Grooming And Bathing Your Pet

It is not unusual to see pets who have coat and skin problems related to inadequate bathing. Contrary to popular opinion , dogs and cats are not entirely ‘self-cleaning’ and bathing is perfectly safe to do frequently.

The newest pet shampoos are safe to use every day (if needed). We would normally recommend bathing cats every 1-2 months and dogs every 1-2 weeks, but this can be greatly increased if necessary.

Some of our favorite shampoos are:

• Epi-Soothe Shampoo and Cream Rinse
• Hyliderm Cucumber Melon Shampoo
• Furminator deShedding Shampoo and Conditioner

Epi-Soothe Shampoo

Place a small amount of shampoo on your pet and lather it well. Let the shampoo sit for 10-15 minutes (as long as possible ­their fur needs longer contact with shampoo than people’s hair does) and then rinse well. Repeat again if needed.

There is no such thing as a shampoo that is safe if you get it in your pet’s eyes. All shampoos can cause corneal burns to the front part of the eye. Always keep any shampoo out of your pet’s eyes.

If your pet has a skin condition, always have the pet examined by the doctor.

For special conditions such as seborrhea (excessively dry and flaky or oily skin) we have many other shampoos and topical medications. The doctor can recommend a product that will help your pet’s condition as much as possible. Please do not use medicated shampoos without instructions from the doctor. Shampoos are almost never going to cure a skin condition by themselves.

Use of the incorrect medicated shampoo can make certain conditions worse.
We seldom see fleas, ticks, and lice in Utah. Do not use medicated shampoos, flea collars, etc. for your pet without direct instruction by the doctor

[all can cause drug reactions that are much more common in our area than are the problems they are supposed to treat]. 

For pets who do not tolerate bathing, or for use in between baths, we do carry some dry shampoo products that are sprayed on and rubbed into their fur. We especially like a product named Furminator Waterless Shampoo and Conditioner that helps to de-tangle and moisturize the pet’s fur – it also smells great!

Brushing your pet daily is very important. This will help to keep dead fur from building up and causing problems. Most pets love to be brushed, especially if you make it a fun time. Like all pet interactions, it is usually easier to do if you start when your pet is young.