When it comes to looking after your dog, taking a bath can be time-consuming and in some cases extremely difficult! This is especially if you have a dog that dislike bathing. However, one of the most frequent question is “How often should I bathe my dog?”. This is a good question, because it depends on a lot of factors such as; the breed of dog, size, medical conditions and how active he is. Having said that, in this article today, we will take a look at how often you should bathe your dog, as some dogs require more or fewer baths depending on skin condition and health issues.
According to the ASPCA, dogs should take a bath about once every three months. However, most of the dog owners suggest a dog should be bathed more frequently, preferably once a week or every two weeks. If your dog plays outside a lot and rolls around in things he shouldn’t, then you will need to bathe him more often! Moreover, this is also if he is groomed and brushed regular, as brushing will keep his coat in good condition between baths, as well as keeping his coat from matting and tangling.
Grooming does wonders for your dog, but bathing is not as healthy as brushing. By bathing your dog too often, skin conditions may occur, as well as stripping his coat of the natural oils that keep him looking good. When it comes to bathing your dog, be sure to use a dog shampoo and not a human shampoo! This will irritate their skin and may have toxic ingredients or fragrances that may affect your dog. There are dogs that require baths much more often if they have a skin condition, but this is up to your vet! You should follow his guidelines if your dog has a skin condition that requires medicated baths.
Unless otherwise stated by your vet, bathing your dog twice a week is not encouraged as it may do more harm than good! Bathing your dog too often will strip his skin off its natural oil which may cause his skin to be dry and flaky, almost dandruff-like.
Finally, the majority of people bathe their dogs too frequently, and the rule of thumb is if you can smell your dog when he walks in the room, it’s probably time for a dip, or about once every 3 months! Take time to brush your dog’s coat every day, even if it’s just for five minutes, as he will love you for it.