Tips for Bathing a Pet With Palmolive

Pets require bathing for any number of reasons. Some dogs love to roll in smelly stuff, and fleas strike cats and dogs regularly. Also, dandruff and dry, itchy skin can irritate if not dealt with. Bathing your pet doesn't have to be a horror show, even with cats, which are notoriously unhappy about the whole process. However, the stress of a wet bath can be too much for rabbits, especially if they're already sick. Bathing your pet with Palmolive dish detergent is often recommended as a home remedy for getting rid of fleas. However, any dish detergent --- non-antibacterial is best --- is suitable.

  1. Preparation

    • Prepare the bathing area first, especially if you have a cat or dog that doesn't like baths. It's best to have all the items you'll need already at arm's reach, because your hands are going to be full once the pet enters the picture. Gather your Palmolive, a plastic cup, a rubber mat, dry towels, a hairdryer and a grooming comb. If you have a mobile sprayer on your sink or a removable shower head, you can use them instead of a plastic cup for rinsing. A rubber mat placed at the bottom of the tub or sink can help keep your pet from slipping and make it easier to bathe. Run the water --- lukewarm, not hot and definitely not cold --- before you get your pet. For a cat, you'll want a few inches of water; for larger dogs, you may need more.

    Introducing the Pet

    • Make sure all the water is turned off before you bring a cat into the bathing area. Running water can upset cats more than standing water, although many dogs won't be bothered. Put your animal in the water and remember that you want to get it in and out. Having someone hold your pet in place while you wash will make things easier, but you can always put a harness and leash on your pet and tie it to a nearby, stable fixture. Give the animal about a foot of lead room and never leave your cat or dog unattended in the bath, even if it has a leash on.

    Lathering Up

    • When applying your Palmolive, start with the neck and back of the head. Never apply any shampoo to a pet's face or any farther forward than the back of the ears. Apply the Palmolive and lather, working from the top of your pet down. This is especially important if you're bathing to remove fleas because as soon as they get wet, the fleas will start looking for higher ground. You want that higher ground to already be sudsy. Plus, this lather will create a barrier between your pet's face and the fleas. Use a gentle massaging motion to lather up the Palmolive and then use your mobile sprayer or plastic cup to rinse away the detergent. Make sure you rinse thoroughly, especially with a cat, which is going to clean itself as soon as possible. You don't want your pet ingesting Palmolive residue.

    After the Bath

    • Using Palmolive can cause dry skin, so if it's not a bathing emergency and you don't need it to kill fleas, it's best to use a pet formulated shampoo. However, that's not always possible, so consider rubbing a little lotion into your pet's coat and skin. A number of lotions are formulated for pets. Dry your pet thoroughly with a clean, dry towel and transport it to an area where there are no drafts to continue the drying process. If your pet will let you, use a hairdryer on its lowest heat setting. Never point the hairdryer at your pet's face, which should be dry anyway. Some cats won't let you do this, so you'll have to settle for a thorough drying with a towel.