WellBeing Services
Pet Grooming
Pet Washing & Grooming
5 Tips For Bathing Your Dog At Home
- Choose the right shampoo – never use human shampoo (even baby shampoo) as it’s the wrong pH for your pooch. If your dog is itchy, oily or has sensitive skin, we can recommend the most suitable shampoo for your dog.
- Pop some cotton wool in your dog’s ears to prevent any water sneaking into the canal – don’t forget to take it out after you’ve finished.
- Provide a non-slip surface – put a towel on the bottom of the bath, or a non-slip mat to help your dog feel more secure and prevent slipping.
- Place a towel over your dog to prevent water going everywhere when the inevitable shake occurs.
- Jam some steel wool in the plug hole to catch the wet fur and make cleaning up easier.
Do I Need To Wash My Cat?
Usually you don’t really need to bathe your feline friend as they are equipped to take care of their own personal hygiene. In fact, they come equipped with their own hairbrush in the form of the rough surface on the top of their tongue.
Having said that, some cats are better at grooming themselves than others so you may need to groom your cat from time to time to help remove dead hair and prevent matting. This is especially the case with longer haired cats and as our kitties get older. Matting can cause pain and discomfort, and in some cases, your cat may need sedation to have any matting clipped off safely.
Tips to help with brushing your cat:
- Start with the part of their body they like being touched the most (usually their back) and start with a few strokes at a time
- slowly build up every few days to a few extra strokes and then eventually move onto 1 other part of their body
- every time you brush them ensure you are giving them some yummy treats so that brushing is associated as a positive experience for them
- never force your cat to be brushed if they are scared of it as it will only make their experience worse
If your cat is grooming itself less effectively, this can be a sign of illness or pain and you should bring them in to see our expert vets for a checkup as there are many effective and safe treatments available.