The advisability of bathing dogs
Yorkshire Terriers have skin that is half as thin as a human's. It is also very sensitive and has a different pH. Therefore, you should not use products that are not intended for pet care. If your pet tends to have dry or oily skin or frequent infections, you should consult your veterinarian about the best shampoo to choose for your Yorkie. Often he can also recommend a special balm.
Yorkshire Terrier on a walk
Note! Regularly bathing your dog will help get rid of many coat problems.
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It is most often recommended that the first bath be given around 6 months of age, using a suitable dog shampoo of course. At this age, the dog’s immune system stabilizes, and the skin and fur are quite well developed. Don't wait too long for your first bath. Dogs do not like water, so if you start bathing them later than six months of age, it will be very difficult to accustom your pet to the water procedure.
How to bathe a Yorkie puppy
Before you wash your Yorkie, you need to introduce him to the bathroom, the smells and objects that are there. The next step is to place an anti-slip mat and treats on the bottom of the bathtub. There is no need to pour water at the first stage. You can install special dispensers with dog delicacies on the wall above the bathtub, which can interest and distract the animal’s attention while bathing.
Note! You should not bathe your dog for a week after vaccinations, or if it is weakened or unhealthy.
You should also check how the puppy reacts to the dryer. If he comes up and sniffs the device when it is turned on, there will be no problems using it after the bath. If the baby is afraid of the dryer, then it should be turned on for several days until he gets used to the sounds made by the device. On the day of the planned bath, it is advisable to make sure that the puppy is in a particularly good mood, for example, due to a lot of entertainment or a long walk.
York waiting for water treatments
The terrier's coat becomes dirty due to sweating and also during walks, especially in bad weather. Therefore, before bathing, it is necessary to comb the coat well to remove dead hair. This will help the shampoo penetrate deeper into the skin and hair roots, which will allow you to thoroughly wash your pet. The animal should be bathed using safe cosmetics and warm water, and the wool should be dried with a towel or a special hair dryer (dryer).
How often can you wash a terrier?
The Yorkshire Terrier should be bathed as often as necessary. Due to the soft wool that gets dirty quickly, it is recommended to do water treatments once a week. Dogs that avoid mud and don't walk on grass can be bathed every two weeks.
Note! Swimming in a lake or river is not effective. Depending on the quality of the river water, an additional bath in the house using detergents may be required.
After bathing, the dog's head should be thoroughly wiped with a towel. You can use cotton swabs to dry the inside of your ears. They can be inserted quite deeply without fear of damage to the eardrum - the structure of the dog's ears effectively protects against this.
Rules of procedure
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Before bathing your Yorkie, the shampoo should be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3. Then apply to damp dog hair, following the terrier's eyes. Gently massage the fur all over your pet's body and rinse off the shampoo with water. If necessary, this action can be repeated.
Note! You cannot bathe your dog 14 days before and after grooming.
To avoid harming your dog while bathing, remember the following rules:
- The water prepared for bathing should have a temperature of about 38-39 degrees (dogs like this temperature most of all).
- For safety reasons, it is worth placing a large anti-slip mat or an old towel in the bath, which will help the animal maintain stability (it is unlikely that the dog will sit still in the bath; most animals, unfortunately, behave very restlessly).
- Dog shampoo should not be left on the skin for more than 10 minutes, so you should wash your dog twice. The first wash is preliminary. The next one needs to be more thorough. Movements when distributing shampoo should be gentle so as not to tangle the hair.
- You need to bathe your terrier from tail to head. The pet's head should be washed very carefully, observing the basic condition - water and shampoo should not get into the eyes, ears or mouth of the animal.
- After the initial drying, the dog will most likely remove the water on its own. In theory, you can dry your wool using a dryer, but if you don't need to, it's best to avoid it. However, you should absolutely not use a dryer for dogs suffering from various skin diseases.
- To reduce your pet’s suffering and speed up the bathing process, you should thoroughly comb the fur before the water procedure.
- Throughout the bath, you should talk to your pet in a calm and confident voice. You should not yell at him; this may make the dog feel insecure.
Detergents for terriers
How does shampoo work?
It is very important to know how to choose a shampoo for Yorkshire Terriers. They should be washed with a product that can preserve the elasticity of the wool and its natural rough structure. Today you can find shampoo for Yorkies with short or long, soft or hard hair. When choosing, be sure to pay attention to these parameters. A milder shampoo is suitable for bathing a puppy than for an adult animal. It is also worth considering the time of year - summer or winter.
Specialized shampoos for dogs
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Dogs, like people, can have various dermatological diseases, so you need to be very careful when purchasing special shampoos designed to treat coat and skin.
Hypoallergenic shampoo
This product is intended for terriers suffering from various allergies. Dogs of this breed often struggle with, for example, erythema, dermatitis or various types of rashes and acne. This is dangerous because they cause itching. A dog cannot be persuaded not to scratch the area that is bothering him. The scratches that arise in this case aggravate the problem, causing serious wounds that often fester.
It should be borne in mind that itching can be caused either by dermatitis itself or by food allergies or the presence of fleas. Hypoallergenic shampoo is designed to relieve unpleasant allergy symptoms. It usually contains oat extract, many fatty acids, urea, menthol, glycerin, tea tree oil, and aloe vera.
Note! Even the best shampoo will not help cure your dog of allergies or dermatitis. Such problems require immediate consultation with a veterinarian.
The terrier will be quickly cleaned up in the salon
Shampoo for terriers against seborrhea
Although seborrhea is not a very common problem in terriers, the condition does occur. The oil produced by the glands is primarily intended to provide adequate hydration to the skin. Fat also protects against certain bacteria and ensures adequate elasticity of the skin.
In Yorkshire Terriers, seborrhea can be oily or dry. The first is the one that is known to everyone. The animal's fur is covered with a greasy layer of sebum, it is constantly moist and can create odors. In the dry version, the skin becomes covered with an oily film and, over time, unsightly scales appear on it. On the other hand, wool loses its elasticity and shine, and hair breaks easily.
There are many causes of seborrhea. Very often it is the result of hormonal disorders, and therefore, like in humans, problems with the thyroid gland. However, this may be the result of a lack of appropriate ingredients in the diet. These include vitamin A, proteins and fats. Seborrhea can also be a consequence of many other dermatological diseases. Therefore, when it occurs, a visit to a dermatologist is simply necessary.
A clean, well-groomed terrier is grateful to his owners
Many owners are concerned about the question: is it possible to wash a Yorkie with human shampoo? They should be aware that due to the nature of hair, products intended for use on human hair should not be used on dogs. This also applies to baby shampoos.
The dog owner should also understand that pet detergents reduce the introduction of fleas or other external parasites, but they do not provide the basis for necessary prevention. The best and most correct way to combat insects is the regular use of veterinary drugs available in the form of tablets and sprays. A collar against external parasitic insects also works effectively.
Which to choose. Professional products
The best shampoo for a Yorkie will be a low pH product made from natural ingredients. The standard is considered:
Yorkies have long, fine hair. Most often, it needs additional hydration and restoration, so professional moisturizing shampoos with a conditioning effect should be used to wash your dog.
To prepare a dog for a show, it is recommended to use highly effective formulations; they do an excellent job of cleaning the coat of difficult-to-rinse show products.
Below is a list of professional cosmetics that are especially popular among owners of Yorkshire Terrier dogs:
- Artero Hidratant Shampoo (Artero brand);
- 1 All Systems Smoothing Keratin Shampoo (All Systems brand);
- Mela Verde Shampoo (brand Iv SanBernard);
- Cocoa Butter & Mink OilShampoo (Jerob brand);
- Protein – Lanolin Shampoo (Bio Groom brand).
The best shampoo for Yorkies
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Today, many well-known companies produce detergents for animals. Our rating of shampoos for Yorkies includes:
- Nootie Oatmeal is soap and paraben free. It contains aloe, oatmeal, and coconut oil to soothe dry and itchy skin.
- Paws & Pals is a natural shampoo with a clinical veterinary formula. Coconut oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, as well as aloe and oatmeal included in its composition can moisturize even the driest skin of a pet.
- Isle of Dogs Everyday Jasmine & Vanilla Silky Coating Shampoo is a dog shampoo with a luxurious vanilla and jasmine scent. It perfectly cleanses, softens and detangles long and short hair.
- Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo is designed for particularly sensitive skin. Oatmeal and aloe perfectly moisturize the skin and combat dryness and irritation.
- Wahl is a concentrated shampoo containing ingredients such as oatmeal, lime, aloe, lemon verbena, and coconut.
- 4-Legger is an organic shampoo with aloe and lemongrass scent. Essential oils present in its composition. gently cleanse dog's hair and skin, providing them with good hydration and a normal pH level.
- Tropiclean has a gentle coconut and aloe formula that helps improve the elasticity of your pet's skin and coat.
- Sofie & Co is a natural shampoo with a gentle formula ideal for caring for dry, itchy or flaky skin.
Note! Most dog shampoos and conditioners are highly concentrated, so they last a long time.
Cheap funds
When studying the label of shampoo for Yorkies (and in general any product for dogs), you can see that in the first place in the composition there are always two components: water and sodium laureth sulfate (surfactant). In any detergent, these two ingredients are present in dominant concentrations. It is worth clarifying that sodium laureth sulfate is the cheapest and most accessible surfactant. It is quite aggressive in its pure form, often irritating and very drying to the skin. But still it has a good cleaning effect. After all, even if the shampoo consists only of it, it will be quite enough. This is often the case with inexpensive dog bath products.
It makes no sense to expect any miraculous effects from such a shampoo for your Yorkie. It washes away dirt well, but at the same time damages the dog’s delicate skin. In addition, surfactants in high concentrations have a bad effect on the hair itself, destroying the keratin base. That is why it makes no sense to be surprised that after using a cheap product, the animal develops dandruff, and the hair becomes dry and dull.
Choosing a comb
Terriers' coats tend to get matted, so they need to be brushed regularly. To do this, you should choose a comb with widely spaced teeth, as well as a soft and wide brush. Before bathing, it is recommended to use a furminator - a device for removing dead undercoat. Thanks to its use, it will be much easier to comb the coat after bathing.
A healthy dog can be easily recognized by its skin and coat. The fur of this terrier is shiny and has no unpleasant odors. Skin for dogs, unlike humans, plays a lesser thermoregulatory role. The animal cools itself primarily through its tongue, which is why it breathes heavily in hot weather or after an intense walk.
How does pollution happen?
Every dog's skin contains sebaceous glands, and there are much fewer of them than in humans. The sebaceous glands produce sebum - an oily lubricant that is distributed over the surface of the skin and has several useful functions:
- protection from mechanical damage and negative environmental influences;
- Gives the coat a shiny and healthy appearance.
Every day, dirt, dust, and, if the animal participates in exhibitions, also cosmetics stick to the sebum layer. As a result, a rather impressive crust forms on thin hair. Therefore, the coat becomes brittle, dull and greasy.
