Dogs are some of the happiest creatures around. And they’re ready to snuggle with you at the nearest opportunity. But sometimes, a dog with a big personality comes with an equally significant smell. Some days before it’s petting time, it’s bathing time. This is especially true of dogs you leave outside. You also may have noticed lots of dirt and grime in your dog’s coat and are wondering how often you need to wash your dog for its health. Even outdoor dogs have sensitive skin, so we are left with the questions of how often you need to wash your dog and how often you can.
How Often Should You Wash Your Dog
Outdoor dogs are a different ball game than furry friend who stays indoors. They’re still adorable, and you love them dearly. But that stench can be powerful, especially if they found something “fun” to roll around in outside. So, let’s start with the basics. When should you wash your dog?
If your dog comes back covered in mud with a big smile on its face, then it’s probably time for a wash. But not all scenarios are as clear. It’s perfectly okay for you to wash your dog every time they roll in something foul. Leaving foul material in your dog’s coat is likely to lead to rashes, itching, coarse coat, and hair loss if the material is particularly bad. Just as you wouldn’t leave foreign material in your hair, get it out of your dog’s.
But you shouldn’t only wash your dog when they have rolled around in the mud. Just like us, dogs need baths for their health, but they don’t need baths as often as we do. Many vets say you should at least wash your dog every 4-6 weeks. For indoor dogs, this probably works just fine. They are away from outside irritants and smells most of the time. Some people wash their dogs weekly or bi-weekly even though their pet is indoors, just to drop the doggy smell. As you are probably already aware, leaving your dog outside can be pretty smelly when it comes back in. If you’re trying to stop a stinky doggy from coming in the house, you’re not as worried about how often you should wash your dog but how often you can.
How Often Is Too Often
If you’re wondering if there is such a thing as too much bath time, the answer is yes, with a caveat. Shampoos are taking away oils and irritants from your dog’s skin. And usually, your dog’s skin and coat replenish healthy oils on their own. But if you’re washing your dog’s coat once, twice, or thrice a week, then you’re not giving them adequate time to replenish on their own. This can quickly cause dry skin issues in your dog. One option to diminish the effect is to use moisturizing oatmeal shampoos, which are naturally good for dry skin. Yet, there is another way to add oils to your dog’s coat.
You can also use conditioners for your dog’s coat to make it easier to replenish the lost oils. Conditioners give your dog’s coat healthy and clean oils to replace the oils pulled from your fuzzy friend’s coat.
Shampoos To Use
The key is to use the right shampoos. Harsh shampoos or more acidic shampoos are the primary sources of bath time woes.
And you might be thinking, “who would use an acidic shampoo on a dog?” Well, if you use the shampoo on yourself (which sounds like the nice thing to do), you can potentially burn your dog’s skin! That’s right, our shampoo is acidic! But not to us. Your skin has a different skin pH from your dog’s, and it is more or far more acidic than your dog’s skin.
This is where dog shampoos come in. Using gentle puppy or oatmeal shampoos ensures your dog’s skin comes out of bath time feeling well washed and refreshed. Even better, your dog feels refreshed without the burning feeling of acidic shampoos! Knowing your dog’s specific problems will help with which shampoos to choose. If your outdoor dog gets lots of dirt and grime stuck in its coat, it will need sensitive and moisturizing shampoo like an oatmeal shampoo. When dogs play outside, they get dirt in their coat, making the dirt repeatedly rub on their skin. The dirt and grime rubbed on their skin leave them with scratches and irritation. Suppose you notice your dog excessively scratching and spending a lot of time outdoors. Your dog’s skin can see a lot of improvement from a moisturizing shampoo.
If your dog’s skin has become extra sensitive to outside irritants and ordinary shampoos aren’t working, try an extra-sensitive puppy shampoo. They have anti-inflammatory properties and are allergen-friendly, so they are great for dogs with uniquely sensitive skin.
Help Your Dog Smell Better and Keep Their Skin Healthier
Even if your dog is built for the outdoors, it still has sensitive skin in need of special care. Rubbing people’s shampoos on its coat will cause burns and irritation because of its pH level. So, getting the right shampoo and, if you need to wash your dog frequently, the right conditioner can make a big difference. Whether you’re washing your dog for good doggy health maintenance or because your dog is just plain smelly, you’re ready to wash.