Pet themes 2010
Bath time!
If you have ever had the pleasure of your dog rolling in a dead fish, you will know how urgent it can be to run man's best friend a nice, warm bath and shampoo them up properly. Or do you want to indulge your pet in a bath to make their coat smell nice and look fluffy again? Not a problem, as long as Rover is used to getting washed! Cats, on the other hand, shouldn’t be bathed regularly. The only exceptions are Persians, as this makes their coats easier to care for. But sometimes, even shorthaired cats need a bath if they become so dirty that they can't clean their coats themselves – Even though these water-shy tigers usually don't appreciate your intervening!
Whether a dog or cat, don't just plonk them in the bath – get them ready for bath time. Stroke your pet and praise them when they sit or stand in the bath. You can also give them a treat. It is important that they have a non-slip base so that they don't hurt themselves if they suddenly turn around. Make sure that the water is body temperature and isn't any higher than your furry friend's chest. Then, take a soft washcloth and use it carefully and lovingly on their coat. Don’t forget to praise them and give them a treat! Once their hair is damp, massage in the shampoo. Only use a special pet shampoo, never your own! Foam this up lightly and then rinse their coat thoroughly, until the water runs clear. Your pet can get out of the bath now. Keep a warm hand towel ready to gently rub your cat or dog dry, not too hard of course. Practice massaging movements – animals love this. Your four-legged friend must be completely dry before they are allowed outside again. Many dogs let themselves be gently dried with a hair dryer; cats on the other hand are often scared by this loud bathroom utensil. If your pet doesn’t let you dry them with a hair dryer, they should at least stay indoors where it is warm until they are dry; otherwise they risk catching a cold.
Small animals and baths often don’t mix. Never wash hamsters or chinchillas – both rodents become sick and can even die if their skin gets wet! Instead, provide chinchillas with a daily sand bath. Special chinchilla sand keeps their coat clean and smelling as fresh as a daisy. Guinea pigs don’t like water either and a bath is pure stress for them. Rabbits also tend to be water-shy. If your guinea pig or rabbit gets diarrhoea and needs a bit of cleaning up, use a cloth moistened with lukewarm water. Keep the bath to yourself!
