Two of the essential
principles of pet ownership are to always apply common sense to any
situation and to observe for cause and effect relationships. By
utilizing this advice your stress level will be lower, your pet will be
healthier and happier and your veterinary bills will be dramatically less.
For example, let us examine
the issue of how often to bathe your dog. Very often I see clients who
have been told by well meaning advisors that to subject their pet to any
more than one or two baths a year would be harmful to the well being of the
dogs skin and coat. When asked if they thought that the advice was
correct most would reply that they had wondered about it but yet ignored
their gut feelings and lived with their unwashed and odiferous companions.
In order to gently point out
the error of their ways, I would ask about their own shampooing patterns.
Most people would admit to washing their own hair several times a week.
Why did they feel that to wash their dog even once per week would have a
dire consequence??
Forty years ago the shampoos
that were available for pets were essentially detergents that stripped the
skin of dirt (which was good) as well as all the oils that were important
for a healthy coat. Hence, the myth began that to bath a dog would
lead to a dry coat. Over the years, the formulations of the shampoos
changed and conditioning agents were added to the detergents thus allowing
the skin to be cleaned without damaging the precious oils.
I tell my clients that ninety
percent of the dogs could be bathed every day with ninety percent of the
shampoos on the market without any problems, although I routinely recommend
bathing every one to two weeks. But, here is where the cause and
effect principle comes into play.
Bathing may not cure a skin
problem but it should never make it worse. However, there may be times
where a particular shampoo may cause a reaction particular to that
individual. If you are observant enough to notice redness, flakiness
or increased itching after a bath, don't condemn the institution of bathing,
just use a different shampoo.
Specific skin conditions often
require specialized medicated shampoo. Consult with your local
veterinarian for the professional advice, which will benefit your pet.
