I came across this article about dog bathing and wanted to share it with you. I’ve been told by many people, not to bathe my dogs on a regular basis because it dries out their skin. Well, I’m a bit of a rule breaker ( like washing dry clean only clothes at home – gasp! ) and I like to try things on my own and see how they work out.
Emma and Phoebe have terrible seasonal allergies, and are miserable from mid July to the end of October. When they were first diagnosed, they had terrible skin infections and were constantly on antibiotics to clear up their skin. I got tired of having to take them in all the time, and also having to spend all that money on antibiotics, when the infection just came back as soon as they were off of them. So I decided to go a different route.
Weekly bathing for the girls has been the best remedy for their smelly, oily, infected skin during allergy season. I have never had their skin get dried out while doing this. The weekly bathing reduces the smelliness, excessive oil, and quickly heals the infections. I just use an all natural gentle shampoo, like castile soap and wash them up real well. I pay extra attention to their legs and bellies, since these seem to be the scabby, infected areas. You can find castile soap at Target, Walmart and in the natural foods section of your grocery store
I really like not having to rely on antibiotics to heal their skin infections. Like the article states, a lot of antibiotics are being overused in pets and people, causing antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. And antibiotics also wreak havoc on the digestive system, leaving room for a systemic yeast infection to take over. Systemic yeast infections are a pain to deal with and they make your dog miserable. However, some skin infections will still require an antibiotic or antifugal treatment. Be sure to consult your vet.
I think weekly bathing is a great idea for those of you with dogs that are extremely itchy and prone to skin infections. If it seems like once a week isn’t enough, you could try twice a week. If your dog’s skin is a bit healthier you could try once every week and a half to two weeks. You’ll find a balance that works best for you pup.
I hope you and your pups are doing well. Take care and I’ll talk to you soon!
Andi
Tags: anti biotic overuse in dogs, bathing dogs with allergies, castile soap for dogs, dogs with skin infections, natural shampoo for dogs, naturally treating your dogs skin infections, shampoo for dogs with allergies
Good for you. With today’s gentle shampoos, you can bathe your pets more often. And for dogs with allergies, this can be a great way to beat the allergens that may accumulate quickly on their hair and skin. As for dry skin, you can beat this with moisturizing sprays, giving your dog essential omega 3 fatty acids, and plenty of vitamin E. Consult your vet.
Hi Andi,
My puppy Bella suffers from allergies as well and seeing as she tends to sneakily find her way into my bed……
I wash her at least a couple of times a week. I just wanted to pass on that I’ve had some great success with her allergies using a natural anti-allergy dog wash I bought from the pet shop. It’s very gentle and has stopped her itching and I can still make sure she’s always very clean.