How do I dry my puppy after his first bath

5 Reasons Why Does My Dog Sleep After A Bath? [Vet Advice]

Bathing your dog is an important part of its grooming routine. After a bath, you may notice that your dog is sleepy. This is because bathing can be a relaxing and tiring experience for your pup. It can also be a source of stress, depression, and even ingestion of shampoo.

Allowing your dog to sleep after a bath can have some benefits. It can help to boost energy, reduce stress, and calm the body. However, there are some drawbacks to letting your pup sleep after a bath, such as catching a cold, fungal infection, and high bacterial growth.

Should you let your dog sleep after a bath? Its a common question among pet owners. In this article, well explore the pros and cons of letting your dog sleep after a bath, as well as the things you should be aware of.

Why Does Your Dog Sleep After A Bath?

It is a widely known fact that many dogs become hyperactive after baths. Interestingly, the opposite can also occur: a dog becoming sleepy after a bath.

There are several possible explanations for this phenomenon:

1. Firstly, it may be due to exhaustion the sheer effort of getting clean can leave your pooch feeling drained.
2. Secondly, some dogs find bathing relaxing and may even fall asleep in the tub!
3. Alternatively, if your pup appears particularly lethargic afterwards, they could be feeling depressed.
4. Your dog may have accidentally ingested some shampoo!
5. Lastly, stress may play a role some dogs dislike water and simply become overwhelmed by the experience.

1. They Feel Tired

After bathing, it is a common and memorable sight to see your dog go crazy and run around with asudden rushof energy. This can be caused by many things.

• They are relieved after a bath
• Because they shake too much to dry off.
• They want to get rid of this weird new scent of shampoo.
• Release of sudden energy.
• Happiness after bathing.

This energy can alone exhaust them to be the cause why they feel sleepy after bathing. Just like humans, after a great workout and a shower, its normal to feel sleepy.

This is another reason why does your dog might want to sleep after walks.

2. It Relaxes Them

Another reason why dogs love to sleep after a bath is that it makes them more relaxed. The basis behind this is the running of water as well as brushing against their fur calms them down. But, if you dont brush its coat, she will start to lick herself after having a bath.

In addition release of nervous energy and happy hormones can make them doze off.

3. They Are Depressed

Do dogs experience depression? Yes, they do! Dogs are living beings with minds and thoughts, just like humans. Therefore, its not surprising that they can experience depression or anxiety, especially when significant changes occur in their daily routine.

One such change that can trigger depression or anxiety in dogs is having a bath. While some breeds like Golden Retrievers enjoy being bathed, most dogs do not.

Being forced to get wet with soap and water can make them feel powerless and upset, no matter how stinky or dirty they may be.

Symptoms of doggy depression can include changes in appetite, loss of interest, excessive paw licking, avoiding activities they once enjoyed, hiding, and sleeping excessively. Its understandable that they may want to sleep more when feeling depressed.

Overall, its essential to pay attention to your dogs behavior and seek veterinary care if you notice any concerning symptoms.

4. They May Have Ingested Shampoo

It is not uncommon for dogs to accidentally ingest shampoo or be curious about the new liquid on their body. However, some shampoos can be toxic to them.

If you notice that your dog is sleeping more than usual, it could be a sign that they are feeling lethargic after ingesting shampoo.

5. They Are Stressed

Another explanation for why your dog may suddenly become sleepy after bathing is due to stress. But why do dogs get stressed after bathing?

For many dogs, bath time can be overwhelming and stressful. Its not uncommon for dogs to feel an adrenaline rush in sudden situations they fear, such as bathing. This stress can cause them to feel tired after the adrenaline rush subsides.

Another possible reason for this stress could be due to past trauma. Some dogs not only dislike water but are also frightened by it.

This can be especially true for adopted dogs whose previous owners may not have properly introduced them to bathing.

Other reasons for a fear of water could include being forcefully bathed, being taken to the beach without proper introduction, or experiencing an accident with water such as falling in and nearly drowning.

Overall, its essential to be patient and understanding with your dog during bath time. If you notice signs of stress or fear, try to make the process as comfortable and positive as possible.

Suggested Reading: Here is what to do if your dog got water in the nose during a bath.

Should You Let Your Dog Sleep After Bathing?

Its perfectly fine to let your dog sleep after a good bath as it can help them relax and calm down. Additionally, sleeping can help boost their energy levels as they may feel exhausted from getting wet and running around.

However, like humans, dogs should be dried off well after getting wet. Sleeping curled up after a bath can slow down the drying process, so its important to brush and dry them thoroughly with a clean towel.

Its essential to watch out for signs of lethargy or other complications such as vomiting. If your dog experiences drowsiness after a bath along with symptoms like vomiting, lethargy, or diarrhea, its not okay to let them sleep. This could indicate illness or ingestion of shampoo, and you should consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Pros Of Letting The Dog Sleep After Bathing

Sleeping is beneficial for all living beings, including dogs, especially after a bath. Here are some benefits of letting your dog sleep after bathing:

1. Boosts their energy: After a bath, most dogs become hyperactive, running around and playing. This can drain their energy, and sleeping can help them regain it.
2. Reduces stress: Bathing can be exciting for dogs, but it can also make them restless. Sleeping and resting can help them calm their minds and reduce stress.
3. Calms their bodies down: Bathing can cause dogs to become hyperactive, resulting in running and jumping around. Sleeping after a bath can help calm their body, hormones, and temperature levels, bringing them back to normal.

Overall, allowing your dog to sleep after a bath can be beneficial for their physical and mental health.

Cons Of Letting The Dog Sleep After Bathing

While there are benefits to letting your dog sleep after bathing, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider:

1. They might catch a cold: Although dogs do not get colds in the same way humans do, they can still become sick if their respiratory tract becomes inflamed from exposure to wet and cold weather. If your dog sleeps right after bathing without drying off well, they may be at risk of catching a cold.
2. Fungal infections: Fungi can cause painful rashes on a dogs ears or skin. If your dog is not dried off properly after bathing, there is a higher risk of fungal infections such as aspergillosis, cryptococcosis, blastomycosis, ringworm, and fungal dermatitis.
3. It can increase bacteria growth: Water and warmth create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow rapidly. Allowing your dog to sleep after a bath without properly drying them off can increase the risk of bacteria growth on their skin.

Its important to dry your dog thoroughly after bathing to avoid these potential issues. Additionally, its a good idea to consult with your veterinarian if you notice any concerning symptoms.

If youre interested in learning why some dogs sleep with their heads elevated, check out our recommended reading.

Things To Be Aware Of

As mentioned earlier, whether its okay or not okay for your dog to sleep after bathing depends on the individual dog and situation. Its important to keep an eye on your dog and consult a veterinarian if they seem abnormal after bathing.

Dogs, especially puppies, are prone to getting cold after bathing. To prevent this, there are several ways to keep them warm:

1. Rub your dog between two warm towels to prevent their temperature from dropping. You can warm the towels in a dryer.
2. Give them some warmed canned food. Heat a few spoonfuls in the microwave for about 15 seconds, then mix and touch it to check the temperature. Repeat as needed, and give it to your pup once its warm enough.
3. Offer a bowl of warmed milk, goat milk, or puppy milk. Again, make sure the temperature is warm enough.
4. Pet your dog from their head down to their tail, and also on their chest. This can stimulate their nerves and circulatory system if they get wet. Mother dogs often lick their puppies to do the same.
5. Its common for some dog breeds, such as Greyhounds, to sleep throughout the day, not just after bathing. However, its still important to monitor your dogs behavior and consult with your veterinarian if you have any concerns.

Conclusion

As a loving dog owner, you now have a better understanding of why your dog may fall asleep after bathing. We have discussed the potential benefits and drawbacks of this behavior, and its important to remember that its usually normal.

However, if you notice anything out of the ordinary, its always best to consult with your veterinarian. We hope this article has helped you understand your dogs behavior and made your life as a dog parent easier.

Best of luck to you and your furry friend!

First Puppy Bath - The Survival Guide

When they come out of the bath, your puppy will automatically want to shake themselves. Your bathroom (and you) might get a bit wet, but its their instinctive way of getting rid of most of the water.

When they have done this, you can continue to towel dry them. Again, this is where having someone to hold them helps - or you can sit them on their knee on the floor to keep them secure and feeling safe.

Once they are towel dried as much as you can, you can begin to use the hairdryer. Ideally use a diffuser so the heat is spread evenly and only have it on a low, cool setting.A hairdryer can be a bit scary so always go slowly and avoid blowing air at their face and ears. Try to get them as dry as you can - and with long-haired puppies, stop frequently to brush or comb through the hair to make sure it isnt getting tangled.

NOTE: You will have spent time getting your puppy used to the hairdryerbefore bath day!

10. Brush

Once you have finished bathing your puppy and drying them off, comb or brush them through thoroughly.

11. Treat time!

Last but not least, give your puppy one last treat as a reward - and go and have one yourself!

Bathing a puppy: Top tips

Make sure the dryer isnt too close to their skin, is not directed into their eyes and keep the airflow cool/warm but very definitely not hot.

When dogs get wet their natural response is to roll and rub their heads, necks and bodies on any available ground, including grass. To stop them getting dirty as soon as theyve just been bathed, make sure all doors to the garden etc are closed!

Small and thin-coated breeds get cold easily, so keep your puppy in a warm room until theyre completely dry.

It is very important to rinse the shampoo and/or conditioner thoroughly as residue can make their coat itchy or dry.

If needed, you can clean their inner ears using a specific dog ear cleaner (available from pet shops or your vets) but never put anything in their ear canals such as cotton wool or a cotton bud.

Make bath-time a fun experience for you both - and if you can have a friend to help you the first few times, it will make it much easier.

How to get your puppy used to the hairdryer

If your puppy coat is very long or thick, they can take a surprisingly long time to dry so you may want to use a hairdryer. Hairdryers can be quite frightening for a dog if they are not introduced properly so give you puppy a chance to meet the hairdryer long before bath day.

Find a quiet hairdryer. Often expensive ones that are high powered and come with high heat settings are the noisiest. Find one with a small motor that is less noisy.

You can start introducing it from an early age, initially just letting them hear the drier in the same room - maybe even when you are drying your own hair. This way the noise wont be anything unusual for them.

Once they are happy with the noise, you can sit on the floor with it and let your puppy approach it slowly (first off, and later on at a low/quiet setting). From here, you can let them feel the air on their body - with lots of treats to convince them that there is nothing to worry about.

And thats it its as easy as that to bathe your dog!Now that you know how to bathe a dog, find out the best ways to groom your dog, next!