How to Bathe a Dog in Apple Cider Vinegar

Medium
15 - 45 Minutes
4 Weeks

Introduction

You don’t have to visit pet stores for expensive shampoos and flea repellants. Apple cider vinegar can help prevent body odor and relieve itchy skin. When used in water or even a spray bottle, apple cider vinegar can also help to repel fleas.

In or out of the bath, apple cider vinegar can also be used to clean out your dog’s ears and help prevent or assist in healing a yeast infection. Giving your dog an apple cider bath is easy to do and can benefit your dog externally as well as internally. 

Dog's Perspective

The soothing enzymes in apple cider vinegar can provide comfort for your dog’s skin unless the skin is broken. If your dog has irritated hot spots or itchy flea bites that are open, dilute the apple cider vinegar to avoid a stinging sensation. Also, remember a treat or two never hurt during or after a much-needed bath. 

Unsure of the best way to bathe your fur-baby? Book an online dog groomer through Wag!.

The Vinegar Rinse Method

Most Recommended
5 Votes
Shampoo
Pin Brush
Flea Comb
Towel
Step
1
Prepare
Prepare a warm bath and towel for for your dog. Have apple cider vinegar on hand in the bathroom ready for mixing with warm water for a rinse.
Step
2
Wash dog
Give your dog a normal bath using your usual shampoo. You can also take a homeopathic approach and use natural products for cleaning your dog during their bath. Wash well, massaging your dog's skin with suds.
Step
3
Rinse
When it's time to rinse the dog shampoo or wash off your dog’s skin, use a mixture of warm water and apple cider vinegar for rinsing. If possible, mix one part apple cider vinegar to five parts water in a bowl or cup. If you cannot mix to the ratios beforehand, add apple cider vinegar to a bowl or cup as you rinse. Just be sure to use water and vinegar together to rinse.
Step
4
Massage
As you rinse with warm water and vinegar, rub the apple cider vinegar through your dog’s fur and into their skin.
Step
5
Rinse again
Give your dog a quick second rinsing with clear warm water to get any vinegar scent out of your dog’s fur. Use this rinse to get off any residue from the vinegar and shampoo.
Step
6
Dry
Once your dog is washed and double rinsed with water and apple cider vinegar and then water, towel dry them. Use the towel to squeeze any excess water out of their fur. If their skin is irritated, don't rub the skin with the towel. Instead, let them air dry as much as possible.
Step
7
Comb or brush
If you are using apple cider vinegar to tackle a flea problem, you may want to use a flea comb to get out any fleas. The apple cider vinegar and bath will draw fleas to the surface, making them easy to comb out. Even if you're not fighting fleas on your dog, brush them after their apple cider vinegar bath.

The Flea Bath Method

Effective
3 Votes
Spray
Slicker Brush
Shampoo
Flea Comb
Towel
Step
1
Prepare
Protect yourself from fleas by wearing long rubber gloves as you wash your dog in the apple cider solution. Mix two parts warm water with two parts apple cider vinegar with a quarter cup to a half cup of dish soap into a tub in preparation for your dog’s bath.
Step
2
Dip and bathe
Put your dog in the bath water and rub the water mixture all over your dog’s fur. Try to cover as much of your dog with the solution as you can.
Step
3
Lather
Your water should be sudsy enough to work up a lather on your dog. Avoid getting the soapy apple cider vinegar water in your dog’s eyes, but don't avoid their face. If they have live fleas, they will move to safer places such as the face if it is not covered in the apple cider solution.
Step
4
Sit
Attend to your dog while they stay in the solution for ten minutes. During this time, you can use a flea comb to comb out any fleas coming to the surface. You can also take this time to offer your pup a treat for tolerating such a long bath.
Step
5
Rinse
Rinse your dog with warm clear water to remove the soap and remaining fleas. To help repel future fleas, rinse your dog again in a clear water and apple cider vinegar blend.
Step
6
Spray
Mix apple cider vinegar and water in a glass spray bottle to treat any fleas you see after your dog’s apple cider vinegar bath.
Step
7
Dry
Towel dry your dog and brush their fur. Use the flea comb again to pull out any more fleas.

Caution & Considerations

  • Apple cider vinegar has many benefits and is safe for dogs to ingest.
  • Apple cider vinegar is all natural and contains tannins, digestive aids, and enzymes good for a number of ailments.
  • If your dog has hot spots or open scratches or sores, dilute the apple cider vinegar to avoid causing any stinging. 
  • You can also fill a glass spray bottle with apple cider vinegar and water to spot clean small areas of your dog’s skin. This can help with irritated areas your dog licks constantly or to spray paws to keep them from licking.
  • Apple cider vinegar can relieve itching when used in baths or in a spray bottle. If your dog is battling dry or itchy skin, apple cider baths can soothe that itch by cleansing the skin.
  • You can pour apple cider vinegar and water onto a paper towel or soft cloth and use it to clean out your dog’s ears. Apple cider vinegar ear washes help to rid your dog of yeast infections.

Conclusion

Don’t worry about fleas or dry, itchy skin. An apple cider vinegar bath is effective at removing body odor and soothing your dog’s irritated skin. Apple cider vinegar solution won’t kill fleas, but it’s an effective repellant. 

Success Stories and Grooming Questions

Grooming Questions & Answers

Question
Snoozzie
West Highland White Terrier
10 Years
2 found helpful
Question
2 found helpful
Snoozzie
West Highland White Terrier
10 Years

Contact dermatist itchy dry patchy skin
Would weekly Apple cider vinegar with water bath be ok.

Darlene Stott
Darlene Stott
Dog Trainer and Groomer
0 Dog owners recommended

Hello and thank you for your question about Snoozie. Is Snoozie being treated by the veterinarian for the contact dermatitis? The vet can best answer your question but I do think that apple cider vinegar may be harsh on the skin; I would try an oatmeal bath with tepid to just slightly warm water (hot water can irritate). Grind 2 cups oatmeal and add to the bath. After bathing, rinse well and gently towel dry. The excess oatmeal can be brushed out once the fur is dry. As for frequency, I would ask your vet if they agree on the oatmeal bath, and how often they think the bath will help. Good luck with Snoozie!

Question
Uzi
West Highland White Terrier
3 Years
1 found helpful
Question
1 found helpful
Uzi
West Highland White Terrier
3 Years

How often is safe to give a dog an apple cider vinegar rinse?

Darlene Stott
Darlene Stott
Dog Trainer and Groomer
0 Dog owners recommended

Hi there, Uzi is sweet! I would use the apple cider vinegar rinse only occasionally. Some dogs will experience dry and irritated skin if a vinegar rinse is used too much. In my opinion, once or twice a month at the most, after using a veterinarian recommended shampoo. All the best with Uzi!

Question
Baby
Markuah (Maltese, Yorkie, Chiuahuah mix
8 Weeks
0 found helpful
Question
0 found helpful
Baby
Markuah (Maltese, Yorkie, Chiuahuah mix
8 Weeks

Can I add apple cider vinegar to her shampoo to get rid of fleas?

Darlene Stott
Darlene Stott
Dog Trainer and Groomer
0 Dog owners recommended

Hello, due to Baby's age, I would recommend you take her to the vet. Fleas can cause problems as they are carriers of parasites and disease. It is very difficult to eradicate them from the home also, unless you have the proper products and advice to follow. Fleas reproduce quickly and the eggs hatch just about anywhere. The vet can help you solve this health issue quickly and with less discomfort to Baby. Be careful using anything like apple cider vinegar on such a young dog, to be on the safe side. We also have an option "ask a vet" here, if you'd like to ask about it before talking with your own vet: https://wagwalking.com/wag-health. All the best to little Baby!

Grooming Success Stories

Success
Penny
Weimaraner
5 Years

My dog had a continuous yeast infection between the pads of her feet and along with my veterinarian, I had tried antibiotic and topical treatments but it never quite went away. One day I tried a solution of Listerine and water. I mixed 1/2 cup of regular Listerine and to 1 1/2 cups of water and stored it in a sealed tub. Then twice daily I soaked her feet for about five minutes. I refreshed the solution every three days. Within two weeks the yeast infection had disappeared and has never returned. I told my veterinarian and he said the alcohol in the Listerine probably did the trick and he was going to recommend it to a few clients to try.

5 years, 8 months ago
Great that the Listerine dips worked. My bulldog had the same needs. He was licking between his toes and seemed to be very itchy there. I googled and found that dipping the feet in warm water and apple cider vinegar would help. It did! After four nights of dipping his paws (and making sure the solution got between his toes, he was cured!). No rinsing needed. The vinegar water just dried and if he locked at it, that was no problem.
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd