Content
- The right time for the first bath
- How to Bathe a Puppy for the First Time
- Antiparasitic or emergency baths
- What to do if the puppy has fleas or other parasites?
- What to do if the puppy has gotten dirty?
- Puppy bath frequency
Bathing a puppy for the first time is one of the sweetest experiences any animal lover can have. However, there are some factors that should be taken into account before taking the first bath that are 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 puppy is dirty, has fleas or other parasites or simply wants to get to know water as part of his socialization process, it will be essential that he take note of the advice we are going to offer him below and follow them.
Continue reading this PeritoAnimal article and find out when to bathe a puppy for the first time.
The right time for the first bath
Puppies are living things very fragile, susceptible to suffering from any illness that resides in the environment, as their immune system is not yet fully developed. For this reason, the colostrum (or breast milk) that your mother gives you is full of nutrients and antibodies that will help you to overcome any illness.
Up to a month and a half of life and even up to two months of life, a puppy must not separate from its mother under any circumstances. It ensures your survival and during this time we must provide you with tranquility and comfort in an isolated "nest". It's very important ndo not bathe the puppy before weaning, otherwise there could be a rejection in the mother that would not identify the puppy's scent as familiar.
On the other hand, you should also take into account the puppy's vaccination schedule before the first bath. Sometimes, the dog suffers from a stressful situation when performing the first bath, which can generate a bad immune response to the vaccine.
For this reason, veterinarians recommend wait 1 or 2 weeks after each vaccine. A puppy's vaccination schedule is as follows:
- 6 weeks - First vaccination
- 8 weeks - Multipurpose
- 12 weeks - Multipurpose
- 16 weeks - rabies
- Annually - Reinforcements
How to Bathe a Puppy for the First Time
Once you are clear when to bathe a puppy for the first time, you should have the following bathing materials and conditions:
- warm ambient temperature
- Positive and relaxed environment
- Specific shampoo for puppies
- Sponge
- Rubber dog comb (soft)
- a bucket of warm water
- towels and dryer
It is recommended to prepare everything that is needed before starting the dog's bath. We must foster a warm environment that does not cause a thermal shock on the dog. If it's winter, it's a good idea to turn on a heater before starting the shower.
It is important to emphasize that bathing is likely to be one of the most important moments of the dog, as it is directly related to socialization, the process in which we present all kinds of stimuli and experiences to the dog. For this reason, and so that in its adult stage it is a dog that accepts bathing without problems, we have to try to make it a pleasant and positive experience for him.
Start by filling the bucket or bathtub with warm water. It is important that the height of the water does not cover you too much so that you do not feel stress or a feeling of drowning. Then wet the puppy completely, avoiding the head. Never get your eyes and ears wet. During this time 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 the shampoo for puppies. It is very important that the shampoo is specific for puppies, as they are more gentle with their skin, moisturizing and protecting it correctly. Shampoos for adult dogs are not recommended for puppies.
During the bath, use a sponge and a rubber comb to reach all corners, so that the shampoo is applied correctly. When finished, rinse thoroughly and remove all shampoo remains.
Finally, use one or two towels to fully enclose the puppy. This point is very important because the puppy shouldn't be cold. Once the towels absorb the water well, dry their fur with the blow dryer on low power and low heat so the puppy doesn't get scared or uncomfortable. Everything must continue to be very pleasant for him.
Antiparasitic or emergency baths
In the first point we explain when to bathe a puppy for the first time taking into account an ideal situation for its development. However, some puppies lose their mothers, they are welcomed in refuges or they have an accident that leaves them dirty. If this is the case for you, don't worry as we will help you with some advice on this.
The main insistence on respecting the times is to avoid a possible cold, rejection by the mother or the effectiveness of vaccines. However, if we promote a stress-free bath we don't have to suffer from a bad reaction. These problems usually occur in puppies that suffer from malnutrition, deplorable hygienic situations, extreme temperatures, etc.
What to do if the puppy has fleas or other parasites?
If your puppy has suffered from an infestation of fleas, ticks or believes he may be suffering from internal parasites, it will be very important. consult the veterinarian as soon as possible.
Puppies are susceptible to getting sick very quickly and parasites can be carriers of various diseases, for this reason it is highly recommended an evaluation by a professional.
It is important to understand that there are no antiparasitic treatments for puppies. Chemical compounds can have a very adverse reaction to them like vomiting, allergies, diarrhea and severe breathing problems. Never use an antiparasitic with your puppy.
If you cannot consult your veterinarian right away, it will be essential to act and give your puppy a bath, as we explained in the previous point. However, in this case you must use a anti-lice comb for children and keep going until your puppy is free of parasites. Check the puppy's underarms, groin, ears and all those hot, unexposed areas well. Don't forget that you will have to kill all parasites not to re-infect the puppy. Spend as much time as you need on this process.
On the other hand, internal parasites are treatable. Consult the veterinarian so that he can offer you a pill to deworm puppies, specific for these very delicate animals.
What to do if the puppy has gotten dirty?
In this case, we recommend that you assess whether it is really necessary to bathe him completely. For example, if the dog got dirty in a concrete area, it can use wet wipes and rub in the dirty area. There are also specific dry shampoos for puppies.
However, if your puppy is really 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 showering to make sure everything is fine and healthy.
Puppy bath frequency
After bathing your puppy for the first time, you can start bathing him regularly whenever he is dirty or smells bad. However, the ideal time for bathing is round. between 20 and 60 days. This is because puppies have a layer of fat that protects their skin. If you abuse the bath you will be destroying your protective layer.
To prevent this from happening, we recommend using a moisturizing puppies shampoo, which protects your skin well from regular contact with water, thus preventing it from drying out.
Don't forget that regular brushing helps to eliminate death and dirt and should be one of your dog's main hygienic routines.
