How to Bathe a Dog with Allergies
Medium
15 - 35 Minutes
2 Weeks
Need regular grooming services?
Introduction
If your dog has allergies, it is likely his skin is dry and irritated. Patchy red skin can be painful and can hurt. Before you bathe your dog, you will want to be well prepared with the right kind of dog wash or shampoo from your veterinarian or groomer or be prepared to make your own shampoo or wash to treat the symptoms of your dog's allergies. Warm water will be quite uncomfortable for a dog with allergies so be sure the water is not too hot and you are aware of how well your dog is handling the bath.
Dog's Perspective
Remember if your dog has allergies, he is probably itching and scratching quite often. His skin is probably dry and flaky causing his fur to also be dry and coarse. If your dog has allergies and irritated skin, he's not going to want to be wet for very long, and his skin may be so sensitive to the touch he may not want to bathe. Focus your attention on making his skin feel better, so his baths are soothing rather than irritating.
The Natural Oatmeal Method
Effective
0 Votes
Slicker Brush
Pin Brush
Towel
Step
1
Make wash
Grind two cups of old fashioned oats in a blender or coffee grinder until it is a powder.
Step
2
Prepare bath
Run a warm bath for your dog. Make sure your pup will be warm but not too hot. Water that is too warm will aggravate his sensitive skin.
Step
3
Add oats
Add the ground oats to the bath water and stir until the oats are dissolved.
Step
4
Add dog
Put your dog in the bathtub. Gently pour the warm water and oats mix over your dog’s fur and skin with a cup.
Step
5
Massage
With a soft and gentle touch, massage the soft oat water into your dog’s skin.
Step
6
Soak
Let your dog soak in the water for about ten minutes if he’ll allow. You can continue to massage the oats into his skin.
Step
7
Rinse
Rinse with warm water. Do not worry if the oat mixed water does not all rinse out. The oats may dry in his fur, but any residue can be brushed out. Leftover oats on your pup’s skin will moisturize, protect, and soften his fur and skin.
Step
8
Dry and brush
Remove your dog from the bath and gently towel dry him, Be careful not to rub too hard on his skin. Once he is towel dried, brush him thoroughly.
The Remove Allergens Method
Effective
0 Votes
Slicker Brush
Shampoo
Towel
Step
1
Daily
Each day, use a soft damp cloth or wet paper towel to wipe down your dog’s fur. This will help remove allergens his fur picks up during the day, such as pollen or grass.
Step
2
Bath time
When your dog needs a bath, prepare a tub of warm water. Placing a towel at the bottom of the tub will keep your dog from slipping and sliding on the slippery tub surface.
Step
3
Wash
Use a soap-free dog shampoo or an allergy specific dog shampoo and wash your dog from head to tail. Wipe him down with a wet washcloth and scrub his fur and skin gently. Use a cloth to clean his face.
Step
4
Dry
Towel dry your dog by patting and squeezing as much water out of his fur as you can get. Avoid rubbing his skin as it may cause more irritation.
Step
5
Treat and condition
Use coconut oil on dry red spots to soften and condition the skin. Prolonged use of coconut oil may heal the skin condition, but will not treat the allergies. Treat harsh areas of your dog’s skin after every bath. You can also apply coconut oil on his skin between baths.
Step
6
Brush
Brush your dog. This will spread the oil into his fur and on his skin. Focus on removing tangles as well.
Caution & Considerations
- Bathing your dog too much can cause dry itchy skin.
- Bathing a dog with allergies will require an appropriate hypoallergenic shampoo that is good for his skin conditioning and fights allergies.
- If your dog has allergies to parasites such as fleas and you are using a flea and tick removal or deterrent product, bathing your dog too often may actually decrease the effectiveness of the flea and tick treatment.
- If your dog has food allergies, consider a proper diet change to battle the allergens causing dry, itchy skin. In the meantime consider a hypoallergenic shampoo to condition and treat the symptoms of your dog's allergies.
- If your dog's allergy problems are caused by allergens in his environment such as dust, pollen, or grass, wiping your dog down every day or giving him a bath as often as possible will assist in removing the allergens from your dog's fur and skin.
- If your dog suffers from environmental allergens, consider a wet wipe with a damp washcloth each day to remove allergens from your dog before he sleeps for the night. Wash his bedding often.
- As your dog's skin is healing from allergy attacks, remember warm water may cause extra sensitivity and discomfort.
- You can use colloidal oatmeal or make your own oatmeal wash for a wet or dry bath to help treat your dog's irritated skin.
Conclusion
A natural remedy for bathing, such as oatmeal and coconut oil, can help your dog feel better and soothe his itchy skin. But you will need to determine what is causing your dog's allergies and try to treat the cause of his discomfort rather than only the symptoms. Until then, keep him clean with soft, healing skin with gentle baths and skin conditioning treatments.
