Why Does My Dog Get Sores After a Bath?

Your dog is part of your family and will often live in your home. It is understandable that when he gets smelly or dirty you will feel the need to throw him in the tub and lather him up. If you've started to notice sores on your pet after bathing there could be a number of causes. Remember that although they are family, pets are not human. They have very specific bathing needs and problems can occur. Sores should be evaluated for their probable causes and solutions should be considered so that you can have a happy, healthy and comfortable pet.

  1. Over-Bathing

    • Dogs should not be bathed more frequently than every one to two months. Dogs have oil-secreting glands that act to protect their hair and skin from injury. When you wash these protections away your dog's skin can become dry and vulnerable to injury when the dog naturally scratches or cleans itself. This causes sores from bruises and skin lesions. As much as you may want to bathe a smelly dog it is not a good idea to do so just because they get dirty. Try to use wet wipes to spot-clean your dog. To eliminate odor, add natural deodorants like lemon juice or baking soda to the wipes.

    Preexisting Injury

    • Most sores come from some form of injury. You may not notice that your dog has a sore on him until after you have finished bathing them. You will aggravate a scratch, flea bite or vulnerable spot on the skin by bathing and if scratched will bring about a full blown sore or abscess. It is a good idea to look over your dogs skin before bathing to see if there are any preexisting scratches that you should avoid. These will likely be present especially if your dog has access to bushes and trees in his outdoor play areas

    Shampoo Allergies

    • Never use your shampoos to wash your dog. Many popular brands contain food by-products and scents that your dog may be allergic to. They can be harsh to his skin and lead to irritations and sores. If your dog begins to have sores after bathing consult with your vet for a potential change in his shampoo. He may need a colloidal oatmeal-based shampoo that causes a reduction in excess skin cell production that can lead to sores. This shampoo also cools the skin removing "hot spots" that your dog can scratch to sores. He may also be diagnosed with blocked glands which promote sores and scratching. A solution is a tar-based shampoo that exfoliates and removes skin plugs off the glands to allow sores to heal quickly.

    Poor Nutrition

    • If you have been careful to not over-bathe your dog or use the wrong shampoo and sores still appear, you may want to consider that your dog has a nutritional deficiency. The weakened surfaces of his skin that allow for sores may be due to a breakdown in his overall health. Make sure that your dog is being feed the best dog food that you can afford. You may need to supplement his diet by adding vitamin E and omega-3 or omega-6 fish oil. These will boost his immune system and reduce itching because his skin will be healthier and less dry. Check with your vet for advice on balancing his diet.