Bathing dogs

How Often Should I Wash my Dog?

Max. D Gray
By Max. D Gray. Updated: January 16, 2017
How Often Should I Wash my Dog?

Our pets occupy a very important place in our family, so we always want them to be happy and healthy. And there is no doubt that hygiene is an important aspect for us, especially when the aim is to reduce the odour that hair can generate. However, dogs cannot be washed every day or very regularly, so it is important to be clear on how often you should wash your dog so that you don't damage its skin or fur. Listen up, because OneHowTo.com will explain it in detail.

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Steps to follow:
1

One of the most important aspects to consider to ensure the health of our dog is proper hair care, and this includes NOT washing them frequently. Dog hair has oils that help maintain the health of their skin, and if you wash them frequently this could disappear, putting your pet at increased risk of various skin diseases.

2

For long-haired dogs, which are those that usually tend to have a stronger odor, brushing its fur is essential, as this not only improves blood circulation in the area ensuring a brighter and healthier coat, but it also helps greatly reduce odor. In our article how to brush my dog's hair you'll learn the proper way to do so.

How Often Should I Wash my Dog? - Step 2
3

But how often can I wash my dog without damaging the health of its hair? Everything will depend on the length of their coat, a fundamental aspect that determines how often you do it. Also worth bearing in mind is the daily physical activity performed by the animal, i.e. whether or not it is sedentary, and the time of year, because in the hot months the animal will sweat more.

Thus, the general recommendation is:

  • Long-haired breeds: wash every 4 weeks.
  • Middling breeds: wash between 4 and 6 weeks.
  • Short-haired breeds: wash between 6 and 8 weeks.
How Often Should I Wash my Dog? - Step 3
4

Long-haired dogs like the Golder Retriever, Afghan, Border Collie or Maltese should be washed more often than breeds with medium or short hair, especially if the animal is exercised and walked every day.

5

The recommendation is to respect washing needs of each breed, only then will we ensure that its coat is healthy. However there are situations where it is advisable to wash the dog ahead of schedule, for example:

  • If the animal's fur is stained significantly by substances like mud.
  • If the animal is covered with some kind of grease, oil, bitumen, etc.
  • If any toxic substance that may affect its health gets onto their fur.
  • If their temperature rises dramatically and the dog is overheated.
6

If, despite brushing your dog frequently and washing them appropriately, the animal's fur smells really bad, we recommend consulting a veterinarian. Some diseases and skin conditions can cause bad odour, so it is best to have a specialist check your dog.

If you want to read similar articles to How Often Should I Wash my Dog?, we recommend you visit our Pets category.

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