Dog owners worldwide know bathing your dog isn’t always the most straightforward or pleasant task. Large breed dogs can become challenging as their needs differ from those of smaller lap dog breeds. However, the biggest challenge is bathing your disabled dog safely, sensitively, and beneficially.
Not only do you need the right medicated dog shampoo that will gently tend to their unique needs, but you should also follow a safe method that will ensure they don’t become panicked or injure themselves (or you). So how do you do it?
I’ll share my approach to bathing my own partially disabled German shepherd and how I ensure she’s safe, clean, and happy at the end of the process.
Bathing Needs for a Disabled Dog
A disabled dog may have mobility challenges, which means they can’t self-groom as effectively as dogs are intended to do. Instead of being able to clean their own feet and hindquarters as part of their daily self-care, your disabled dog needs assistance in bathing. Due to frustrations with their inability, your dog may also have viciously started (over) self-grooming, which leads to hair pulling, infections, and more.
Sadly, disabled dogs often struggle with skin conditions like rash, urine burns, and pressure sores when they are unable to clean themselves (or they over-clean). Wearing diapers to help alleviate incontinence further adds to the struggle of poor skin conditions.
Bathing your disabled dog provides relief, cleans their coat and skin, and ensures these painful conditions don’t become more severe.
Body Placement During Bathing
Dogs don’t like feeling vulnerable and won’t want to turn on their back when bathing. Instead, keep their heads elevated to keep water out of their ears and let them feel safer. Supporting your dog’s head with a folded towel or non-slip bath pillow while gently bathing them helps since they don’t feel like they’ll drown (or need to swim).
For elderly and disabled dogs, ensure their legs and tails are comfortable and not placed so that it cuts off circulation.
Ensure your dog doesn’t feel like they are slipping in the bathtub. If you bathe them outside, maintain a secure position with your own back and sit while you wash them.
How to Use Your Bath Time Assistant
Using a human assistant to help you bathe your dog is invaluable. The assistant is your extra set of hands, helping to secure and stabilize your dog. They help pass you shampoo, take brushes from you, and wrap towels as needed.
If you are bathing your dog outside, it’s best to have both you and your assistant on one side of your dog so they don’t feel trapped and cornered.
Equipment and Preparation for Bathtime
The idea is to teach your dog about bath time when they are a puppy. At this stage, dogs learn quickly and become accustomed to being bathed.
However, if your dog never had these initial training lessons, it may become challenging to bathe them when they are elderly and disabled. Don’t despair; you can do it.
It’s all about preparation and the right equipment. And you just need some extra patience.
To bathe your dog, you will need:
- Towels (some for drying and others for supporting them in the bathtub)
- Sponges and washcloths
- A non-slip bath mat or foam mat to prevent your dog from slipping
- A high-quality shampoo that rinses easily while still offering the best treatment for problem skin and untangling long fur
- Bath combs (some bath combs help with applying shampoo to get an easy lather, while others help part thick fur for an in-depth clean)
- Buckets (if you don’t have the use of a handheld shower head)
- Your dog’s waterproof harness or collar (if they require restraint)
- An assistant (having help is vital for a successful bath time, even if your dog is small)
The Best Method of Bathing Your Disabled or Incapacitated Dog
Set your equipment within easy reach when you get ready for bath time. You certainly don’t want to reach for a comb when your dog is all soaped up and trying to get away (if they’re not trained yet).
While bathing, methods to distract your dog work well for some dogs, but don’t count on this for all dogs. You can place a sensory mat on the wall, covering it with a pet-friendly peanut butter or meaty sauce. These work well if your dog can reach and lick while you get on with soaping them. But if your dog is lying down while bathing, this method may also not work.
Instead, I focus on myself. I know that when I am calm, my dog is much more manageable. So here are the steps I follow:
1. Pre-Bath Dry Wash
Before bathing my dog, I use a washcloth (soaked in a bucket filled with warm water and a cap of shampoo) to get my dog comfortable and used to being somewhat wet. I use this step to pre-wet their fur, which makes the actual bathing less bothersome to them.
I fold a towel on the non-slip rug, then encourage my dog to lie down on it, or if your dog is fully disabled, you can gently lift them onto the mat. Take as much time as you need to rub them and calm them while you speak in soothing tones.
Apply the wet-wrung washcloth to their faces, starting on the sides of their mouth. Next, clean under and around their eyes, over their ears (but not inside), and move down their back. It’s good to wash-wipe their shoulders, ribs, and hindquarters.
If your dog is happy to have their nails clipped, you can do so at this point, but if they get anxious when clipping, wait until bathing is over (or do it on another day).
2. Adding Water to the Bath
Add water in small quantities using a hand sprayer or hand shower head. I like to lay a washcloth on my dog’s body and then apply the water to the cloth. This stops the water from irritating or scaring your dog. Place your hand or a cloth between your dog’s body and the water spray where possible.
The water temperature is vital to ensure your dog remains calm and comfortable. If the water is too hot, it can scald them. If it’s too cold, it can cause painful joints to ache and cramp. I like to have the water on the cool side of lukewarm when bathing my dog.
3. Adding Shampoo and Making Suds
Once your dog is thoroughly wet, you can add the shampoo in small amounts. If your dog has dense fur, diluting the shampoo in a small quantity of water is a good idea, as is applying it with a wet sponge.
Lather the shampoo and ensure you get into all the areas where your dog may be soiled, such as their hindquarters, under their tail, between their legs, and any other areas with chafe marks.
Some medicated shampoos require that your dog remain wet with the shampoo suds on their skin for a few minutes. At this point, your dog may become anxious and try to get up or become distressed. I find that wrapping a towel around them helps to soothe them and keep them calm.
4. Rinse, Rinse, and Rinse More
The trick for a successful bathing session is to ensure you remove all soapy residue from your dog’s fur and skin. Any shampoo remaining behind will cause itchiness, a rash, and discomfort. So, removing all shampoo is essential.
Recheck your water temperature, then rinse carefully from the neck down the back, over the shoulders, ribs, and hindquarters. Finally, rinse their stomach, between their legs, and under their tail.
Use a soft bath brush and a sponge to wipe down and rinse in hard-to-reach places. Check that no tangled fur remains, as suds easily hide in this. Remember to rinse your dog’s paws thoroughly, clean between each toe-bean, and ensure no soap or shampoo remains.
5. Drying Off Your Dog
Once your dog has been thoroughly rinsed, it’s essential to dry them off carefully. I like to start with some towels and rub them over first. Work with the direction of hair growth at first to prevent pulling on their fur. Use as much pressure as you’d use when rolling out cookie dough.
Use this opportunity to check for any remaining shampoo or soapiness. If you spot any areas that need another rinse, do so immediately. For my large dogs, I go through about two large bath sheets to dry one dog.
Not all dogs like the hairdryer, but if your dog tolerates it, you can further dry them and prevent them from rolling. Ensure you don’t place the dryer close to their skin; move it frequently to avoid scalding them with hot air.
This is also an excellent opportunity to brush them with an appropriate brush and further loosen any fur tangles. Use this time for good loving, telling them what a good girl or boy they are, and just cuddling while you dry them.
Handling Trouble Spots When Bathing Your Disabled Dog
Most disabled dogs lead sedentary lives as they can’t move about as much. Those who have access to wheelchairs or wear diapers may develop problem spots that require special care when washing.
If you cannot bathe them frequently, they may develop a buildup of crusty discharge or scabs on these areas, which don’t come off in a basic bath. You’ll need a particular approach for these spots.
Here’s my 3-step treatment protocol for these problem areas:
1. Visual Examination
Start by checking your dog all over, noting any problem issues. Use your eyes and touch to check for heat, broken skin, lumpy areas, buildup, and more.
2. Decide on a Pre-Wash Treatment Plan
Not all of these problem areas will receive the same treatment. Scabby areas may need to be softened the day before the bath. I like to apply a barrier cream like Vaseline or baby bum cream to help soften scabs. Of course, using a dense cream or an oily lotion will cause matted hair, but that’s what the bath is for.
3. Take Action to Remove Buildup
Next, loosen any scabs or flakey skin by gently rubbing it with a nail brush or a soft sponge. Don’t dig at it with your fingernails; you don’t want to cause an infection. Work very gently and slowly. Your dog won’t like this, but they will tolerate it as long as you don’t cause them severe pain.
If you are going to bathe them with a medicated shampoo, apply a small amount of the shampoo with a sponge to the affected areas before the actual bath, giving the medication a little more time to work on the problem area. Once you’ve bathed them, check that all products you applied have been fully removed.
Post-Bathing Treatment Protocols
After bathing your dog, you’ll need to check what medication you should apply to problem spots to treat these areas further. A gentle medicated cream is great to massage into the affected areas while the skin is still slightly damp.
When your dog has serious problem skin areas because of their disability, you’ll need to consult with your vet about how often to bathe them and what products to use pre-bathe, during bath time, and afterward.
At times, your vet may recommend not bathing your dog too frequently, especially if you live in an area with hard water that can cause further skin issues.
5 Medicated Shampoo Choices for Your Disabled Dog
Bath time will only be as effective as the quality of the dog shampoo you choose. For disabled dogs with problem skin areas and surface wounds that need care, a great medicated shampoo is a must.
Here are the best medicated dog shampoos you can consider using:
Best Chlorhexidine Shampoo: Douxo S3 PYO Shampoo
Most vets recommend chlorhexidine as a medicated shampoo for treating skin inflammation and infection. Duoxo’s S3 Pyo Shampoo is a great gentle product, yet offers effective medical treatment (with chlorhexidine) for painful skin inflammation.
It helps soothe irritated skin, which helps prevent your dog from obsessively licking at themselves. The shampoo also contains a natural ingredient known as Ophytrium, which helps soothe skin, promote skin flexibility, and eliminate foul odors in affected hot spots. Additionally, the shampoo is free from soap, parabens, and artificial dyes.
I also like that you don’t need a whole scoop of shampoo to do the job. A single pump per 4 pounds of dog is sufficient for a great clean.
Key Points
- Cost-effective because you use only a tiny amount
- Excellent for treating hot spots, itchy and dry skin, and scaly patches
- Ophytrium treats the skin by maintaining a natural flora balance
- Helps fight yeast infections
- Gentle foaming action that’s easy to rinse
Best Shampoo for Skin-Buildup – Pet MD Benzoyl Peroxide Medicated Shampoo for Dogs
Dogs that lie down a lot tend to develop hardened and overgrown skin areas that form calluses and painful dermatitis that itch and can become smelly. A good-quality benzoyl peroxide shampoo helps strip away excess skin, decrease abnormal skin growth, and gently moisturize the skin for natural growth.
Pet MD is a trusted name in dog medication and shampoos, and this is one of their best products. I’ve used it successfully to reduce the size and thickness of skin areas affected by dermatitis with my dog. While it’s not a quick fix, sustained use will improve skin quality and help your dog develop softer skin that promotes hair regrowth (as long as the follicles aren’t damaged).
Key Points
- Effective for the treatment of dermatitis and scaly skin
- Great citrus scent
- Foams quite well, and you can leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing
- Soft on skin
Best for Itchy Skin – Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Hot Spot & Itch Relief Medicated Shampoo
Scratching and self-grooming all day long often result from anxiety and frustration because your dog is infirm or incapacitated. Veterinary Formula’s Clinical Care shampoo is perfect for providing skin relief. The medicated formulation treats hot spots, itchy skin, inflammation, and septic sores.
The ingredient list is specifically tailored to treat problem skin spots, which makes it an excellent choice for treating your disabled dog’s pressure sores and inflammation spots.
The active ingredients provide comprehensive cover with lidocaine (gently numbing the skin from irritation), hydrocortisone (to treat inflammation), colloidal oatmeal and aloe vera (for soothing skin), and lactic acid (to aid ingredients to penetrate deeply).
Key Points
- Excellent treatment for severe skin conditions
- It contains lidocaine, hydrocortisone, colloidal oatmeal, aloe vera, and lactic acid
- Free from dyes, parabens, and soap
- Perfect for allergic-sensitive skin
- Affordably priced
Best All-Natural Medicated Shampoo – Arava Natural Medicated Dog Shampoo
I love going all-natural with products for my dogs, and I adore Arava’s natural medicated dog shampoo. It’s super soft on their skin and provides a gentle herbal and mineral solution to itchy, red, scabbed, and soiled skin.
After even one bathing session, the result is much shinier fur, a soft touch, and a happy doggo. The gentle oatmeal scent and light feel of the shampoo helps with the whole washing process, making life easier for me. I enjoy the benefits of the minerals and herbs as they soak into my dog’s skin, removing dirt and gently soothing hot spots or inflammation.
Key Points
- Free from harmful chemicals – perfect for sensitive skins
- Contains 26 Dead Sea minerals, 28 herbs and botanicals
- Ideal for gently treating chafe marks from wheelchairs, urine burns, and inflammation spots
- Long-lasting herbal scent
- Leaves fur soft and silky, while skin is cleaned of any scabs (which lets the skin more efficiently absorb any future medication)
Best Sulfur-Containing Shampoo: Farnam Sulfodene Medicated Shampoo & Conditioner for Dogs
A traditional treatment for skin conditions has been to apply some fat or barrier cream mixed with sulfur to hot spots and scabs. However, as you can imagine, this is a smelly and unsightly remedy. Thankfully, you can now use this fantastic medicated shampoo by Farnam, which achieves the same results.
The sulfodene-containing medicated shampoo helps remove scabs, treats inflammation, and removes flakey skin that often comes from immobility. It is available in various products, from medicated shampoo and ear cleaner to spot treatments and sprays.
Key Points
- Works as a multi-functional skin treatment shampoo, cleaning, treating, and killing parasites like fleas
- Sulfur is a well-known treatment for skin conditions, but the shampoo version is more gentle and doesn’t require it to be left on the skin
- It can be used as a regular shampoo (and it’s affordable enough to do so)
- Helps heal skin ailments such as a rash and assist with hair regrowth
- Easy to rinse
FAQs
How do you wash a dog with mobility issues?
Supporting your dog with a sling or on a small body ball while using a hand shower is the best way to wash them without compromising their stability. If they lie down, support their head with a towel on the basin’s edge or bath. Use an assistant to help with a big dog.
How do you clean a paralyzed dog?
Regular bathing is essential, but when your paralyzed dog can’t clean themselves daily, you can use dog-friendly wet wipes to gently clean their intimate areas and prevent them from obsessively trying to self-groom.
How often should I bathe my paralyzed dog?
Since your dog will likely have incontinence issues and may use a diaper, cleaning them frequently with daily wipe-downs and a bath at least once a week is vital. In extreme cases, you may bathe them every few days to remove urine and prevent skin infections.
Read More Jack’s Dacks:
- Best Compostable Pet Wipes: Eco-Friendly Cleaning for Your Furry Friends
- 4 Best Treatment Products for Urinary Incontinence Burns in Dogs
- 5 Best Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents for Washing Reusable Belly Bands and Doggy Diapers
The Final Foam
Choosing a quality medicated shampoo will help your disabled dog accept being bathed more readily, and it makes your life easier knowing that your dog is not only getting clean but their problem skin is also getting the best care.
I love bath time with my elderly dog, and we have a great system where I can help her climb into the bath with a stair-lift; then, she enjoys snuggling in her bath towel while I get the water temperature just right. When you approach bath time with your dog happily and peacefully, you’ll soon find that your dog looks forward to it.
Want to learn more about how to care for scrapes and injuries from wheelchairs, supports, and nappies with your elderly or disabled dog? Read my guide on the best topical medication for treating your dog’s skin conditions.