Melting snow, warmer temperatures, flowers blooming \u2014 they all point to one thing: It\u2019s mud time. And that can mean your dog\u2019s favorite walking trail is now a mud path that ends with dirty paws and a mud-encrusted coat. Or perhaps even worse, your backyard turns into your dog\u2019s favorite new game \u2014 mud zoomies. We\u2019ve got some tips and tricks on how to get your dog mud free \u2014 until next time.<\/p>\n
If you can see more mud than dog, the first step is to get the bulk of the mud off with a towel or similar cloth. This will help you tackle the mud by reducing the quantity you\u2019re dealing with. If your dog isn\u2019t quite that muddy, you could use dog wipes, baby wipes or something similar to clean off their paws and other mud-caked areas.<\/p>\n
One of the best ways to remove mud from your dog\u2019s coat is to do nothing. By letting the mud dry, it can be easier (and a little less messy) to comb out later. If the weather is suitable, the backyard is an ideal spot for dog drying, or you could use an easily cleaned inside space instead. Once the mud is dry, you can use a brush to comb it out, but some dogs may be able to shake off the dry dirt and you can skip the brush.<\/p>\n
Sometimes there\u2019s nothing left to do but take a bath, especially if it\u2019s not just mud they\u2019ve been rolling around in<\/a>. Make sure that the bath water is lukewarm, as hot water can irritate your dog\u2019s skin, especially if they have sensitive skin<\/a>. Soak their coat and skin thoroughly, then massage shampoo through the coat. Make sure you use a pet- or dog-specific shampoo. Canine skin<\/a> has a different pH than human skin, so the shampoos have different formulations. Shampoo for people can dry out your pet\u2019s skin, particularly if they have sensitive skin. Human shampoo isn\u2019t toxic, so you can use it in an emergency situation, but it\u2019s not recommended for routine use.<\/p>\n Rinse the shampoo off really well because residual shampoo can irritate your dog\u2019s skin. You can dry your dog with a towel in a warm environment or a hair dryer if they don\u2019t have sensitive skin and can tolerate the noise.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t want to mud-up your bathroom, you could take your dog to a self-service dog wash instead \u2014 especially if they\u2019re crate trained<\/a> so they can\u2019t get mud all over your car. Or contact your groomer to see if they\u2019ll do walk-in appointments, but be sure to mention your dog\u2019s new mud-covered look so they know what to expect.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hopefully you now have a mud-free dog! Well, at least until your next adventure outside.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nTake the Mess Elsewhere<\/h2>\n