As a pet owner, it can be hard to know exactly how often you should wash your dog. With so many opinions out there, it’s tough to figure out what’s truly best for your furry friend’s health and happiness. While some people believe that the more baths, the better, washing your dog too often could actually do more harm than good, stripping away natural oils and causing skin irritation. Finding the right bathing routine will depend on your dog’s breed, lifestyle, and environment.
To help settle the debate, Blue Cross has helpful advice on the ideal bathing routine for your dog. According to the experts: “Unless they get dirty or roll in something a bit gross, it’s best to leave the natural oils in their coat do all the hard work – they’re pretty great at self-cleaning.”
While the RSPCA recommends bathing your dog roughly every three months as a general guideline, more frequent washes are perfectly fine if your dog needs them.
This often depends on their lifestyle, as some dogs are more adventurous or spend a lot of time outdoors, while others live mostly indoors.
For instance, a long-haired dog that enjoys rolling in mud in the countryside is likely to need more baths than a short-haired pup living in a city flat.
However, be cautious about overwashing. Bathing your dog too often can strip away the natural oils in their coat, leading to dryness and irritation.
Blue Cross also notes that if your dog has fleas and you’re using a treatment to get rid of them, you’ll need to reapply it after you’ve given your dog a wash.
“If you use drop on flea and worming treatment, this will also be washed away every time you bathe them”, the experts said.
