers down and shivers and will growl about feet. I do need to get the kitchen timer because the medicated stuff is supposed to stay on for 10 minutes, which feels like forever… Our bathroom has never been this clean, getting wiped down every few days after dog baths!

[Mosey_2003]

If you’re just removing outdoor allergens after going out, I’d say a water only rinse would do that.

Be advised you do NOT want to get water in their nose. It’s easy to ‘dry drown’ a dog.