I just adopted a dog. He is dirty and smelly but can't be bathed due to neutering. What can I do to clean him?

Question

The vet said he can't be bathed for 10 days. I've tried a grooming spray but it didn't work. Help...

Answer 1

You can sponge bath him with shampooand water or buy "Dog Wipes" at the pet aisle of the grocery store/Walmart/Petsmart/etc/ They are like baby wipes, but will get rid of the smell on a dog's coat. It's not the greatest solution, but will hold you over until you can give dog a proper bath. Stay clear of the neutering area though so it doesn't get infected.

Answer 2

There are cheap Puppy Bath Wipes Available at Pet Stores. I wouldn't sponge him because water and soap might aggravate his incision. Go for the bath wipes and a scented dog spray after the wipes. Be sure to brush him with an appropriate brush for his hair-length in order to take away any loose dirt or debris. If he is a short-haired breed, like a boxer, go ahead and wipe him down with a slightly damp chamois cloth and put a little scented spray on it. Do this after the wipes. You could also take a damp cloth/washcloth and give him a real thorough rubdown. Good Luck!

Answer 3

If he is short haired you might rub some baby powder into his coat, massage it in a bit, then brush him. If he is long haired you might try that grooming spray again and comb out any loose and tangled hair. If he has just some very dirty spots, you could try spot cleaning. For instance, wash his face and paws. Look in his ears and sniff them. If they have a lot of black waxy stuff he may have ear mites. That could cause him to smell . If he has bad breath, it may take up to a month of a healthier diet to clean him from the inside out. He may need his teeth brushed. Make sure he doesn't have any abscesses. They can exist unopened a short time, but if they ooze infection it will stink. If he is still a puppy, puppies have a totally different and somewhat unpleasant smell but out grow it. Good luck with your new best friend!

Answer 4

There are some "dry" bathing products out there, but if he is really smelly & dirty, they may not help much. If you have some help, you may be able to partially wash him. Get a big tub or wading pool & a friend who can hold while you wash his feet , legs, & front. Do not get inside of ears wet, or the surgical area. If he gets really wiggly & un- cooperative, then you may have to live with a partially smelly dog until the surgical site can get wet.

Answer 5

Perhaps you can sit him down and wipe him with a damp cloth. Somewhere I found a recipe for an herbal flea repellent that also smells good. I can't locate the file at the moment, but the tea seemed to have chamomile, pennyroyal, and/or perhaps tansy and rosemary in it.

Good luck!

Answer 6

The petstore carries bath wipes. They are like baby wipes essentially meant to clean dogs without bathing them.

Answer 7

Call the vet's office and ask if you can bathe him if you're real careful not to soak his stitches. Use a spray hose instead of a tubful of water.

Answer 8

In most drug stores they have dry shampoos that are pretty cheap and they work well. Brush the pup really good to get any loose dirt and sprinkle the dry shampoo on him or try using baby powder and then do a really good brushing again.

Answer 9

Do what the vet said and don't put on sprays or anything. Part of the smell is from his surgery and will disappear with time and healing.

Answer 10

They make a dry bath that is simply brushed thru the hair. I would invest in that. You can also use baby powder with the same effects.