How to Bathe a Dog with Salt Water

Easy
10 - 30 Minutes
1 Month

Introduction

Susan’s allergic, itchy dog decided to take a swim in the ocean during their beach vacation. But there was nowhere to rinse off afterwards, and Susan was worried that her wet pet would have even itchier allergic skin than before. Much to her surprise, her pooch was remarkably less itchy, and irritated skin on her dog was significantly reduced after their swim in the ocean. Who knew! Now Susan bathes her dog in cold water at home mixed with sea salt purchased from a local pharmacy to relieve her dog's allergies and itchy skin, and she and her pup both notice the difference.  

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

Most Recommended
3 Votes
Shampoo
Towel
Step
1
Use Epsom salts
Add Epsom salts to bath water. A ratio of 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts to 6 cups of warm water is typical.
Step
2
Use sea salt
An alternative is to use cool water with sea salt, as cool water counteracts inflammation and best mimics ocean water.
Step
3
Protect ears and eyes
Put cotton balls in your dog's ears and cover their eyes with your hand or use doggy goggles to protect your pet's eyes during bathing.
Step
4
Immerse
Immerse your dog in the salted bath water and pour water over your dog’s head, especially if being used to kill fleas, to ensure all areas are soaked in salt water. Do not let your dog drink water with Epsom salts. Detergents and soaps can be used as necessary.
Step
5
Rinse sparingly
Rinse off sparingly, as some salt residue left will treat itchy skin and desiccate parasites, or rinse with salt water. Be careful not to allow your dog to lick off Epsom salt residue, which can act as a laxative.

The Natural Salt Water Bath Method

Effective
0 Votes
Towel
Step
1
Head to the beach
Take your water-loving dog to the ocean. Cool, salty ocean water works best to relieve allergic and itchy skin and counteract parasites.
Step
2
Encourage into water
Encourage your dog into the ocean by accompanying them and taking a favorite toy such as a tug of war rope or rag, or throw sticks or toys into the water.
Step
3
Swim and immerse
Try to get your dog to completely immerse themselves in the ocean water and swim about so that they are completely exposed to the water.
Step
4
Air dry
Allow your dog to air dry without rinsing so that the salt residue from the ocean has contact with skin and can impart therapeutic effects.
Step
5
Rinse if required
You can lightly rinse your dog off with water you bring for that purpose, or from a nearby water source, if you need to rinse off that ocean smell before heading home. Rinse sparingly and pat dry with a towel before getting in a vehicle.

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

Question
Sandy
Chihuahua
5 Years
0 found helpful
Question
0 found helpful
Sandy
Chihuahua
5 Years

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?

Question
Gracie Mis
Boxer
6 Years
1 found helpful
Question
1 found helpful
Gracie Mis
Boxer
6 Years

How much Dead Sea salt added to cool water?

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

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!

Question
Alex
Labrador Retriever
5 Years
1 found helpful
Question
1 found helpful
Alex
Labrador Retriever
5 Years

If my dog is 70 lbs. how much epsom salt should I use? ALong with how much water if that matters?

Darlene Stott
Darlene Stott
Dog Trainer and Groomer
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!

Question
Sophie
Miniature Pinscher
7 Years
0 found helpful
Question
0 found helpful
Sophie
Miniature Pinscher
7 Years

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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