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If you have a dog, it is important not to call him to where you are. He will be expecting something positive when he comes to you, and may be very disappointed that you called him for something as unpleasant as a bath. It is preferable to either pick him up and carry him to the bathing spot (if he's small enough), or walk him there. You can pick up your cat, but he may run and hide from you if he knows that you are about to give him a bath. Entice him out of his hiding spot with a treat. Do not be surprised if your pet becomes resistant once he realizes where he is going. If this happens, do not raise your voice. Be gentle yet firm with him, since bathing him will be necessary to remove the urine smell. Once you get to the bathing area, it may be helpful to give your pet a treat or two. If you are bathing your pet in the tub, place a towel in the tub before he gets in. Brushing your pet will remove any tangles or matted fur. Doing this before you bathe him is very importanttrying to brush through tangles or mattes is next to impossible when your pet's coat is soaked with water. Start from your pet's neck and slowly work your way down to his tail. If your pet's nails have not been trimmed in a while, your pet could easily use his nails to scratch you while you are bathing him. If you are comfortable with doing so, trim your dog's or cat's nails. If you have to use styptic powder on any of the nails to stop bleeding, wait until the bleeding has stopped before bathing him. Keeping water out of your pet's eyes, ears, and face will be important when you are bathing him. If your pet will let you, place one or two cotton balls in each ear. If he doesn't like having cotton balls in his ears, use extra care to avoid getting water in his ears. Remember to take the cotton balls out of his ears when you have finished bathing him. If you are using a hose or handheld shower head to bathe your pet, make sure that the water pressure is not too forceful. You can also use a large plastic pitcher to pour water over him. If you are giving your pet a bath inside, make sure that the water is no hotter than lukewarm. You may not be able to adjust the temperature of the water if you are bathing your pet outside. To get your pet comfortable with the sensation of getting wet, put the water on his back and shoulders first. Once he has relaxed, wet his neck and work your way back to his tail. Place a generous amount of shampoo in your palm and use your fingers to gently work the shampoo into your pet's coat and skin, starting from his neck and working your way back. By working back from his neck, you will prevent any fleas from moving up his body towards his face and head. You will probably need to shampoo your pet more than once to get the urine smell out. Keep in mind that shampoo has the tendency to strip the skin and coat of natural oils, so you do not want to shampoo him too many times. Use a washcloth dampened with plain water (no shampoo- bold) to wash your pet's face. Talking with your pet in calming voice and offering him occasional treats will help make the bathing process more enjoyable for him. Be careful not to get the shampoo in your pet's eyes. Shampoo residue can make your pet feel itchy, so you want to make sure that you rinse out all of the shampoo before drying him. If you are bathing your dog, be mindful that your his hair is thicker than your own, so you will need to take extra time to work your fingers through his hair when rinsing out the shampoo. You will know when you have rinsed out all of the shampoo when you no longer see any suds in the water that you are using to rinse him. Consider giving your pet a quick sniff after you have finished rinsing him to see if you can smell urine. If you still smell urine, consider shampooing and rinsing him again. If you placed a piece of steel wool in the bathtub drain, remove and discard the steel wool after you have finished rinsing him off. If you are bathing your cat, wrap her snugly in a towel and dry her off in a warm, draft-free location in your home. You may need more than one towel to dry off your dog, depending on his size. If you know that your dog is going to want to shake as soon as you finish rinsing him off, you can try gently holding his muzzle with your thumb and forefingera dog cannot shake his body if you hold his muzzle still. You can let go of his muzzle once he is at least somewhat dry. If you are using a blow dryer to dry your pet, set it on one of the cooler settings to prevent thermal damage to his skin. Your dog may be tempted to bolt and rub on something (e.g., furniture, carpet, ground) as soon as you have finished drying him off. Consider keeping him in a relatively confined area, such as the kitchen, until he is completely dry. Reward your pet with a generous amount of positive reinforcement. This can be a combination of treats, new toys, verbal praise, and extra playtime.
Bring your pet to the bathing area. Brush your pet. Trim your pet's nails. Place cotton balls in your pet's ears. Get your pet completely wet. Shampoo your pet. Rinse your pet completely. Dry your pet. Give him plenty of praise.