Gone are the days of bathing the dog with the hose in the backyard. Currently, there is so much news and technical information about the species’ coat that it can confuse the owner, but don’t worry! Keep following us and learn all about bathing in Shih-Tzu.
The Shih Tzu’s coat
The Shih-Tzu is one of the long-coated dog breeds. This type of coat has continuous growth, like human hair, and does not undergo the process of seasonal change, that is, the hair does not fall out and grows according to the time of year.
This is also one of the reasons why the Shih-Tzu is a very popular breed, after all who doesn’t care about some dogs falling out? With this breed, there is no such problem, with the exception of individuals with skin problems.
It has a double coat, also known as the primitive coat, that is, it presents the primary hair, longer and more visible, and the secondary or sub coat, fine and abundant, under the primary hair. This undercoat must never be removed!
Eye care
The Shih-Tzu is a brachycephalic dog, that is, it has more “bulging” eyes than other dogs. This makes them more sensitive to the products and equipment used in the bath.
So, when bathing, be very careful not to get any product in his eye. Even those that are stated to be non-irritating to the eyes can cause irritation in a more sensitive Shih-Tzu. This is an important recommendation on how to bathe a Shih-Tzu.
To clean the furry’s eyes, use veterinary eye cleaning lotions, specifically for this purpose. Soak a cotton ball in each eye and wipe them from the inside out.
When drying, never direct the air jet from the dryer directly to the animal’s eyes. This is a very important recommendation on how to bathe a Shih-Tzu, as it avoids the dreaded corneal ulcer.
Ear care
Have you ever heard that the dog can have an earache if water gets inside it? This is not a legend! The ear canal of dogs is very deep. When it enters the ear, water can lodge in a deeper region, difficult to dry, causing ear pain and otitis.
To avoid this problem, put hydrophobic (or paraffinized) cotton in the furry’s ears before bathing and be sure to keep it in place throughout the procedure. When they shake their heads, the cotton can “fly”.
Another tip on how to bathe a Shih-Tzu is not to splash water on the head in abundance, precisely to prevent it from getting into the ears, even with the cotton pad.
Pre-wash
Before starting, do a good brushing with a slicker, to remove dead hair and knots. This process activates the memory of the wires, leaving them aligned. Do this procedure with the coat dry or with the help of a detangling fluid.
The bath
Let’s start by talking about how to bathe a Shih-Tzu puppy. Do the above procedures very gently, after all, it’s the baby’s first time. Use specific products for puppies and dispense with the conditioner if the coat is still short.
If you want to know when you can bathe a Shih-Tzu puppy , know that this can be done at home since he is small, once he has settled into his new home. If you go to a pet shop, the ideal is to wait for him to be vaccinated.
Choose a place sheltered from the wind, use a rubber mat so the puppy doesn’t slip and warm water. Start by wetting it on the little feet and slowly go up, leaving the head for last. Apply the shampoo gently and rinse it very well. Dry with a towel and then with a hairdryer.
If the pet is already an adult, it is possible to include in this bath the conditioner, to make the fur softer, and the brightening cream, which is a pet shop secret on how to bathe your Shih-Tzu and make the coat shiny.
Shih-Tzu bathing and grooming
Bathing and grooming a Shih-Tzu is a common procedure in pet stores and must be performed by a specialized professional. Do not try to groom at home, as inexperience can hurt and traumatize your pet.
Also, don’t ask the professional to do a general clipping on the machine. This procedure is only recommended as a last resort, in animals with a very tangled coat or in special cases of some skin diseases and wounds.
