Bathtubs for Pets

Bathing most pets is both wet and wild. Not too many pets enjoy a bath, while many more merely tolerate it and others will fight you tooth and nail every second of the ordeal. No matter what category your pet falls into, choosing a suitable bathtub will help make the task easier. Using a tub that is an appropriate size for your pet, for instance, can help cut down on spilled or splashed bathwater.

  1. Traditional

    • You already have two or three logical choices in your home when it comes time to bathe your pet: the bathtub, the bathroom sink and the kitchen sink. You may even have a utility sink in the laundry room. If it has one of those long, handheld sprayers, it will serve well as a pet bathtub. The choice you make for a bathtub for your pet will depend mostly on his size. You can easily bathe cats and small dogs in a bathroom or kitchen sink. Your midsize dog may be a good fit for the utility sink, but you could find it easier to give him a bath in the bathtub. You almost have no choice when it comes to big dogs. Your bathtub will be the only thing in your house big enough to hold Horace and, depending on his breed, even your bathtub may be a tight fit.

    Alternatives

    • You share a lot with your pet, but maybe you draw the line when it comes to sharing bathing facilities with him. Or it could be that the traditional choices in your home for giving your pet a bath just aren't suitable in size. Regardless of your reason for wanting an alternative, plenty exist to choose from. If you need to bathe a hamster or rat, a bowl or similar container that is deep enough to hold 2 inches of warm water is a useful choice. For cats and small dogs, plastic tubs found in the cleaning section of grocery and home stores are effective. And if you need a really large tub for your Great Dane or mastiff, you can find galvanized steel tubs at the hardware or feed store. Galvanized or stainless steel is especially practical, as it can easily be cleaned and disinfected. Children's plastic wading pools are another ideal alternative bathtub for dogs too big for the bathroom.

    Clean

    • Whatever you decide to use as a bathtub for your pet, you should always make sure to clean it before and after bathing your pet. Cleaning before is especially necessary if you're using your bathtub or a household sink, as you'll want to ensure there's no soap scum or other residue on the surface. White vinegar is a safe and effective cleaner for the tub that also kills germs and bacteria. Just pour 4 cups of white vinegar into the tub, fill it with hot water and let it sit for several hours or overnight.

    Safe

    • Take safety precautions to keep your pet from slipping or having to stand in soapy water. Place a rubber bath mat in the bottom of your pet's bathtub. You may have to trim one down with a pair of scissors, if you're using a sink or smaller container. It will speed up the drying process, too, if you place a vinyl-coated rack in the bottom of the tub to keep your pet from standing in water as you rinse him. Just make sure the slats on the rack are close enough together that your pet's feet don't slip down between them.

    Bathing Your Reptile

    • Lizards are more exotic than dogs or cats, but they still need to be bathed. The complicating issue with reptiles is that their digestive tracks contain salmonella. To ensure that you or other household members don't become ill, it's best to get your lizard his own special bathtub. VeterinaryPartner.com warns against bathing reptiles in bathtubs and sinks, and advises that you dispose of the dirty bathwater down the toilet. Never clean your lizard's tub in the bathtub or any of the household sinks, either.