Washing your dog's head is one of the trickiest parts of the dog bathing process. You don't want to get soap or water in sensitive areas like your dog's ears, nose, and eyes. Easton recommends you save this part for the end of the bath and suggests using a washcloth to clean your pet's face.
Getting your dog wet
If you have a hand-held shower head this is a good way to get your dog wet, or use a jug or beaker. Be very careful not to get water into your dog's ears and also be wary about the eyes and mouth areas. Once you have your dog's body clean, you can finish off the face and head with a wet washcloth.
Hold your dog's head up so that water runs back from his neck not forward onto his head and into ear cavities. Use a face cloth to gently clean your dog's head and face so water does not need to be directed over the head and ear area. Towel dry and remember to remove cotton after the bath.
Maintain water temperature: Only use warm water to bathe your pet. While your dog might enjoy splashing around in cold bath water when it's hot outside, it's unsafe to wash your dog with cold water during the winter, especially if they normally have to relieve themselves immediately after getting a bath.
While watching your precious pup play in the waves makes you both happy, there is a downside. Water can lead to ear infections, but the affliction can happen even when they aren't swimmers. Here's what to know about it: This painful condition occurs in part because of the construction of a dog's ear.
You should also take care to dry your dog's ears after a bath. Moisture creates a breeding ground for bacteria to thrive. If you clean the ears after a bath, this will help to prevent excess moisture from causing an ear infection.
Baby shampoo, such as Johnson and Johnson, may be used on dogs. Baby shampoo is typically gentle and free from harsh and irritating ingredients. It also has the added benefit of being “tear free,” meaning it will not damage a dog's eyes if a small amount is inadvertently splashed into them.
So, can you use Head and Shoulders on a dog? In short: nope. You should not use human shampoo like Head and Shoulders on a dog. “It is not advisable to use human shampoo on our pets, especially not medicated shampoos or those targeted at reducing dandruff,” veterinary surgeon Dr.
While some pet owners are content to let their dogs air dry, you shouldn't be. When you let your dog air dry, they'll be at risk for fungus growing between their paw pads and in locations where their legs attach to their torso. If your dog has long hair, their fur may become matted if you let them air dry after a bath.
Regular baths are very important for your dog's health and hygiene. Bathtime can make your dogs feel better. Baths remove dirt and unpleasant odors from your dog's skin and fur.
After cleaning your dog's body, it's time to focus on the face. To use dry shampoo on the head, shield your dog's eyes, place the dry shampoo on your hand, and rub it in small areas to avoid getting it in the dog's eyes, mouth, or ears.
Outer ear infection (otitis externa).
A waxy, yellow, or reddish-brown ear discharge can also be a sign your dog has an ear infection, which can be a result of allergies, mites, polyps, overproduction of ear wax, excessive bathing or swimming (which can leave too much moisture in the ears), or other problems.
Ear infection is by far the most common cause of head shaking and head tilt in dogs. Ear infections can occur because of yeast, bacteria, or fungi that may build up inside your dog's ears. If this happens, infection can lead to swelling, inflammation, pain, and oozing, among other symptoms.
Ear mites live in the ear canal and on the surrounding skin. Signs of ear mites in dogs include scratching around the ears, head and neck, skin irritation, head shaking, the presence of an ear discharge that is dark and waxy (resembling coffee grounds) and an unpleasant odour from the ears.
Your dog normally has a kind of yeast, Malassezia pachydermatis, that lives on their skin and in their ears. If the inside of your dog's ear gets a little too moist, their ear canal becomes the perfect dark and cozy hollow for yeast to go wild and cause a full-blown ear infection.
Dab a cotton ball with hydrogen peroxide and add drops of coconut oil for your dog's ears; it is an effective cleanser. Apple cider vinegar and equal parts water can be used to clean the ears against infection, but do not use this if the ear tissue is raw.
According to BeChewy, medium and long coat dogs should bathe every four to six weeks, and owners of dogs with short coats should bathe their pets somewhere between every month and every three months. Dog owners should be warned not to wash their pup's coats too much, though.
For some dogs, getting a bath reminds them of a traumatic past experience, Levine notes, which provokes feelings of fear or anxiety every time they approach the shower. These past experiences may have caused your pet pain — such as the water being too hot — but that's not always the case.
Wash Your Dog
Using extra care, wet the head, face and ears. Cup your hands over his ears to prevent water from entering the ear canal. Lather these areas with care because even tearless shampoo is uncomfortable in the eyes. Rinse thoroughly, and when you think you've done a good rinse job, rinse and rinse again.