How to Bathe a Dog with Salt Water
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Introduction
Table salt, sea salt, Epsom salts or good old-fashioned ocean water can relieve itchy dog skin. However, they can also lead to dry skin, so you will have to find the right balance to treat your dog's skin.
More good news: salt baths have been reported to kill fleas by dehydrating the pesky critters. Although they may not completely resolve your dog's flea problem, a salt bath can be part of a treatment regime to combat fleas on your dog.
Dog's Perspective
If you have a water-loving dog, a bath with salt water is really just a bath — there's no difference to your dog. Unless, of course, over-bathing in salt water dries out your dog's skin and makes them itchy, which is just what you are trying to avoid. Used carefully, salt water bathing can relieve itchy skin from allergies and even counteract parasites such as fleas, which will make your dog happy. And if your pet is a good swimmer, a swim in the ocean will also be a whole lot of fun.
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The Salt Water Bath at Home Method
The Natural Salt Water Bath Method
Caution & Considerations
- Too much salt can be drying to the skin, and dry skin can be itchy, so be careful not to overdo it.
- Epsom salts can act as a laxative if your dog ingests them by licking residue off their coat, so take precautions to avoid this.
- If you are bathing your dog in the ocean, make sure they can swim well and supervise closely to make sure they don't get swept away by a current. Use a swim harness or life jacket if necessary.
- Do not use soap or detergent in open ocean water as it can be harmful to sea life.
Conclusion
Salt water can be used to treat itchy, allergic skin, on your dog, or skin affected by parasites such as fleas. You can make salt water at home, or head out to the beach if you live near the ocean, to get your dog his saltwater fix.
Remember that salt water can dry skin out too, so find the right balance to relieve itchiness. Cool water may be more effective for relieving inflammation. Do not rinse all that good salt off afterward, as that is what will discourage fleas and relieve inflammation. Be careful, however, that your dog does not ingest salt water, especially Epsom salts, which can lead to tummy troubles or dehydrate your pet.
If you don't have the spare time or the energy to stay on top of your dog's grooming needs, book a Grooming service with a Pet Caregiver near you on the Wag! app today.
Success Stories and Grooming Questions
Grooming Questions & Answers
Sandy
Sandy is about 5 pounds and I’m trying to figure a good sea salt to water ratio to help her with fleas and itching can you give me a recommendation?
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How much Dead Sea salt added to cool water?
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Thank you for the question, Luanna. I hesitate to give an exact measurement without knowing your dog's weight. I would give the vet who typically takes care of Gracie Mis a call and ask for their calculation. I would think that 1 teaspoon to 2 cups would be about right, but because you will need to fill a tub for Gracie Mis, calling the veterinarian would be the best bet. You don't want to risk adding too much salt. Hope this helps!
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If my dog is 70 lbs. how much epsom salt should I use? ALong with how much water if that matters?
0 Dog owners recommended
Hello, please take a look here for information on the Epsom Salt Bath: https://wagwalking.com/grooming/give-a-dog-an-epsom-salt-bath. The amount is typically one cup per one gallon of water. There is also good information here: https://rehabvet.com/facilities/benefits-salt-water/#:~:text=The%20Epsom%20salts%20for%20dogs,can%20disrupt%20its%20digestive%20system. Make sure that Alex does not drink the water. All the best!
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I’m working with Sophie’s vet to solve her skin issues. So far, they think it’s allergies and we’re trying to find the best treatment for her, (medication & medicated shampoo) but she’s so miserable. The medicated (anti-fungal/antiseptic otc shampoo vet recommended) hasn’t really helped relieve her itching & the sores she’s getting on her feet, legs, face & ears just keep getting worse. She also just finished taking a steroid, that helped relive the itching for a week or so, but as soon as the dose tapered down like it was prescribed, she was itching again..and now it’s like she’s never even taken it. I think that mainly treated her symptoms rather than the primary issue.Honestly, after baths (once a week per vet recommendation) the sores/scabs just soften & come off, but come right back. It almost looks like little chicken pox with yellow pus that scabs once dry. I think it looks like a yeast infection, except it’s not really INSIDE her ears. She’s got big ears that are naturally pointy and look like big satellite dishes on her head..lol. I’ve read that the infection can develop inside the ears, and spread to the face if untreated, but her ears are open & cleaned regularly, they are usually clean, other than a small amount of dirt & wax, but very minimal. My question is if it might be worth taking her to the beach for an hour to swim in the salt water. I know how well the natural salt water can help heal skin abrasions, and thought it might be worth a try. My other question is if I should try apple cider vinegar…as an alternative natural treatment. She’s miserable, and I just want to help her feel some relief. It breaks my heart seeing her constantly uncomfortable & licking nonstop. We’re going to the vet again on Saturday for her 4th follow up since April, when the issue started. Thank you in advance for any recommendations or suggestions you might have. Kind regards,
Melissa
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