How often to bathe my dog who smells, is itchy, and rolls in dirt?

Hi there and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is true that over bathing may cause dryness and can be irritating to the skin. However, sometimes dogs with skin allergies and bathed very frequently and it actually helps them. So you may need to monitor Bear and see if frequent bathing causes any dryness or redness to his skin. There are several products on the market that are more like dry shampoo or mousse that you could brush through Bear's coat to eliminate some of the dirt and odor. If necessary you can also bathe Bear every one to two weeks, but please do it less frequently if you notice any dryness or redness of the skin related to bathing.

I would advise trying an oatmeal bath to calm his skin, or perhaps a soothing gentle baby shampoo. Then try not to bathe him very frequently. Baths generally should be done infrequently as they remove the natural oils In a dogs skin which keep it healthy. Here are a few more tips for healthy skin and coats: Healthy premium dog food Fish oil supplements Infrequent bathing Flea prevention Here are some excellent resources to help as well; https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-ways-to-improve-your-dog-s-skin-coat/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-prevent-itching-in-pets/ If Bocephus is very itchy you may try some Benadryl as some pet owners find this helpful. Here is a link in using Benadryl for allergic reactions; https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-human-medications-that-are-sometimes-safe-for-sick-pets/

You should not bathe your dog more often than once a month, preferably less as frequent bathing will dry out the skin and may cause the natural defense of the skin against bacteria to fail. Best bathe your dog only when he rolled in something stinky or when he is visibly very dirty,

I typically recommend bathing no more than once every week or every 2 weeks unless there is a skin condition requiring frequent medicated baths. If Luna’s skin is not becoming dried out or irritated the frequency of bathing and the type of shampoo you are using is probably fine. If Luna is itchy, her skin is red or flakey, or if she has an unusual odor, she may have a skin condition. If this is the case she needs to have an examination done by your veterinarian to address her skin issues. She may need a medicated shampoo and antibiotics or an antifungal medication to help clear up the infection. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

I would recommend bathing him every 2-4 weeks as needed to prevent overdrying of the skin. An oatmeal based puppy shampoo is great to use. Then in between baths you can use puppy wipes which are found at your local pet store. This works wel to my overdry your pet but also keep him smelling fresh. : ) I hope this helps!

I am unsure about the smell without being able to examine him in person, but I think a novel flea product is called for. I prefer oral flea medications, so that if you need to bathe him, or he swims, it will not effect the efficacy of the preventative. I also find the fleas are developing resistance to certain topical products. I recommend Comfortis, Trifexis or Simparica. It depends on your location as to what is best recommended- i.e. including a heart worm preventative, or a dewormer etc. Fleas can be tough to eradicate once they are in your home. It can take up to 3 months to kill all the various life stages. I recommend a knock out spray, and being diligent with laundry and vacuuming. I would also treat him every 3 weeks with his flea product instead of every 4 until this is managed. Good luck!

It sounds like she has a lot of seborrhea which is oil. This could be due to an infection like yeast or bacteria on her skin but it could also be due to allergies. I like dechra's dermabenss shampoo. It really cuts the oil and has a pleasant smell. Be sure to leave the shampoo on for 10 minutes before rinsing. I would bathe her at least twice a week. If there are any crusts, ulcerations, black "elephant" skin then she will likely need to see your vet in order to be completely resolved as there is likely an infection involved as well. I would also start her a Benadryl regimen twice a day. See link below. I hope this helps. https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/cat/benadryl/#!