Written by: Samantha Boswell, Vet Assistant, Exotic Animal Rehabilitator
Bathing is STILL important!
There are many reasons why bathing is important. Not only does it help with the smell of your dog, and it also allows your dog to feel good and clean! They love the feeling of a clean coat! Here is a list of reasons why it is important to bathe your dog, regardless of their hair length.
Allergies
One thing many people do not realize is that dogs have allergies and skin conditions just like people! So having a regular wash will help keep allergens on your dog's coat at bay. This will also help remove any toxic particles from the world that are all tangled up in your dog's coat. This will help reduce the chances of a rash breakout, yeast breakout, and other allergic reactions.
Bonding Moment This time you get with your dog allows you to learn how to move at their pace. Bathing is also a training moment on having your dog's legs, feet, ears, face, etc being handled. Most dogs are not a fan of those areas being grabbed as they are vulnerable areas. And if you can build the trust up from a young age, it makes your pet easier to manage and maintain as they grow larger and older.
Monitoring Your Dog's Health When you bathe your dog, you get really intimate with them. Especially if your dog is long haired, this will give you an easier time at finding any possible lumps, hot spots, rashes, critters, and more. It also gives you a chance to have an up close look at things like nails, teeth and eyes to make sure everything looks normal to your pet.
Shedding Bathing also helps reduce shedding, which in return helps keep your home less fuzzy! This can also help with your own allergies and sinuses if you have (seasonal) allergies.
Softer Coat Regular bathing will help your dogs coat become softer and shiner and reduce issues like dandruff and dry skin.
Removes Dirt and Odor So the obvious, it removes dirt and odor which is unpleasant to live with. Nobody likes to have their home or dog smell like a dog that has never taken a bath!
So as you can see, bathing provides more than just esthetics for your dog. It is important for their overall health and happiness. So if you have a dog or are considering a dog, make sure you take the time to bathe them or bring them to a groomer. If your dog is not bath friendly, there are many ways that bathing can be done that is less stressful and more enjoyable for your dog.
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