Dog Spa Day

Give Your Dog The Ultimate Spa Day

Courtesy of Life's Abundance Blog Post 4/11/2022

 They give us snuggles, keep us busy with walks and playtime, and entertain us with their adorable antics. Our dogs are bright spots in our busy lives, and once in a while, they deserve to be rewarded for their love and loyalty. What better way than with a spa day? Read on to learn how to pamper your pet with a DIY at-home spa day that you can both enjoy. 

Brush It Out

First things first! Before any bathing or pampering, your dog needs a good brushing. Regular brushing helps remove dead hairs, prevents matting, and keeps your pup’s coat healthy and soft. There are a variety of brushes, combs, and tools available to use, and you can choose accordingly based on the length and texture of your dog’s hair. 

Suds It Up 

Whether they love being shampooed or run away from water like it will melt them, every dog feels better after getting a bath. Not only will a good shampoo like our Revitalizing Shampoo get your furry friend nice and clean, it will also leave them smelling delicious, looking silky, and totally tangle-free. 

 After shampooing, it’s a good idea to give your dog’s ears some love. Because let’s be honest; we love our dogs, but sometimes their ears can smell… less than amazing. This is a sign that there may be dirt, debris, or wax building up inside their ears that needs to be removed. Using a safe, gentle product like our Ear Care Formula can keep their ears healthy, clean, and odor free.

Treat Problem Areas

Every dog has their quirks. It’s part of why we love them so much! But they also have their own health and grooming concerns, and it’s our job, as their loving pet parents, to stay on top of any issues and keep them feeling healthy and happy. 

 For dogs prone to skin irritation, for example, a spa day is a great time to implement a regular treatment plan. For many, it’s as easy as using a topical spray, like our Soothing Mist, to soothe and protect their skin and nourish their coat.

Towel Time

When your furry best friend is brushed, cleaned, and thoroughly pampered, it’s time to dry them off. Wrap them up in a soft, fluffy, freshly cleaned towel, and rub some of that water away. Snuggle in and cuddle your squeaky-clean companion. It’ll help them dry off faster and give you both some quality bonding time together. For some dogs, this will be the best part of spa day – getting to spend time snuggled in with you.

Quick Alternative

Sometimes, no matter how much we want to be able to spend a whole, uninterrupted afternoon with our dogs, our schedules just won’t allow it. Life gets in the way. And that’s okay. We get it. If you find yourself short on time, there are still ways to pamper your dog and keep them healthy and clean without eating up your valuable time. 

 

A spray-on formula is a great way to end a spa day, use in between baths, or even use as a substitute for bathing when you’re in a rush. Our Bath Fresh Mist will protect your dog’s coat, absorb and neutralize odors, and keep your canine companion feeling fresh and clean.

 

At the end of the day, a dog spa day is as much about carving out some time to bond with your pup as it is about keeping them healthy and clean. Even if you only have a few minutes, your attention, care, and love will make a difference in your dog’s day and let them know they’re loved and appreciated. After all the joy and laughter they bring into our lives, it’s the least we can do to remind our four-legged friends that we’ve got their (squeaky-clean, shiny) backs. 

If you found this interesting, check out these related stories:

The Secret Ingredient To A Sweet Smelling Pet

All You Need To Know About Bathing Your Pet

All about Bathing your pet

All You Need To Know About Bathing Your Pet

Courtesy of Life's Abundance Post 7/19/21

“You smell like a wet dog” isn’t much of a compliment, is it? While most of us know the rush of warm fuzzies you get from snuggling up close with a clean, fresh pet, most pet owners are also aware of the opposite end of the spectrum: the stinky side.

Perhaps you’ve spent the past year closer than ever to your pet, so you may be more familiar than you’ve ever been with their particular…fragrance, shall we say. Questions about your pet’s skin and coat are some of the most common conversation topics in the vet clinic, so let’s tackle some of the most frequently asked questions about what’s normal, what may need a vet visit, and what are the best things you can do at home to help your pet look and feel their best.

How often should I bathe my pet?

If the thought of struggling to get your dog in the bath on a daily basis gives you hives, here’s the good news: daily bathing is rarely the answer. For a pet with good skin and coat health, a good monthly washing may be all they need in order to clean away accumulated dirt and oil and get them smelling nice. If you have a cat, the answer’s even better: since they groom themselves, healthy cats may not need baths from you at all (everyone cheer).

The actual answer is: wash your pet as often as they need. If your pet gets dirty all the time because they’re constantly getting in the mud, there’s no reason you can’t bathe them more frequently. It’s important to use the right shampoo to avoid over-drying the coat, stripping out oils, or causing flaking. More frequent bathing may also reduce the effectiveness of topical flea and tick products such as Advantage and Frontline.

Pets with medical conditions often require more frequent bathing as part of their treatment. Whether it’s a pet dealing with infection, a pet suffering from conditions like seborrhea (think of it like a form of doggie dandruff), or a pet with allergies who needs to remove environmental allergens from their coat, there are many reasons a pet may require bathing weekly, or even a few times a week. Make sure to follow your vet’s recommendations as to the type of shampoo and how to use it- it may seem like a lot of work, but topical treatments can be very effective and much nicer than needing to rely on a systemic treatment!

What’s the best type of shampoo to use?

If your pet has a medical condition, you may be prescribed a special shampoo. Think of it less as shampoo and more as skin medication. Keep in mind these tend to work very differently than your typical shampoo which is just there to gently clean, so be careful to follow the directions and don’t use it for other pets in the house. Many medicated pet shampoos may not even have any cleanser in them, so if you’re not sure, ask your vet if you need to first use an over the counter shampoo before using the medicated one. Some of the most common medications delivered via shampoo format are:

• antibacterials: chlorhexidine for skin infection
• antifungals: ketoconazole for yeast infection
• antiseborrhea: coal tar, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or sulfur to combat dandruff-like conditions
• anti-mite: lime sulfur dips for topical parasites such as demodectic mange
• anti-itch: oatmeal, hydrocortisone

For everyone else, shampoos designated for pets are your best choice. These shampoos have much less stripping action than human shampoos and are much gentler on the skin, so never use a human shampoo on your pet. If your pet has particularly sensitive skin, you may need to look for one with no fragrance added. For the rest of the crew, look for a gentle formula with conditioning properties like our very own amazing-smelling Revitalizing Shampoo. I’ve sniffed a lot of dog shampoo over the years, and this one takes the cake in the “wow your dog smells delightful” department. If you’ve tried it, you know.

What are signs my pet may need a vet visit?

Regular doggie-smell should resolve with a good cleaning. If they still feel oily or greasy, or still have a strange odor after bathing, make an appointment as this may be a sign of a problem that goes below the surface of the skin. Even smells that aren’t necessarily “bad,” but just strange, can be a sign something’s off (ever heard someone talk about their dog’s Frito feet? Yes, it’s a thing, and often means infection). Any red or raw patches should be evaluated as well, as these can be signs of allergies or infection.

Bathing is a good time to check your pet’s ears as well. While you don’t want to put shampoo and water in their ears, I like to clean my pet’s ears with a dedicated ear cleaner right before their bath. If your pet is prone to ear infection, you may also want to put a cotton ball in their ear before bathing to keep water out (Be gentle if you do this! There’s no need to stuff their ears full of the fluff).

So there you have it! Smelling like a wet dog might not seem like a compliment, but with the proper shampoo there’s no reason it couldn’t be. Here’s to a pleasant, snuggly summer!

If you found this interesting, check out these related stories:

The Secret Ingredient To A Sweet Smelling Pet

Tips For Grooming Your Dog At Home