Collect Questions

hmmm - not impressed.

Took Takara back to the vets to check up on her bacterial rashes - well all that's fine.

but the vet said to me 'have you given her a bath' I told her I had and she said 'hmm - she's greasy again isn't she.'

Erm NO! She only had a bath last night!

I was stroking her all over trying to work out how she was greasy

The vet said she just has a greasy coat and she should mature out of it. But to wash her more regularly for now.

What? more than once a week?? In my opinion to bath her once a week is too much for most dogs...

To be honest, I'm not sure what the vet's on - I can't feel any grease in her coat even where she's had bitter bite on the scab on her back. She doesn't seem impressed that I wanted to keep T's nails as short as possible (for showing) and I'm not sure if she was just picking faults.

Is it really ok to bath a dog every other day? She's very good but I know it can do their coat more harm than good - would a plain shower with no shampoo be better? Surely that wouldn't get rid of grease...

Or should I just ignore her and go on as I was? I don't think she particularly specialises in dogs and will request the other vet specifically next time (he's a lot better).




I used to give Kali a bath every week when he had been at the trainer (the training ground was a very muddy field), simply because he was covered in mud and cow-poo (most Orkney farm BCs look like this, though!), and he smelled bad.

Otherwise, I understand that once a week is a bit too often, because it removes all the natural oils from the coat. These oils transfer vitamins through the skin to the hair, and are meant to be there. Overdo the washing and the coat will get too dry and brittle

Snorri





I would not presume to go against a vets advice but will just say a dogs coat contains natural oils that give a degree of waterproofing. Washing to frequently will remove the natural oils and can lead to skin problems. If you feel the coat is greasy stretch a clean piece of gauze or similar wide weave cotton cloth across a brush and brush the coat, this will remove excess greasiness without drying the coat and skin.




I don't want to go against a professional either, but my dogs only get a bath once a year unless they have "rolled" in something pungent. They are "street" walked, in the main, and are bushed every other day, and no, the don't smell




My Boys get far less washing nowadays - once, maybe twice a year, depending on whether or not I can muster the energy to get them into the bath! They get most of theior "organised" exercise on the local beach, and the sand and seawater keep the majority of the muck off them. The trips depend on wind and tide - the beach can be dangerous for dogs in bad weather, because of the undertow and occasional floating debris

One afternoon, it was a bit stormy, and a big wave hurled a dead seal at them; it must have been ten times bigger than either BC!

Never underestimate wavepower!

Snorri





Thanks guys

And thanks for the tip Mini.

To be honest - I don't think she's greasy at all! Not at the moment anyhow!

Whoa! A dead seal! Not good!

So I just carry on washing any muck from the park with just water in the shower and give her a bath when i feel it's necessary?

And I will try the tip thanks Mini!




i would take no notice of the vet,you bath her as often as you feel necessary each to their own i say!my dogs get bathed about 1 a week and i only use baby shampoo(no more tears)this way their coat isn't stripped of the oils and i can wash their head and not panic about shampoo going in their eyes




I have 6 American Cockers, 3 of which are in full show coat, and they are bathed every week. I defy anybody to say their coats are anything but in tip top condition. Bathing does not destroy a coat. My dogs coats are six inches long, so anyone with a dog that has a coat of 1/2 to 3/4 inch long has nothing to worry about.

Dawn R.




I don`t wash my lot either can`t remember the last time I shampooed them A good comb/brush thru every couple days or so keeps them just fine