You care about your furry friend like you’d care for your own kids. But dogs with sensitive skin have different grooming needs than other dogs, and not heeding them could make it worse.
Your dog can’t tell you if they’re uncomfortable, so here are five signs to watch out for.
Groomers can make a note that your dog has sensitive skin, but if you need to bathe your dog yourself, here are four tips to keep in mind.
Check With Your Vet
Before you bathe your dog, your best bet it to get the underlying skin issues under control. The sensitive skin could be caused by fleas, your dog’s food, a genetic condition, even shampoo.
For this, you should talk to your vet. They’ll be able to accurately diagnose where the issue is coming from and help you figure out how to proceed.
They’ll also be able to tell you the best way to bathe your dog based on the underlying issue.
If it’s something as simple as the shampoo you’re using, it’s an easy fix. But if your dog has an ongoing skin condition, there may be other ways to bathe your pooch to make sure they stay comfortable.
Use Shampoo Made For Dogs With Sensitive Skin
Regardless of the underlying skin issues, you should switch your dog to a shampoo made for dogs with sensitive skin.
In general, you’ll have two options: oatmeal-based shampoo or hypoallergenic shampoo. Oatmeal shampoo is good for dogs with dry skin, while hypoallergenic shampoo is good for dogs with contact allergies.
Your vet, when they identify the cause of your dog’s skin issues, will generally be able to recommend a shampoo. And if you need other ideas, check out this list.
Use A Dog Bathing Brush
You’ll also need to invest in a dog bathing brush.
This is important for all dogs, but especially for dogs with sensitive skin. If you don’t clear away the dead skin and hair from the affected areas, you’ll keep running into the same issues, and your dog will be uncomfortable.
A bathing brush with plastic teeth is a good option here–it will give your dog a deep clean while stimulating the skin.
Above all, remember to be gentle, especially if your dog doesn’t like you going at the affected area. Make it fun so that they don’t dread the brush.
Always Use Conditioner
This is important to keep any dog coat healthy but especially dogs with skin issues.
When you use shampoo, it dries out the hair. You need to make sure you replace the moisture so the skin and hair don’t dry out, which is where conditioner comes in.
Conditioners can contain a variety of ingredients, but at a minimum should include shea butter. Your vet or groomer can often make recommendations as well.
Grooming To Keep Your Dog Happy
Of course, you won’t always have time to bathe your dog yourself. For that, you need a groomer that your dog loves to visit.
We promote a fun and enjoyable grooming experience for your dog. Standard baths include services like bathing with shampoo, conditioner, drying and up to 15 minutes of brushing, as well as claw trimming, ear cleaning and more.
If you need to get your dog in for a visit, head to our contact page to get in touch.
