How To Do A Chihuahua Dog Spa
by Leste'na
(TN)
Chihuahua art print details below
My dog is a Chihuahua and I would like to give her a dog spa day.
Can I do the dog spa day without bathing her and how would you suggest I go about doing this?
Giving your Chihuahua a Spa Day certainly can be done without getting her wet as in the bath tub, but to get your dog feeling good and smelling clean, you'll still want to freshen her up. A good way to do this is to use one of the following products that eliminate the need for water:
Miracle Foaming Waterless Dog Shampoo. This product needs no water. The foam is a gentle tearless formula that will feel soothing for your pet while it cleans and conditions and helps eliminate dry skin, hot spots or other skin irritations.
Kenic Dry Shampoo, Ready to Use. A good dry cleanser that contains no alcohol or phosphates to dry the skin and is 100% biodegradable.
You did not say whether your Chihuahua is smooth coated or long-haired? While the two products above would work for both coats, you could also use Earthbath All Natural Hypo-Allergenic Grooming Wipes. These wipes are made of natural ingredients and can be used to gently remove dirt and dander from a dog's paws, face and coat. Very easy!
While these alternative products provide a way to freshen up your dog, Chihuahuas still need a conventional bath occasionally. When a full bath is in order, just remember to use the best non-irritating cleansers - some we recommend can be found here.
Once you have your chosen cleanser at hand, turn on some soothing pet music and begin your dog's spa day with a gentle massage as we suggest in our Spa Day article.
This will help to get her relaxed and ready to enjoy the remaining one-on-one attention. Follow this by brushing her coat with a soft bristle brush. Brushing removes loose hairs and stimulates the release of natural oils which are beneficial to the skin and coat.
When the brushing is complete, you are ready to use the foaming cleanser, dry shampoo, or pet wipes to get her clean and refreshed. This part of the Spa experience is a good time to go slow, letting your dog wind down and enjoy the pleasure of attention and touch.
After she looks sufficiently clean, you can move on to focus on your Chihuahua's Eyes, Ears, Paws and Teeth.
An important feature of the Chihuahua to inspect on a regular basis are their eyes. Because a Chi's eyes are rather protruding they are a more susceptible target for debris or infections. Their eyes also being quite well-lubricated with abundant tears can develop stains around them. Gently clean around the eyes them with a warm wet cloth or use a product like Eye Envy, an all natural gentle cleanser that also supports eye health.
Surprisingly, the Chi can also be subject to dry eye. If you see your Chi blinking more than usual along with the appearance of redness or irritation in the eyes, this could be indicative of dry eye and a reason to visit the vet.
Now turn your attention to the ears and check them for excessive hair, wax or unpleasant smell. Carefully trim any excess hair to discourage bacteria, and clean them with an Ark Naturals Ear Cleaning Lotion on a cotton ball - never use cotton swabs or go deeply into the ear canal.
If either the eyes or ears look or smell unhealthy or have any sign of unusual discharge, have your vet evaluate the cause.
Moving on to the paws, inspect the foot pads for any scratches or injuries and also check for any gravel or plant materials that may have become embedded. While you are doing this, if you notice excessive hair growth beyond the pad level, be sure to trim this back so that it does not become matted or an invitation to parasites.
This is also a good time to clip the nails, if necessary - that will be when you can hear them clicking as your dog walks around the house!!
It is important to be able to identify the quick when you cut a pet's nails - if you are unsure about how to do this, have your vet provide a demonstration before attempting to clip the nails. An alternative to using nail clippers is the use of a dremel which works like a nail file and may be preferable to use with nervous dogs or ones that don't accept nail clipping very well.
A final part of any Spa Day is to ensure that your dog has clean, fresh breath. Brushing your Chihuahua's teeth on a regular basis is the key to healthy gums and teeth and the avoidance of oral infections that can lead to serious health problems. Techniques for cleaning a dog's teeth can be found here.
And lastly, on dog spa days when you are not wet-bathing your Chihuahua, you may want to finish off with TrueBlue Fresh-in-a-Flash Cleansing Spray. This spritz will be a calming and soothing finale to her spa treatment and also leave her smelling great!
Here's hoping you'll enjoy this special time of bonding with your pet.
Chihuahua Signed Art Print by Artist DJ Rogers
