How often you should wash your dog, according to a vet

Some dogs absolutely love bath time while others cower at the sight of water.

Whichever way your pooch is inclined, as a dog owner you've likely found yourself wondering how often you should be washing your dog. 

Should you wash them weekly? Monthly? It seems there's so much information out there. But one pet expert has a precise answer. 

Veterinarian Dr Cliff Faver who specialises in pet hair and skin health says there is a perfect science to how often we should wash our dogs and the answer is every 21 days.

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“The reality is the skin cycle is 21 days, whether it's short haired, long haired, – the cycle is the same,” Dr Faver explains.

Within 21 days, Dr Faver explains, a dog's skin cells will replenish themselves and it's important to bathe a dog to remove those old dead skin cells. 

This isn't to say that dog owners should set a timer for exactly every 21 days but it is a rule of thumb to follow based on the dog's skin cycle.

And it's a rule of thumb that applies to all sorts of dogs whether they have a long or short coat.

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In fact, Dr Faver says it is a common misconception that dog's with shorter hair don't need to be washed as frequently. 

“You know, that's an area that a lot of people misunderstand, they think because they have a short-haired dog that they don't need to bathe it as frequently,” he says. 

But that is simply not the case. Dr Faver explains that short-haired dogs should be washed just as often as long-haired dogs as they have the same skin cycle. 

“They need the same care as the other dogs,” Dr Faver tells 9honey. 

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Another mistake that Dr Faver says dog owners tend to make with their short-haired dogs is thinking they don't need to be washed with conditioner. 

“One of the things that's important to understand too is different hair types have different needs and the short haired [dogs] because they have less hair to protect their skin, actually need more oils,” he says. 

Dr Faver explains that pet groomers and dog owners will tend to wash their dogs with shampoo – stripping them of their natural oils and fail to replenish those oils with conditioner. 

“And one of the things that a lot of groomers and pet owners will do is they will take those oils off, which creates a bigger problem,” he says.

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If a dog isn't properly moisturised, which often happens with short-haired dogs, its skin will dry out which can lead to skin problems, Dr Faver explains. So he recommends not skipping the conditioner when washing your dog. 

Dr Faver, who is the founder, owner and chief veterinarian of Animal Health Services, is bringing his pet expertise to Australia this November to present his seminar  ‘Hair and Skin 101 – The Basis of all Grooming'

Based in the US, Dr Faver is excited to visit Australia and share his expertise with pet groomers and pet owners alike. 

“I think every pet owner, every show person, every veterinarian, every veterinary technician has something to gain from the program because a lot of times we don't have all that information and then when we do understand it, we can be just that much better at what we do overall,” Dr Faver explains. 

“First and foremost,” he continues. “We want our dogs to be safe.”

Tickets to Dr Faver's seminars can be purchased here.

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