How often should you bathe a Beagle
How Often Should I Bathe My Beagle? + How to Bath & Shower
Beagles are a breed that have particularly sensitive skin, and this makes them prone to conditions like dryness and various other skin allergies (that they are also genetically predisposed to). This can be made worse by bathing as things like scented shampoos can act as an irritant, and frequent washes that serve to strip their skin of its natural oils.
With that in mind, how often is too often when it comes to bathing your Beagle? I spoke to our vet about this to get a professional opinion, and heres what he said about washing regularity and how often Beagles need a bath.
How often should you bathe a Beagle? You should only bathe a Beagle every 2 to 6 months in order to maintain a balance between their skin health and hygiene. However, the reality is this probably isnt practical, as Beagles love to run in mud, so will need more regular baths and showers.
If youre a dog owner, you know that bathing any dog every couple of months is almost impossible, especially if you live in a wetter climate where mud is common.
So, in practical terms, if your Beagle gets his coat muddy, and he starts to stink, you need to give them a bath outside of the regular bathing schedule.
However, due to Beagles skin conditions, there are a few things you ought to know in order for their grooming and bathing regime to be happy, healthy and effective.
How to bathe your Beagle in 5 simple steps
Smaller Beagles can be bathed in a usual bathtub with a shower, but if you have a smaller Beagle or a Beagle puppy, you can bathe them in a sink with a sink sprayer.
I would not bother filling up the tub. I would instead recommend you use the shower or sink sprayer, but if you want to fill up the tub, I would advise only filling it insofar as your dogs ankles. This means they can still have their feet touching the floor and theyre paddling, not swimming.
This is especially important if your Beagle is young, anxious or not a very confident swimmer.
1. Gently wet your Beagles coat
The first step is to gently wet your dogs fur with the shower orsink sprayer. When doing this, you need to keep an eye on two things: the waters heat and intensity.
The water should be lukewarm: not too hot and not too cold, and if youre using the shower, you dont want to scare them off with the jets! I would only turn on the shower/sink sprayer halfway, so what you have is a gentle trickle rather than an intense spray.
It is incredibly important to get the temperature and the consistency of the water right, because not only do you risk harming your Beagle with burns, but you also risk scaring them and making them associate baths with unpleasant memories, feelings and sensations making it incredibly difficult for you to give them baths in the future.
2. Use a specialist dog shampoo
Then, get a gentle, soap-free dog shampoo and use your fingers to lather and work the shampoo into the coat.
As mentioned, Beagles have extra sensitive skin, which is why a soap-free shampoo is the best option.
What is the best shampoo for a Beagle smell?
3. Rinse the shampoo away
Rinse the shampoo out and repeat the process as many times as necessary to get all of the dirt out.
4. Use a specialist dog conditioner
Once youre done with shampooing, get your conditioner specially formulated for dogs (scent-free again to avoid skin issues and allergic reactions for your Beagle) and apply it evenly to the coat, brushing it through with a wide-tooth comb.
Give the conditioner no more than two minutes to set and then rinse again thoroughly.
5. Dry your Beagle thoroughly
To avoid that nasty wet dog smell, you need to dry your Beagle completely. Dry your dog with either a towel or a hairdryer on the lowest setting.
Additional Beagle bathing and washing tips
Now you know how to bathe a Beagle, I wanted to get into a little bit more detail about how you wash some specific parts of their body in the bath or shower.
Cleaning a Beagles face
When youre bathing your Beagle, it is important to take steps to ensure they dont get any water or shampoo in their eyes. The dog friendly shampoos are designed not to sting, but I dont think its entirely comfortable.
One way of doing this is by applying protective ophthalmic ointment to your dogs face before bath time.
To clean your Beagles face, use a flannel soaked with lukewarm water (no soap!) and gently wipe every nook and cranny of the face. This includes the outside ear flaps and the corners of the eyes to get rid of any stubborn tear stains.
I would do this instead of pouring water on their face not many dogs like this!
Cleaning a Beagles ears
Because a Beagles ears hang, they dont get a lot of air circulation, which unfortunately makes them more prone to infections. To avoid this, a Beagles ears should be cleaned weekly.
Specially made dog ear-cleaning solution contains ingredients that helps to break down and remove wax, as well as anti-bacterial agents that soothes inflammation and prevents infection.
You should apply this solution to a damp cotton ball and gentle wipe the inside of the ear (use a different cotton ball for each ear in order to prevent spreading infection) and check for any injuries, infection, inflammation or scrapes.
If you notice something unusual, apply antibiotic ointment and go to your vet in order to seek further advice.
Handy Hint: Did you know that theres a very good reason why Beagles have such big ears? I think you might be surprised by the reason for these long and floppy ears that make them stand out from other breeds.
Taking care of your Beagles toenails
If your Beagles nails get in the way of their movement, this is a good time to get them cut. You can either do them yourself or take them to a vet or a groomer if you dont feel confident.
It is important to be careful when you are cutting your Beagles nails, as inside each nail is what is called the quick which is extremely sensitive pink flesh that holds the blood vessels and the nerves that go into the nails.
If you cut into the quick, this will cause bleeding and extreme pain for your dog. It will also make it incredibly difficult to cut their nails in the future.
To cut your Beagles nails, use a sterile pair of scissors to avoid infection and gently trim the very ends of the nails off this might take longer, but it is better to cut off too little than too much.
After cutting the nails, give your Beagle a treat so that they have positive associations with the experience.
Handy Hint: Many Beagles will get the zoomies after a bath. Heres why dogs go mad after a bath wash.
Caring for a Beagles coat
Beagles have what is called a double coat, which means that there are two layers of fur. The top layer is thick, waterproof and usually a brown colour, whilst the bottom layer is softer, more sensitive and yet also dense because it acts as an insulator.
It is usually white and is more likely to shed during the winter months. Luckily, with Beagles being short-haired breeds, their coat, despite its complexities, is reasonably easy to care for.
- Brushing:Brush out dirt, prevent shedding and distribute natural oils throughout your Beagle by brushing them at least once a week with a bristle brush, a hound grooming glove or or a finer brush if you want to remove excess dirt or hair.Brush your Beagle more frequently up to three times a week during shedding season.
- Trimming:Beagles dont really need trimming, but if you choose to trim them, it is advisable to lightly trim them with electric clippers. You should also pay attention to any fur around the feet or on the pads of the feet that you might want to trim for tidiness.
- Freshening up:To keep your Beagle clean between baths, doggy dry shampoo is quick and easy to use you just need to sprinkle it on your dog and then distribute it with a brush. You can also use a spray-on dog conditioner in order to keep the coat looking shiny.
Conclusion
Although you should always keep in mind the allergies and skin issues that come with owning a Beagle, bathing them can be a rewarding bonding experience that helps to keep them squeaky clean, happy, and free from infection!
With any dog, it is important to strike that balance between not enough grooming and too-much grooming. Whilst it is important to ensure your dog is clean, tidy and healthy, over-bathing can cause its own issues, making it ultimately more counterproductive.
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How Often Should You Bathe a Beagle? Breed Care Tips
Beagles are adorable dogs that make excellent pets and are also great for tracking. They come in different colors, such as lemon, black, red, white, brown, and tan, and have a life expectancy of between 12 and 15 years.
As a pet parent, you want nothing but the best food, care, toys, and more for your Beagle pup, and that includes keeping the dog clean and groomed.
We shower every day, so should you bathe your dogs at least once a week? Bathing a dog too often isnt good for their fur or skin.
So, how often should you bathe your Beagle? The ideal bathing frequency is once every 4 to 6 weeks. Read on for more details more below.
How Often Should You Bathe a Beagle?
Experts say that you should bathe your Beagle every 4 to 6 weeks after they reach the age of 10 weeks. Remember, bathing them more often will dry out the oils in their skin and damage their fur.
Bathing them removes foul odors and debris from their coats. Its vital to use a gentle dog shampoo and dry the pup thoroughly after their bath.
Why Is Bathing Your Beagle Important?
Since your furry friend has thick, short fur, the dirt doesnt show up very well. In fact, your Beagle could play in the dirt and mud all day long, and youd still think it was clean, except for the smell.
However, the dirt and debris will build up in their fur and on their skin over time, which can lead to matted fur, infections, and illnesses you dont want to deal with. Bathing your Beagle regularly gets rid of the built-up dirt, dead hair, and accumulated oil to leave your Beagle fresh, smelling great, and with healthy shiny fur.
Other Factors to Consider
While you can usually follow the rule of thumb of bathing your Beagle only once every 4 to 6 weeks, therell be factors that make bathing the dog a must before the time elapses.
Skin Rashes or Underlying Allergies
Allergies are common in humans, but theyre also prevalent in dogs. If your dog has allergies or skin rashes, the schedule for their bath time may need to change. For example, if your dog has a rash, you might have to use a medicated shampoo and bathe it once a week until the rash is cleared up.
If you think your Beagle has a skin rash or allergy, its best to contact your vet to determine the cause of the inflammation and treat the condition.
Health Issues
If your dog has any health issues, it might be best to talk to your vet about how often the Beagle needs to be bathed.
Playing in the Mud
Outdoor pups cant seem to resist the mud hole in the front yard, and you might have to adjust your schedule for bathing the dog so that it stays clean and doesnt track mud all throughout your home.
Coat Type
Some Beagles are prone to having dry skin. In that case, you may have to bathe your pet less frequently to prevent skin irritation.
What About Grooming Your Beagle?
While your Beagle wont require the extensive grooming that a dog like a Poodle would, there are still things that need to be done to keep your Beagle healthy, happy, and with a shiny coat.
Taking care of the ears and teeth of your Beagle is just as important as its skin and hair. On top of that, though the dog has short fur, its still a good idea to brush it about once a month to remove dead hair and dirt.
Your Beagles ears are long and floppy, making them breeding grounds for bacteria, germs, and infections if you dont take care of their ears properly. Its best to clean their ears about once a month. Also, youll want to brush your Beagles teeth, so dont forget to invest in a doggie toothbrush and toothpaste.
Final Thoughts
You should bathe your Beagle once every 4 to 6 weeks unless there are factors that warrant a bath sooner or later. Beagles are adorable pets that dont require much in the way of grooming. However, they need baths and brushing sessions, and besides, who doesnt want their Beagle to be clean and healthy?
Featured Image Credit: Wasitt Hemwarapornchai, Shutterstock
