How often should you bathe your dog?

Have you ever watched your pup lick or chew their coat, or even roll around on the ground? These are your pup’s way of keeping clean, but sometimes a little help goes a long way.

How often should you bathe your dog?

It depends. Unless your dog has skins problems, there is no specific need to bathe a dog except to improve their general smell. The recommended routine for dog’s with normal skin is once a month with dog shampoo or baby shampoo. If you want to bathe your dog more often than once a month, use a soap-free or moisturizing shampoo to prevent the skin from becoming dry.

Special shampoos we sell on our shelves:

 

Bathing steps

1. First, brush down your pet to remove all dead hair and mats.

2. Fill a tub or sink with three to four inches of lukewarm water.

3. Use a spray hose, large pitcher, or unbreakable cup to wet down your pet. Take care not to spray or pour water directly in their ears, eyes, or nose.

4. Massage shampoo gently from head to tail. Rinse and repeat as needed.

5. For a thorough dry, give your pet a good rub with a large towel.

Note: For dogs with loose facial skin or wrinkles, clean the folds with damp cotton and dry thoroughly between the folds. This will prevent dirt and bacteria from causing irritation and infection.

No appointment necessary. Walk-ins welcome!

Don’t have time or the space to bathe your pup? We also offer grooming services (baths, nail trims, ear cleanings, and anal gland expression). No appointment necessary. Walk-ins welcome!

---

Hear From Us Again

Don't forget to subscribe to our email newsletter for more recipes, articles, and clinic updates delivered to your inbox (here). Or, you can keep up to date by liking and following our Facebook page (here). We also have additional helpful articles under our tips category (here).

The life threatening veterinary emergency of urinary obstruction and bladder stones

Urinary obstruction can be a life threatening veterinary emergency. This is especially fatal to male cats, where the inability to urinate leads to a rapid buildup of toxic substances that if left untreated can lead to abnormal heart rhythms and death.

What is urinary obstruction?

Urinary obstructions may occur in cats, dogs, and other species such as ferrets. Although males are commonly affected, it can occur in both males and females. Caused typically by bladder stones that are lodged in the urethra, it prevents the passage of urine. It can also be caused by muscle spasms in the urethra, cystitis, mucous plugs, and even certain cancers.

What are the signs of urinary obstruction?

Signs in both dogs and cats are similar. They will often be straining to urinate only to produce only a few drops or no urinate at all. Many animals will appear to be in pain as they attempt to urinate or may vocalize this pain. In cats, it may also cause extreme lethargy, vomiting, or even collapse. Check the litter box for signs of no urine or just a few discolored drops of urine.

What to do if you suspect urinary obstruction?

Left untreated, especially in male cats, can be deemed particularly life threatening. With appropriate and rapid treatment, most pets can be saved. Because it is difficult for owners to differentiate between a urinary obstruction and the less serious condition of a bladder infection, it is advised that you get your pet to the vet as soon as possible for an examination.

How is urinary obstruction treated?

Initial treatment is done by stabilizing the pet, often through intravenous fluids and pain medications. Once stabilized, then they are sedated and a urinary catheter is placed in the urethra to unblock it. Once achieved, your pet will be treated with the appropriate fluids or other medications that are required depending on your pet’s individual condition. The next step is to review why your pet became blocked in the first place. Is it cystitis and will need medical management? Is it bladder stones that will require surgical removal? From that point on, your vet will devise a tailored treatment pertaining to your pet’s current condition.

---

Hear From Us Again

Don't forget to subscribe to our email newsletter for more recipes, articles, and clinic updates delivered straight to your e-mail inbox.

Related Articles:

Bladder Stones in Dogs

Related Categories:

dog health, cat health

What Does a Skin Scraping Reveal in Dogs?

As you might know from our article on 5 common dog skin diseases, skin problems and constant scratching from itchiness are common disorders found in dogs and other animals. Finding the reason for the problem is important in order to appropriately approaching an effective treatment or cure.

What’s a skin scraping test?

A skin scraping is a collected sample of skin cells that are evaluated under a microscope. Skin scraping tests are typically performed to aid in diagnosing certain skin inflammations, fungal infections, and skin cancer, along with being an effective way of determining the presence of mites.

What does a skin scraping reveal in dogs?

A skin scraping can reveal the presence of abnormal cells in the superficial layers of the skin. It can reveal certain fungi, bacteria, cancer cells, and parasites. Determining the underlying cause of a skin disorder leads to appropriate treatment.

How are skin scrapings done?

With the use of a scalpel blade, a sample of skin cells are collected. The blade is used to gently scrape layers of the skin, usually until a small amount of blood is seen so that cells that are deep in the skin are gathered. This is important because parasites often live deep in the skin. Once the skin cell sample is collected, it is placed on a microscope slide, mixed with oil, and evaluated under a microscope. Results are typically available within 30 minutes, unless a veterinarian may need a second opinion and it is submitted to an outside lab.

Are skin scrapings painful to dogs?

The level of pain varies from one dog to another and is more likely to cause discomfort rather than pain. Neither sedation nor anesthesia is needed in order to perform a skin scraping. Most dogs tolerate this procedure relatively well.

---

Hear From Us Again

Don't forget to subscribe to our email newsletter for more recipes, articles, and clinic updates delivered to your inbox (here). Or, you can keep up to date by liking and following our Facebook page (here). We also have additional helpful articles under our tips category (here).

Bladder Stones in Dogs

Some of the most dramatic X-rays shown to clients are those that reveal the presence of large stones in their dog’s bladder. Until they see the X-rays, many of these folks are a little annoyed at their dog. This isn’t unreasonable, considering the dog often has accidents in the house or needs to go outside on an hourly basis. However, after seeing the X-rays, most owners are shocked that their dog hasn’t been acting even sicker.

What are the Signs of Bladder Stones in Dogs?

Bladder stones start out small but over time can grow in number and/or size. Dogs with bladder stones typically have some or all of the following symptoms:

• Urinary accidents

• Frequent attempts to urinate without producing much urine

• Straining to urinate

• Discolored urine

• Licking around the urinary opening

These clinical signs can be seen with other diseases affecting the urinary tract (infections or tumors, for example), so the diagnosis of bladder stones has to be confirmed with either an X-ray or ultrasound.

How are Bladder Stones Formed and Treated?

Bladder stones are a collection of minerals and other materials. Most bladder stones in dogs are made from struvite, calcium oxalate, urate, or cystine crystals. In many cases, the specific type of crystal involved can be seen in a sample of urine viewed under the microscope.

If struvite is the diagnosis, a veterinarian will treat the underlying cause (e.g., antibiotics for urinary tract infections) and may recommend a therapeutic diet that will dissolve the stones and crystals. Dogs prescribed antibiotics will typically use the drugs while consuming the therapeutic dog food, and possibly longer if needed. Surgery or other procedures like lithotripsy (breaking up the stones with ultrasonic shock waves) will be necessary to get the stones out of the bladder. The therapeutic diet for dissolving struvite stones, however, must be given under a veterinarian’s supervision. This is because they are formulated to make the dog produce more acidic urine than they would otherwise in order to break down the stone. If urinary acidification is taken too far, calcium oxalate stones can be the result.

 
What’s the Best Way to Prevent Bladder Stones in Dogs?

Once the stones are gone, diet plays an important role in preventing their return. Manufacturers have formulated special foods that deter the formation of struvite, calcium oxalate, urate, and cystine crystals. Encouraging water intake is also important since crystals are less likely to form in diluted urine. For this reason, many veterinarians recommend the canned versions of these foods over the dry.

Because diets designed to prevent bladder stones have to be fed over the long term, they must be nutritionally balanced. Your pet’s doctor is in the best position to recommend a nutritionally complete, well-balanced food that will help keep your pet healthy.

---

Hear From Us Again

Don't forget to subscribe to our email newsletter for more recipes, articles, and clinic updates delivered straight to your e-mail inbox.

Related Articles:

The Life Threatening Emergency of Urinary Obstruction (and Bladder Stones) in Pets

Related Categories:

dog health