Bathing a pet is a concern that many pet owners struggle with during the colder seasons. Naturally, we all think: how often to bathe a dog in winter? it’s cold! Why put our dogs through getting wet while all we can think of is donning our flannel pjs and hibernating under our bed covers (with our pets, of course.)

But it’s really not like that. The consequences of infrequent bathing can lead to a buildup of dead skin cells, dirt, and other environmental irritants that can dry your dog’s skin and possibly cause more serious medical issues down the road. So, when considering how often to bathe a dog in winter, we need to keep up with our pets’ regular grooming regimen, regardless of the time of the year.

The good news is that modern groomers should be able to provide an environmentally controlled space that should make the outdoor temperature a non-issue. Even if it’s snowing outside, your pet professional should be able to provide a warm salon where a pet can be bathed and dried safely and comfortably.

If you are bathing your own pet at home, the comfort of bathing your pet will be pretty much the same as yours during the winter months. Nice warm bath, warm towel dry, and a brush and blow-out in the comfort of our own homes. Therefore, it’s essential to understand how often to bathe a dog in winter for their wellbeing.

So, now that we know that we do not change the *frequency* of bathing our pets during the winter months, let’s review some of the considerations when bathing your pets in winter.

Use slightly warm water to bathe, not hot

·         Even during the winter months, dogs have an internal temperature that is substantially higher than in humans (100-102.5F compared to our 98.6F), so using the same heat tolerance that works for us humans does not work the same way for our canine friends. Keep it tepid to warm, never hot. That’s a crucial tip in learning how often to bathe a dog in winter.

Bathing Dogs During Winter: Ensure a Temperature-Controlled Environment

·         Whether you are a professional groomer or bathing your own pets, we should always create a comfortable environment so that the grooming process is a positive one. Keep the ambient temperature at a comfortable level, cuddle the pet in as many towels as needed, and make sure to blow dry and brush your coated pets…which is a great segue to the next point:

How to Bathe Dogs in Winter: Do Not Leave Your Pet Damp

·         It is critical to dry your pet as much as possible, especially around the body. Towel drying is a very big help, but for coated dogs, it is imperative that the coat is dried thoroughly, and…

Make sure to brush and comb coated dogs during and after the drying phase

·         Bathing a coated dog without properly drying and brushing out their coats can actually tighten the coat and cause more serious issues, such as matting, mildew, sores and discomfort. Make sure you make enough time to not only bathe your pet, but to finish their grooming, meaning at least brushing and combing through their coats to avoid creating future problems. This is yet another reason to be mindful of how often to bathe a dog in winter.

Don’t skip the Conditioner

·         Many groomers (including yours truly, for many years) may not yet grasp the importance of conditioner for not only the benefits for the coat, but the benefits conditioner has for the skin. Here’s the deal: conditioner is crucial for rebuilding damaged hair shafts and for reducing static electricity (that leads to matting), it is also slightly more acidic than shampoo, which is a benefit for skin health. But during the colder months, when humidity drops and we all turn on our drying heaters, conditioning our pets is a no-brainer. Considering how often to bathe a dog in winter, if you shampoo, you should condition to keep that coat healthy and moisturized.

There you have it – some tips on why it’s a great (and important) idea to keep your pet’s bathing regimen the same all year round, even during the colder months. Sure, we may need to adjust a few things, ramp up on fuzzy towels and quality conditioner, but hey, our pups are worth it.

#petgroomingpost