When can you bathe a Chihuahua puppy for the first time?

Specifics of Chihuahua skin

Cleanliness is the key to health.
Chihuahuas' skin secretes special subcutaneous fats. Thanks to them, the epidermis is protected from the negative effects of the environment. But if you wash your pet too often and use ordinary soap rather than special shampoos, this fat is washed off and irritation occurs on the skin. In particularly advanced cases, even cracks appear, causing a lot of problems for the pet.

On a note! You can make a hypoallergenic shampoo at home by mixing 1 cup of baking soda with 1.5 cups of cornmeal and adding a little essential oil.

On the other hand, if the dog spends a lot of time at home and little time on walks, shedding increases significantly (there is no need for protection from the cold), and this leads to increased production of fatty lubricants. As a result, an unpleasant dog smell appears in the room, and the pet itself may suffer from skin diseases. Therefore, the importance of water procedures cannot be underestimated. And it is advisable to learn how to bathe a Chihuahua before purchasing a pet.

First bath

The dog must be accustomed to water procedures from childhood. Otherwise, she will not like to bathe, and the pet’s appearance will leave much to be desired.

At what age can you start bathing your pet?

Many Chihuahuas love to swim.
First, you need to decide when you can bathe your Chihuahua puppy for the first time. In order for the body to properly adjust to a long and healthy life, it is necessary to wash your pet for the first time at the age of 5-6 months. Moreover, the procedure can be repeated maximum once a month. If you do this more often, the fatty lubricant will be washed away, and the body will produce it in greater quantities, which will lead to seborrhea and alopecia.

Note! A special case is the problem with fleas. In this case, you need to bathe your pet using special shampoos, according to the instructions, until the parasites completely disappear.

If the dog is just dirty, then you should rinse it in the shower without using soap. However, short-haired pets can often be simply wiped with a damp cloth.

Accustoming to cleanliness

Chihuahuas are fairly clean dogs, especially girls. But still, the owner must ensure that the pet is always clean. And here there are a few simple rules:

• Start water procedures from childhood - from about 5-6 months.
• The water should be warm so as not to cause discomfort.
• At the first sign of panic, the dog must be pulled out of the water.
• After water procedures, you should dry your pet well using a hairdryer or soft towel.

With the right approach, the dog will love water treatments, and further questions on the topic of how to wash a Chihuahua at home will simply disappear.

How to wash a puppy

Not every beginner knows which shampoo is best for smooth-haired Chihuahuas. In veterinary stores you can find a huge selection of specialized shampoos. Among them you can find one that is ideal for a short-haired Chihuahua.

But there will probably be a choice - cheap or professional shampoo. The second option is more expensive, but before use it must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10, and the cheap one - in a ratio of 1:3. That is, high-quality shampoo is consumed three times slower. There is no point in comparing quality. Therefore, many experienced breeders, after experimenting, come to the conclusion that professional shampoo is indeed the best solution.

Important! There are special dry shampoos that allow you to keep your pet clean if water treatments are contraindicated.

How to wash a puppy's paws

Every breeder knows how often a puppy has to wash his paws after a walk - at least as often as he went outside. But there are no particular difficulties here. If there is slush and dirt in the yard, then just spray your paws with warm water without soap to clean them, and then wipe them with a soft towel. If it’s winter or summer, then you can even refuse water procedures - you just need to wipe the paws with a damp cloth. This is a quick and comfortable solution.

You need to use only high-quality shampoo

How to choose shampoo for a dog, Yorkie, Chihuahua?

Never use shampoo on human hair for washing. The fact is that the pH in dogs is different from the epidermis in humans. Human shampoo can wash away oil from the surface of the coat and cause dandruff.

The choice of shampoo should also be taken seriously and chosen depending on the type of coat, as well as the problems that your friend has. If the dog lives in the yard, then it makes sense to use antibacterial shampoos that will prevent the occurrence of dandruff, lichen, and fleas.

Puppy

Instructions for choosing shampoo:

• Before purchasing shampoo, you need to figure out for what purposes you need it. There are caring shampoos that simply wash away dirt and improve combing of the coat.
• If your dog needs special care or has some problems, then it is best to give preference to therapeutic treatment. Among hygienic shampoos, the most popular brands are Doctor and Effekt coat. They allow you to achieve a beautiful shine and also improve combability of the coat. However, it is worth understanding that hygiene shampoos cannot cope with infections, as well as some diseases of dogs.
• Therefore, we recommend that if you have fleas, lichen, and ticks, use medicated shampoos with insecticides and antibacterial additives. Quite often, Chlorhexidine, as well as antifungal drugs, are added to shampoos for dogs that need special care.
• They help improve skin condition, reduce dandruff, and also kill pathogens. Chlorhexidine and some other additives are often added to the composition. It is worth noting that special shampoos with insecticides are used against fleas and ticks. They contain relatively safe substances that allow you to get rid of fleas, but will not harm your pet.

Chihuahua bathing rules

To figure out how to bathe a Chihuahua puppy, you should take into account many important nuances - it is not as simple as it might seem at first glance.

How often to bathe a Chihuahua

This can be done quite often - at least as needed. Water itself does not cause the dog the slightest discomfort, since it does not break down or wash away the protective fatty layer from the skin.

But special shampoos should be used much less frequently - no more than 2-3 times a year. Otherwise, as mentioned above, serious skin problems may appear, the treatment of which may take many years. Sometimes these diseases even become chronic.

Number of bathing procedures

After the first bath is successful, dog owners begin to wonder: how often can they wash their Chihuahua?

There are experts who recommend washing your dog no more than once every 3 months, and those who advise bathing every day.

But frequent washing and the use of incorrectly selected care products can harm the animal’s skin and fur.

There is also the possibility of various skin diseases that will cause inconvenience in the dog’s life.

Therefore, when you see dirt on its paws, you shouldn’t immediately organize a bath for your pet.

It is enough to simply rinse the tummy, legs and torso, if necessary, with running water without using shampoo. The optimal number of full-fledged water procedures is about three times a year.

Post-swim care

It is not enough to simply give your pet a bath. After this, he also needs to be provided with appropriate care. And there are several important steps here.

After bathing your pet, you need to wrap it up well.

First of all, be sure to dry your pet. You can use a hair dryer or a thick soft towel. When working with a hairdryer, it is important to set it at low power - a warm flow of air, which is perceived by a person as pleasant, may well burn a pet.

Note! It is better to accustom your dog to a hair dryer from childhood, so that fear does not arise in adulthood.

You need to thoroughly wipe your pet with a towel and you can even leave it wrapped - some people like to sleep in a warm, cozy nest. Of course, you need to exclude drafts - this is a sure way to a cold.

When your dog is washed and dried, you should comb him thoroughly to get rid of any loose hair. For short-haired individuals, it is better to use a glove brush, but for long-haired individuals, it is better to use a comb with fairly long and thick teeth.

Cleanliness primer: how to bathe a Chihuahua

Important points when washing dogs of this breed are their miniature size and thin skin. Thanks to these physiological characteristics, decorative pets are more likely than others to catch colds during water procedures. To ensure that the event brings maximum benefit to your four-legged friend, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the basic rules for its implementation.

Step 1. Preparatory steps

For swimming you will need the following accessories:

• 2 terry towels;
• basin;
• mug;
• sponge;
• rubber mat;
• shampoo;
• air conditioner;
• hairdryer

Before bathing, dilute detergent in water. Economy class shampoo is diluted in a ratio of 1 to 3, professional - 1 to 10.

To protect the dog's ears, cotton swabs are inserted. This prevents water from entering your ears.

Cosmetics for bathing

Step 2. Preparing the bathtub

It is advisable to use a basin or sink. A large tank is not suitable for a small Chihuahua. Before bringing your pet into the bathroom, fill the container with water at a temperature of 38 to 39˚C. The internal temperature of the animal is 38.5°C, so it is not advisable to cool the water below this mark.

To prevent the dog's paws from moving apart, a rubber mat is laid on the bottom.

It is preferable to bathe Chihuahuas with a helper.

Step 3. Bathing your pet

Basic recommendations:

1. Immerse your dog in the basin up to his ankles.
2. Using a mug, wet the wool without pouring water on the head. Moisten the crown with a sponge.
3. Apply pre-diluted shampoo and massage over each area of ​​the body, paying special attention to the stomach and groin. The detergent can be left on the body for a few minutes to achieve a better effect. You should not hold it on your head. This will help prevent liquid from getting into your eyes.
4. Rinse off the solution quickly and thoroughly, leaving no area unattended.
5. By analogy with shampoo, apply the balm and leave it for 5 minutes. It will form a protective layer on the surface of the skin.
6. Rinse the animal thoroughly. Remains of the product can be absorbed by the skin and lead to intoxication of the body.

To prevent your pet from catching a cold, carry out all manipulations as quickly as possible. Talk to your dog gently while bathing, and reward him with his favorite treat at the end of the procedure.

Step 4. Drying the dog

Give your pet the opportunity to shake himself off, remove the cotton swabs from the ears, wrap him in a bath towel and leave in this position for 10 minutes. It is not recommended to rub the wool. When the hair is dry, you can spray the hair with a spray, which is a leave-in conditioner.

Immediately after washing the animal should be wrapped in a towel.

If your dog is shaking a lot after bathing, use a hair dryer on medium power, alternating between warm and cool air. First hold the device turned on next to your pet, giving him the opportunity to get used to it. To add volume to the fur, comb the animal while drying.

Dry the entire length of the coat. Undried hair roots lead to eczema in the warm season and colds in winter.

Dry cleaning

If your pet has an unpleasant odor or its fur is dirty, you should not immediately take it to the bathroom. A regular flannel or felt rag will help in cleaning the hair. The surface of the fabric should be velvety, but without protruding fibers. You also need a soft shoe brush for suede.

The dog is placed on the table and the brush and rag are passed alternately over each part of the body. This shoe cleaning product perfectly massages the skin and removes dead undercoat. The rag collects dirt and loose hairs.

By following these simple instructions, your pet will always look healthy and well-groomed.

Swimming in reservoirs

It is worth mentioning separately such an important part of the life of any dog ​​as swimming in lakes and rivers. In the summer heat, the dog will receive a lot of positive emotions if his beloved owner allows him to swim while going out into nature. But here you should remember a few very important points, for example:

• You should not allow your Chihuahua to swim in places with strong currents - the miniature dog will simply be carried away by the current.
• On hot summer days, it is undesirable to let your pet out into direct sunlight for a long time - thin fur provides little protection from it, and the animal can get serious burns.
• The banks should not be too steep or steep - a tired dog should be able to easily and quickly get to land to regain strength.

You should not leave your Chihuahua unattended, even for a few minutes - such a mistake can cost the dog his life.

On a note! Bitches in heat, as well as dogs with serious skin diseases, should not swim in natural bodies of water due to the risk of contracting an infection. It is also not recommended to allow Chihuahuas to swim in pools with chlorinated water. If it gets into the nose, it causes irritation, and if it gets into the mouth, it can lead to serious poisoning.

Dry cleaning

In some cases, it is simply not possible to properly bathe a pet in order to put it in order. The reasons for this may be different. For example, some dogs that were scared as children are simply hysterically afraid of water. It happens that a dog has to go to an exhibition after a long journey, and there is simply nowhere to take a normal bath. In addition, if the apartment is cold and there are drafts, the dog should not be wetted at all - there is a risk of serious colds.

In any case, dry shampoo will come to the rescue. It is very simple to use - sprinkle the powder over the entire surface of the dog’s body and massage thoroughly so that it penetrates to the roots of the coat. After waiting a few minutes, the shampoo can be removed - the easiest way is to use a brush glove and comb your pet, removing the powder along with the accumulated dirt.

Consequences of errors in bathing

Despite warnings, many breeders make mistakes when bathing their pets. For example, some people wash them too often, which leads to problems that could be easily avoided. There are two types of problems:

1. Constantly washing away the fatty lubricant leads to the skin secreting even more secretions. Because of this, the coat becomes oily, dust quickly sticks to it and, as a result, you have to bathe even more often.
2. If the fatty lubricant is washed away and the skin cannot secrete additional oil, it becomes less elastic and cracks. The result is very painful wounds that are quite difficult to get rid of.

You can’t skimp on shampoo.
Having learned about all the tricks and subtleties associated with proper bathing of a Chihuahua, every breeder will be able to provide their pet with a happy, healthy and long life, as well as maintain its magnificent appearance.

How to wash Chihuahua babies correctly and often

If you decide to get a dog of this breed, you should initially study the many features of raising and caring for a pet. The most important thing that a future owner needs to know first is how to wash a Chihuahua.