How often do you bathe a pregnant dog? Here’s What to Do Next

What to do if a pregnant dog gets dirty?

It should be fine to bathe a pregnant dog unless they are subject to the above restrictions. We must make an effort to ensure that they are not in a position where they get very dirty, especially in the days leading up to their delivery.

However, there may be times when the dog gets dirty, such as after an unexpected rain on a walk. This situation can be aggravated in long-haired dogs. If they get stressed during the bath, we must find other ways to clean them. It may be sufficient to use wipes suitable for pregnant dogs or even wipe them with a clean damp towel.

Pregnancy is not a reason to stop caring for our dog. We still need to keep brushing her regularly and make sure her coat is well maintained. If they get too stressed out going to a hairdresser, we should do it at home or wait until after pregnancy for more complicated grooming practices.

The basic care of a pregnant dog

A dog’s pregnancy lasts approximately 63 days, with a healthy range of between 56 and 66 days. A normal pregnancy allows the dog to maintain her routine, so it is wrong to be too restrictive when caring for a pregnant dog. However, there are certain basic considerations that we must take into account during our partner’s pregnancy:

Veterinary check-ups: as soon as we suspect that our dog is pregnant, the first thing we should do is take her to a veterinary clinic. While there are standard guidelines that we must follow, our vet will be able to tell us if there are any specific considerations we should make with our dog. They will usually confirm the pregnancy with an abdominal palpitation or ultrasound. They will also have a final visit before the due date to confirm that all is well.

Feeding: once the pregnancy is confirmed, you can feed the dog with a special feed. This is because it is the best to meet her nutritional needs during this period and the one that will continue to benefit her during breastfeeding.

Deworming: deworming is a preventative measure taken to stop parasitic infestation. As puppies are particularly vulnerable to parasites, it is important that the pregnant mother is dewormed. Your vet will likely recommend deworming again around 45 days of pregnancy. They will then need to be dewormed again during lactation along with her puppies. During this period, not all antiparasitic agents are safe, so it is important that we carefully follow veterinary instructions.

Exercise: our dog will be able to lead a normal life, taking her usual outings and walks. We should only avoid making big jumps or playing rough games with other dogs to avoid injury to her or her puppies. Done right, it is safe to exercise a pregnant dog. Our dog will stop exercising once she is close to delivery.

Precautions: before applying or administering any product to our pregnant dog, we must consult with the veterinarian. During pregnancy, products such as deworming collars, pipettes, or shampoos may contain ingredients that can be harmful if they reach puppies.

This last point of precautions relates to our initial question about whether we can bathe a pregnant dog. Below we provide the considerations that we must take into account if our pregnant dog is dirty.

A dog that is expecting puppies will follow a routine similar to that before she got pregnant as long as the necessary precautions are taken. If you wonder if you can bathe a pregnant dog, the answer is yes. You can bathe your pregnant dog if necessary, but there are a few things to keep in mind:

Make sure that the bathtub or place where we bathe them has a non-slip surface to avoid falls and bumps. We can use special non-slip bath mats or even a simple folded towel.

Always use a shampoo approved by our vet. As we have said, some products may contain components that could be toxic to pregnant dogs, especially in the case of shampoos with insecticides used to deworm. If you wonder what product you should use to bathe your pregnant dog, do not hesitate to consult with the veterinary specialist who takes care of your dog’s health.

Handle the dog with care, do not apply pressure or make sudden movements, especially in the abdominal area. If the animal’s breathing is agitated, it feels uncomfortable, it becomes anxious or it continually tries to get out of the bathtub, we should not continue with the bath. Stress is very harmful for a pregnant dog.

Although bathing is suitable for most pregnant dogs, there are circumstances in which it is not recommended. These include the following:

At the end of gestation: it is a time when the dog needs tranquility and will be looking for a nesting place for delivery. Unless bathing is a relaxing activity for her, it is best not to stress her out or distract her from her main goal.

Dogs that do not tolerate bathing: For dogs that get very nervous, restless, scared or that try insistently to escape from the bathroom, they should not bathe during pregnancy to avoid a stressful situation. Since dogs don’t need to be bathed regularly without a specific cause, it should be okay to wait until after pregnancy or even until the puppies are weaned.

Step 8: Apply shampoo to her body

Apply a generous amount of dog shampoo to your hands and quickly rub them together to create lather. Now apply the shampoo to the dog’s coat. Start behind her head, then move down to her neck and body. Avoid getting in your eyes unless your shampoo specifically says it’s tear-free and safe for your dog’s eyes. Foam in her legs and tail last.

Touch her belly lightly and just enough to make sure it’s clean. Make sure not to scrub the genitals with shampoo, as this can cause yeast infections in pregnant dogs. Do not apply soap to your face as it can get in your eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Instead, use a damp cloth to wash your face with water.

grooming a pregnant dog. how to shower/ bath a pregnant dog, pregnant french bulldog KCBULLDOGS

Is is a ole wives tale or true? If you bathe a pregnant dog at a week before her whelp , you can cause her to have the litter early…

Bath her if she rolls in cow poo – dont bathe her if she doesnt smell. Just like any other dog.

Speaking of stinky! Ive got a couple of those myself. Its bath day! Although I think mine are smelly from rolling in cat poo!

16 DAYS OF RAIN AND MUD AND SHE IS GETTING IN CREEK AND COMING OUT VERY STINK AND DIRTY…..WIPES WONT GET HER CLEAN BUT I DONT WANT PUPS A WEEK EARLY…. and Im not yelling…..the caps key gets in the way……she is due July 6,7,8 or so…..I just keep hearing that rumor and no one here knows for sure, just heard that……. Ill bathe her next week, hopefully before she whelps….

bathing her wont make her whelp early – wont hurt or change anything, unless she is completely stressed out by bathing, I would do it if she needs it, and dont do it if she doesnt smell. Personally my dogs just get hosed off unless they need shampoo to really get rid of something gross they rolled in.

eichenluft is 100%, the bath isnt going to cause labor early unless your female is completely afraid of the bath and you have to put a ton of pressure (mentally) on her to make her calm down. Now, i guess there might be some crazy chemical in some crazy shampoo that might, just might cause something to happen in some crazy dog, but the chances are very slim.

for the sake of your dogs skin I would wait and bathe after the pups as it will be needed at that point (trust me!).

Douglife: Your right , pretty clean babies and a nasty mom , I know all of this, I just introduced the question , is it rumor or not…I havent got a female on my property that couldnt take a bath , I just never bathe them before the whelp, so I wouldnt know if a real warm bath ever did cause someones dog to have an early birth…..I use Dawn ,the same thing the Bird association uses when birds get in an oil spill, and use Head and shoulders on adult dogs , during these crazy dog days of summer,,,,itchy skin and hot weather and bugs….

I guess all my dogs think the creek is a bathtub, with no shampoo though,,,during nursing sometimes a bitch will sneak around me and go to the creek and I have to shampoo as you do not know what is in the creek someone else dumped in it, way down the road as it comes for miles accross my property…….

I just wanted to know if anyone had this happen to them….or is it a myth Ive heard it for years…..never worried about it,,,mine carry theres till the last minute as long as they can,,,,,like they dont want to give them up…