Bathing a puppy for the first time is one of the sweetest experiences any animal lover can experience. However, it is necessary to consider certain factors before taking the first bath directly related to your health. Especially if your puppy is between 1 and 2 months old, it will be essential to take them all into account.
If your dog is dirty, has fleas or other parasites, or simply wants you to start learning about water as part of your socialization process, it will be critical that you take note of the tips we will then offer and follow them.
Continue reading this Animal Expert article and know when to bathe a puppy for the first time.
Puppies are very fragile living beings, susceptible to any disease that resides in the environment, because their immune system is not yet fully developed. For this reason, your mother’s colostrum (or breast milk) is full of nutrients and antibodies that will help you overcome any disease.
For a month and a half of life and even up to two months of life, a puppy should not be separated from its mother. It ensures its survival and during this time we must offer you tranquility and comfort in an isolated “nest”. It is very important not to bathe the puppy before weeding, otherwise there could be a rejection in the mother that would not identify the smell of the puppy as a family member.
On the other hand, you should also consider the vaccination schedule of the dog before the first bath. Sometimes the dog suffers from a stressful situation during the first bath, which can lead to a bad immune response to the vaccine.
For this reason, veterinarians recommend waiting 1 to 2 weeks after each vaccine. A puppy’s vaccination schedule is as follows:
Once you know when to bathe a puppy for the first time, you should collect the following equipment and bathing conditions:
It is recommended to prepare everything necessary before starting the dog bath. We must foster a warm environment that does not cause thermal shock to the dog. If it’s winter, it’s a good idea to turn on a radiator before starting the bath.
It is important to note that the bathroom is probably one of the most important moments of the dog because it is directly related to socialization, the process in which we present to the dog all kinds of stimuli and experiences. Therefore and for your adult to be a dog that agrees to bathe without problems, we must try to make it a pleasant and positive experience for him.
Start by filling the bucket or tank with warm water. It is important that the height of the water does not cover it too much so as not to feel stress or feeling of drowning. Then it completely wets the puppy avoiding the head. Never wet your eyes and ears. In the meantime, it is recommended to play with water and even add a toy to make the experience better and more fun.
Once the dog is wet, you can apply a puppy shampoo. It is very important that the shampoo is specific to puppies, as they are more delicate with their skin, hydrating it and protecting it properly. Adult dog shampoos are not recommended for puppies.
During bathing, you should use the sponge and rubber comb to reach all corners, so that the shampoo is applied correctly. Once finished, rinse thoroughly and remove the remaining shampoo.
Finally, use one or two towels to completely wrap the puppy. This is very important because the puppy should not be cold. Once the towels absorb the water well, dry your fur with the low-power, low-temperature dryer so that the puppy doesn’t panic or feel uncomfortable. Everything has to be very nice to him.
At the first point, we explain when to bathe a puppy for the first time considering an ideal situation for its development. However, some puppies lose their mothers, are safe or have an accident that soils them. If this is your case, don’t worry, we’ll help you with some tips on it.
The main emphasis on meeting deadlines is to avoid a possible cold, rejection of the mother or the effectiveness of vaccines. However, if we encourage you to a stress-free bath, you don’t have to have a bad reaction. These problems usually occur in puppies suffering from malnutrition, poor hygiene, extreme temperatures, etc.
If your puppy has suffered a flea, tick infestation or thinks it has internal parasites, it will be very important to consult the veterinarian as soon as possible.
Puppies are likely to get sick very quickly and parasites can carry various diseases, for this reason, a professional evaluation is recommended.
It is important to understand that there is no pest control for puppies. Chemical compounds can have a very adverse reaction to them, such as vomiting, allergies, diarrhea and severe breathing problems. Never use pest control with your puppy.
If you can not consult your veterinarian immediately it will be essential to act and make your puppy bathe, in the same way that we explained in the previous point. However, in this case, you should use a child lice comb and continue until your puppy is free of parasites. Check the underarm, groin, ear, and all those warm, low-exposure areas of the puppy. Remember that you will have to kill all the parasites to stop infecting the puppy. Spend as much time as necessary in this process.
On the other hand, internal parasites are treatable. Consult the veterinarian to suggest an antiparasitic pill for puppies, specific to these delicate animals.
In this case, we recommend that you evaluate whether it is really necessary to bathe it completely. For example, if the dog has got dirty in a specific area, you can use wet wipes and rub the dirty area. There are also puppy-specific dry shampoos.
However, if your puppy is very dirty and smells bad, it will be essential to bathe him. Try to make the process as good as possible and observe your behavior after the shower to make sure everything is well and healthy.
After bathing the puppy for the first time, you can start bathing it regularly as long as it is dirty or smells bad. However, the ideal time to swim is between 20 and 60 days. This is because dogs have a layer of fat that protects their skin. If you abuse the bathroom, you will destroy your protective layer.
To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to use a moisturizing shampoo for puppies that will protect your skin from normal contact with water, thus preventing it from drying.
Keep in mind that regular brushing helps remove hair and dirt and should be one of the main hygiene habits of the dog.
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