How Do I Get Sap Off of My Short Haired Dog?

Sooner or later, it seems that every pet pooch encounters some sort of sticky stuff, such as plant sap, and always manages to smear and mat it into their furry coats. While clipping a short-haired dog's soiled fur will certainly end your dilemma, the sap may have already dried and hardened by the time you discover the disaster. This makes clipping the hair difficult, if not impossible, and renders your pet's coat unattractive until the spot grows out. Alternatively, you can use some common household products to safely and effectively remove sap from your short-haired dog's fur.

Things You'll Need

  • Petroleum jelly
  • Clean, dry cloth
  • Degreasing pet shampoo
  • Vegetable oil
  • Mild dish liquid
  • Dog shampoo
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Instructions

    • 1

      Work a small amount of petroleum jelly into the sappy spot in your short-haired dog's coat. Thoroughly massage it into the area. Petroleum jelly may soften the sap enough and break it up, so that you can easily pull it away from the fur. Wipe away and pull the jelly and dispersing bits of sap with a clean, dry cloth. Repeat until all of the sap is gone. Bathe the area with a degreasing pet shampoo. Rinse and dry the area thoroughly.

    • 2

      Apply a little vegetable oil to the sap in your dog's coat, if the petroleum jelly does not remove it. Work the oil into the fur and down to the skin. Leave it in for about 24 hours, to allow it to soften the sap. Gently rub the area with your fingertips and carefully pull the hair, to break up the sap. Wipe and pull with a clean, dry cloth, to remove all of the sappy residue. Wash the area with a degreasing pet shampoo. Rinse and dry the area thoroughly.

    • 3

      Rub a few drops of mild dish liquid into the sappy area of fur, if neither the petroleum jelly and vegetable oil get the job done. Massage it well into the coat, all the way down to the skin. Leave it on for about 24 hours. Bathe the area with your dog's regular shampoo and scrub the treated area, briskly, with your fingertips. Rinse your pet and dry thoroughly. Degreasing detergents are known to work very well for removing some types of plant sap.