Do you know how to safely bathe your paralyzed dog? It’s trickier than you think when your dog can’t stand or feel the temperature of the water beneath them. To help, we put together a video that explains the step-by-step techniques for a safe bath time routine.
Even if you take your fur kid to a groomer, a disabled dog is likely to have an accident between appointments. And that requires immediate attention.
Why frequent baths are part of life
Paraplegic dogs are typically incontinent. That means they don’t know when their body needs to urinate or defecate. They’re prone to having accidents that can leave them soaked.
And they’re apt to spill food and water on themselves because they can’t control the movement of their bodies. Some of these messes are minor and can quickly be fixed with baby wipes or a towel. But other times you’ll find a more thorough cleaning is necessary.
Paraplegic dogs also need frequent baths because their coat and paws get dirty from scooting around on the ground. And their skin needs gentle cleaning to prevent urinary tract infections and urine scald.
Most specially-abled dogs adjust well to a new bathing schedule, especially if you make the time fun and never scold them for having an accident.
Here’s our video about How to Safely Bathe Your Paralyzed Dog
Products to have on hand:
- Baby wipes
- Dry shampoo
- Fluffy towels
- Dog shampoo
- Moisturizing conditioner
- Barrier Cream – no zinc oxide
- Baby powder
- Wash tub
- Handheld Bathtub Sprayer
This post is part of a longer story with tips from other pet owners: Click here to read – How To Properly Bathe A Paralyzed Dog.
LFPD on YouTube
You can find more videos about life with a paralyzed dog and information for their care on our YouTube page: You’ll find them here on the Lessons From A Paralyzed Dog channel. There are more than 25 videos with topics that include topics like: Dog Massage, Water Therapy, Early Signs of Degenerative Myelopathy, How to Express Your Dog’s Bladder and Rehab Exercises You Can Do At Home.
Nice video. However, my issue is getting my 70 lb dog in and out of the tub. There isn’t any way for me to do it without hurting him and/or me, so he doesn’t get baths any more..
Martha, I don’t know why I didn’t mention this in the video, but a walk-in shower works well too. Sophie was too big for me to lift into a tub so we used our shower. She laid on the floor of the shower while I washed her. What are you doing?