Can I give my pitbull a bath once a week

How Often Should I Bathe a Pitbull? + How to Bath & Shower

Pitbulls can occasionally develop skin conditions like dryness and various other skin allergies. This can be made worse by bathing as things like scented shampoos can act as an irritant, and frequent washes that serve to strip their skin of its natural oils.

With that in mind, how often is too often when it comes to bathing your Pitbull? I spoke to our vet about this to get a professional opinion, and heres what he said about washing regularity and how often Pitbulls need a bath.

How often should you bathe a Pitbull? You should only bathe a Pitbull every 2 to 6 months in order to maintain a balance between their skin health and hygiene. However, the reality is this probably isnt practical, as Pitbulls love to run in mud and get dirty so will need more regular baths and showers.

If youre a dog owner, you know that bathing any dog every couple of months is almost impossible, especially if you live in a wetter climate where mud is common.

So, in practical terms, if your Pitbull gets his coat muddy, and he starts to stink, you need to give them a bath outside of the regular bathing schedule.

There are a few things you ought to know in order for their grooming and bathing regime to be happy, healthy and effective.

How to bathe your Pitbull in 5 simple steps

Most Pitbulls can be bathed in a standard bathtub with a shower, but if you have a small Pitbull puppy, you can bathe them in a sink with a sink sprayer.

I would not bother filling up the tub. I would instead recommend you use the shower or sink sprayer, but if you want to fill up the tub, I would advise only filling it insofar as your dogs ankles. This means they can still have their feet touching the floor and theyre paddling, not swimming.

This is especially important if your Pitbull is young, anxious or not a very confident around water.

1. Gently wet your Pitbulls coat

The first step is to gently wet your dogs fur with the shower orsink sprayer. When doing this, you need to keep an eye on two things: the waters heat and intensity.

The water should be lukewarm: not too hot and not too cold, and if youre using the shower, you dont want to scare them off with the jets! I would only turn on the shower/sink sprayer halfway, so what you have is a gentle trickle rather than an intense spray.

It is incredibly important to get the temperature and the consistency of the water right, because not only do you risk harming your Pitbull with burns, but you also risk scaring them and making them associate baths with unpleasant memories, feelings and sensations (like this) making it incredibly difficult for you to give them baths in the future expect a case of the Pitbull zoomies once they get out.

2. Use a specialist dog shampoo

Then, get a gentle, soap-free dog shampoo and use your fingers to lather and work the shampoo into the coat.

As mentioned, your Pitbull might have extra sensitive skin, which is why a soap-free shampoo is the best option.

What is the best shampoo for a Pitbull smell?

If youre wondering which shampoo Pitbull owners most often recommend, particularly to help get rid of the smell, its Wahls 4-in-1 doggy shampoo and conditioner on Amazon. You dont need to buy a separate conditioner. It also helps to moisturise their skin, and smells great too.

3. Rinse the shampoo away

Rinse the shampoo out and repeat the process as many times as necessary to get all of the dirt out.

4. Use a specialist dog conditioner

Once youre done with shampooing, get your conditioner specially formulated for dogs (scent-free again to avoid skin issues and allergic reactions for your Pitbull) and apply it evenly to the coat, brushing it through with a wide-tooth comb.

Give the conditioner no more than two minutes to set and then rinse again thoroughly.

5. Dry your Pitbull thoroughly

To avoid that nasty wet dog smell, you need to dry your Pitbull completely. Dry your dog with either a towel or a hairdryer on the lowest setting. Without a proper dry, your dog might smell worse than it did before the bath.

Additional Pitbull bathing and washing tips

Now you know how to bathe a Pitbull, I wanted to get into a little bit more detail about how you wash some specific parts of their body in the bath or shower.

Cleaning a Pitbulls face

When youre bathing your Pitbull, it is important to take steps to ensure they dont get any water or shampoo in their eyes. The dog friendly shampoos are designed not to sting, but I dont think its entirely comfortable.

One way of doing this is by applying protective ophthalmic ointment to your dogs face before bath time.

To clean your Pitbulls face, use a flannel soaked with lukewarm water (no soap!) and gently wipe every nook and cranny of the face. This includes the outside ear flaps and the corners of the eyes to get rid of any stubborn tear stains.

I would do this instead of pouring water on their face not many dogs like this!

Cleaning a Pitbulls ears

Pitbull ears can get a lot of dirt in them, which unfortunately makes them more prone to infections. To avoid this, a Pitbulls ears should be cleaned weekly.

Specially made dog ear-cleaning solution contains ingredients that helps to break down and remove wax, as well as anti-bacterial agents that soothes inflammation and prevents infection.

You should apply this solution to a damp cotton ball and gentle wipe the inside of the ear (use a different cotton ball for each ear in order to prevent spreading infection) and check for any injuries, infection, inflammation or scrapes.

If you notice something unusual, apply antibiotic ointment and go to your vet in order to seek further advice.

Taking care of your Pitbulls toenails

If your Pitbulls nails get in the way of their movement, this is a good time to get them cut. You can either do them yourself or take them to a vet or a groomer if you dont feel confident.

It is important to be careful when you are cutting your Pitbulls nails, as inside each nail is what is called the quick which is extremely sensitive pink flesh that holds the blood vessels and the nerves that go into the nails.

If you cut into the quick, this will cause bleeding and extreme pain for your dog. It will also make it incredibly difficult to cut their nails in the future.

To cut your Pitbulls nails, use a sterile pair of scissors to avoid infection and gently trim the very ends of the nails off this might take longer, but it is better to cut off too little than too much.

After cutting the nails, give your Pitbull a treat so that they have positive associations with the experience.

Handy Hint: Heres my guide to keeping your Pitbull happy and warm in winter.

Caring for a Pitbulls coat

Pitbulls have what is called a single coat. AsPitbulls have relatively short-hair, their coat is reasonably easy to take care of and clean.

• Brushing: Brush out dirt, prevent shedding and distribute natural oils throughout your Pitbull by brushing them at least once a week with a bristle brush, a hound grooming glove or or a finer brush if you want to remove excess dirt or hair. Brush your Pitbull more frequently up to three times a week during shedding season.
• Trimming: If you choose to trim excess hair, it is advisable to lightly trim them with electric clippers. You should also pay attention to any fur around the feet or on the pads of the feet that you might want to trim for tidiness.
• Freshening up: To keep your Pitbull clean between baths, doggy dry shampoo is quick and easy to use you just need to sprinkle it on your dog and then distribute it with a brush. You can also use a spray-on dog conditioner in order to keep the coat looking shiny.

Conclusion

Although you should always keep in mind the allergies and skin issues that come with owning a Pitbull, bathing them can be a rewarding bonding experience that helps to keep them squeaky clean, happy, and free from infection!

With any dog, it is important to strike that balance between not enough grooming and too-much grooming. Whilst it is important to ensure your dog is clean, tidy and healthy, over-bathing can cause its own issues, making it ultimately more counterproductive.

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Here are some more guides to help you care for your Pitbull.

Image in header via https://unsplash.com/photos/cjWmmMUCRhY

How Often Should I Bathe My Pitbull? Vet Approved Advice

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Learn more

You want your Pitbull to stay clean and fresh and fortunately, thanks to their short coat and natural oils that protect the skin, this breed doesnt need to be bathed very often. They may need washing as regularly as once per month or as rarely as once every 6 months.

Read on below for more tips on bathing your Pitbull.

Can I Bathe My Pitbull Every Week?

Unless absolutely necessary, you shouldnt bathe your Pitbull more often than once a month. More frequently than this can disrupt the natural oils and follicles, and lead to skin problems. However, if your pittie spends a lot of time in the mud or sand, its absolutely fine to give them a rinse with plain water when you come home, but always make sure you dry them afterwards, particularly between the toes or in any skin folds where moisture might get trapped.

How to Keep Your Pitbull Smelling Sweet

If you put these tips into practice, you can solve your dogs odor problems and keep your Pitbull smelling sweet without needing to bathe them too often.

Brush Them Daily

Having a short coat means that your Pitbulls coat wont need any detangling, but brushing them with a soft bristled brush can help remove dead skin cells and loose hair, stimulate natural oils and remove any dirt.

Feed a High-Quality Diet

One of the factors influencing your dogs smell is their diet. Foods that contain good quality ingredients and have high levels of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids will maximize skin and coat health, and minimize odors.

Wash Their Bedding Regularly

You may want to wash your dogs bedding often to prevent odor, no matter where they sleep. An unclean bed may get contaminated with fur, dirt, germs, environmental debris, dust mites, skin cells, and even parasites. So instead of washing your dog every week, wash their bedding instead.

Remember to Clean Your Dogs Teeth

Another way to prevent an unpleasant dog odor is to brush your dogs teeth. This will help prevent gum disease and gingivitis and will help prevent the formation of tartar and plaque. Use dog-specific toothpaste and water to brush their teethhuman toothpaste can be dangerous to dogs.

Veterinary Examination

Sometimes a dogs unpleasant smell can be brought on by a medical issue that needs to be treated. Therefore, its a good idea to take them to a vet for a thorough examination if they are really smelly.

Your vet will probably be able to explain the cause of the unpleasant dog odor you are experiencing, do additional tests, and, if required, offer advice, therapy, or medication. Early identification and treatment are essential for a long and healthy life together.

Supplies to Bathe Your Pitbull

Put on relaxed, casual clothing that you dont mind getting muddy or wet when preparing to bathe your dog; it is inevitable that your dog wont be the only one getting wet! After that, assemble all the tools and materials you need. Remember to keep them close enough to reach. Doing it now is far better than attempting to find lost stuff while your dog is splashing water all over you!

Youre going to need an absorbent towel, plus one extra for your pet to stand on after the bath while theyre still wet, and a gentle dog shampoo (ask your vet what brand is best for your canine) and conditioner. Products designed for humans are the wrong pH for dogs, and will likely leave their skin irritated. You must avoid getting shampoo in the eyes and ears stuffing your dogs ears with some clean cotton wool is a neat way to prevent too much water going into their canals, just remember to take it out when youre done!

When youve finished bathing, ensure you thoroughly dry them all over. Failure to do so may result in hot spots, dermatitis, and yeast infections.

Some dogs love a bath, others absolutely hate it! The best way to have a compliant Pitbull at bath time is to start when they are young, making bathtime a happy and treat-filled experience.

Conclusion

Regular bathing is an important component of Pitbull care, but we shouldnt overdo it. Rinsing off after a walk is okay, but you shouldnt do a full shampoo more frequently than one a month, unless under the guidance of your vet. If your Pitbull pal is still smelly, talk to your vet, as there are a number of health conditions that can lead to chronically stinky skin.

In short, you should bathe your Pitbull no more than once a month or at least about every 6 months, and always make sure you dry them thoroughly.

Featured Image Credit: Vershinin89, Shutterstock