Help! Smelly Dog!

[cometsmom]

I know that most vets do not recommend that dogs go to a groomer until they've had all of their shots. Depending on when you first acquire your dog, the average dog should have all of their shots by or before 6 months.

Where I live in NJ, most grooming businesses will not groom your dog until they have received all of their immunizations. However, to groom your pup at home is perfectly fine, just make sure to plug his ear canals with cotton to prevent water from getting down the ear canals. This will prevent the dog from getting an ear infection, which is much worse than smelling bad.

[HisNameIsHarley]

So do you use regular cotton balls from the store or are there specially made ones for that purpose? I am wondering bc my first puppy Harley is coming home w/ me this friday evening and I'm trying to get all the helpful tips I can get! Thanks!

[luzangela428]

Regular is fine...you will also want to put some alcohol and clean in the puppies ear but don't go to deep the puppy will shake out the rest of the dirt that collects and check to see if he/she has hair in there...my vet says to pluck it but I can't bear to do it, so my bf did it this time but the groomer is definitely in charge of taht from now on...congrats!!!

[dsf3]

My Kodi is 13 weeks old and I have been bathing him every 2 weeks. The vet said not to bathe too often so in between baths I use wipes to clean him. Just be sure to keep your puppy warm and complete the bath as quickly as possible.

[mmyorkies]

It's hard to believe that someone's vet tells them not to bathe a yorkie until it is 6 months. Yorkies have hair, not fur. Would you go months without washing your hair? I bathe mine at least every 2 weeks, and if I find the time it gets done every week. My puppies get their 1st baths here at 6 weeks, after they have had their first shots.

[Hickey007]

We've given our pup a bath since we got her. I give her one at least once a week maybe more, but only becuase our backyard is a mud hole right now and generally Reagan comes in full of mud. You would think I would get smart enough not to let her go out as much. I never personally asked my vet but the first time I took her in the vet, all the nurses and the rest had her in their faces saying how good she smelled, so obviously it was ok.

[Kaluiah]

The only thing you need to worry about when taking them to a groomer at a young age is kennel cough. I took Ramsey to the vet yesterday and that is what she told me. But she did say it was fine to bathe him.

[Belladiva79]

Thank you so much everyone for your help! I thought it was a little weird too but I wanted to be really really careful! I am from Jersey, I saw someone else posted from Jersey as well. I have another question for everyone, my dog doesn't poop in his wee wee pad but will pee there... any suggestion on getting him to do both??!! Thanks!

[b_veselka]

Just to let you know- I am a breeder and before I ever send a pup to a new home I am sure to bathe it. Just follow all of the other's advice and do it in a warm room. Might want to pull a warm towel straight from the laundry dryer to wrap him in. I would not suggest blow drying him at such a young age (especially if you've never done it), but by all means the kid needs a bath! You might also want to check to make sure nothing (like food) is caught between his teeth. That can sometimes cause an awful odor around the facial area. Plus it is just good to check his teeth anyway to be sure they are clean .

[Stitches29]

Wow your vet must really be into stinky. Maggie get a little stinky sometimes. If it's only around her neck area, then I use the moist bath wipes. If it's any further than than, then it's a full blown bath with warm towels and blow dryer. She is only 11 weeks old and already had two baths.

[red98vett]

I wonder why your vet said that - 2.5 lbs is plenty big to bathe - I bathed both my girls the first week we had them - Unless there's a medical reason I don't see any problem bathing your baby -

I agree on the groomer and kennel cough - I always took mine to groomers that REQUIRE vaccination records - not like Petco and other places where anyone can just walk in -

[StewiesMom]

That's interesting... I haven't gotten Stewie groomed yet, but have inquired. The Petco near my house requires all vaccinations including rabies.

[bettyeanne]

Bathe that poor baby! Our breeder told us to bathe Toto any time she needed it ... up to an including every day if she was dirty! We bathed her the first week that we had her and she was only 1.5 lbs.! I bathe her, at 22 months, every week, sometimes more. You just need to use common sense as far as warmth, etc. ... just like you would do for a tiny baby. Toto hates the dryer so I simply wrap her in towels and she snuggles in and naps until she is damp dry and then I brush her. Good luck!