Throw in the Towel A quick-drying microfiber towel is a wet weather essential. Keep one by the door for a quick paw-wipe on your way in from a walk, and one in the car to dry off after a romp at the park. Your dog will love this towel's soft, snuggly warmth, and you'll love how much water it absorbs.
It's important to dry off your dog with a towel as soon as you come in from rainy walks and give them a warm, dry area to stay in. You may also consider training your pooch to wear a raincoat to avoid exposure to wet weather.
Just like wetting your pet and shampooing them are vital pieces to the bathing puzzle, so is drying your dog. If you're wondering if you should let your dog air dry, the answer is no, you shouldn't. You should consider drying your pet to be an integral part of the bathing process, just like scrubbing your dog is.
Dogs will need extra bathing after they have been out in the rain to remove dirt and mud that has built up. The warm water can also help to warm the up and make them feel more comfortable. If you won't be bathing them straight away, have a towel on hand to dry off the rainwater so that they don't get too cold.
Invest in a doggy rain jacket
They're also a very handy addition to keep your dog safe and dry when camping in the rain. Look for a rain jacket that's waterproof, adjustable, the right size for your dog, and is easily visible in rainy conditions.
The Quick Clean Method
Have a rubber mat and towel by the door so that you can bring your dog inside after his daily walk and towel off excess moisture and mud in a warm dry location. A rubber mat will protect your floors and prevent you and your wet dog from slipping.
Yes, dogs can get sick from being in the rain. The cold affects dogs in a similar way to humans. The cold and rain can cause the lining of a dog's lungs to become irritated and inflamed. If left outside for long enough, a dog could develop pneumonia, a potentially life-threatening illness.
Although most dogs splash in puddles without getting ill, if your dog exhibits signs of being ill, such as vomiting and diarrhea, shortly after walks or lays in puddles, it might be worth mentioning it to your vet. You should also make sure your dog's vaccinations are up to date to protect them on wet, wintery walks.
If it's snowing, your dog's coat may become wet and lower their body temperature. Dogs without much hair on their bellies get cold faster, especially if walking or playing in snow.
Instead, groomers recommend that you press a towel on a wet dog's fur to soak as much water as possible, then repeat until your pet is sufficiently dry. If you're using regular bath towels, you may need to have several on hand, as they will quickly get sodden.
All of the dryers shown above can be used safely. HOWEVER some of them have more dangers involved than others. As a result of that I choose to use ONLY air movers and box fans to dry dogs in cages and force dryers and hand held human dryers to dry dogs by hand in my salon.
They can get your pet completely dry in a few minutes, versus half an hour to an hour or more with other models. Other models are made to dry the water that is on the coat. This just removes the water from the coat. Sometimes I end up wearing the water, especially on thick-coated dogs, where there is a lot to remove.
Although rain can occasionally rid any smells or urine, it's best to regularly clean your artificial turf to keep it sanitary and odourless. While dedicated products exist that can remove any smells or stains from urine, you can actually accomplish the same results simply using water and vinegar.
Persistent, lingering moisture can impair the skin's defense mechanisms, and that (rather than just being in the water for a time each day) will predispose your dog to skin infections, says Tufts veterinary dermatologist Lluis Ferrer, DVM.
After opening a can or pouch of wet dog food, transfer any unused portion to an airtight container and refrigerate it for no longer than three days. Always check the expiration date on the wet dog food before feeding it to your dog. It should be thrown out if it is past its expiration date.
DON'T brush damp fur
Because brushing your dog when his hair is wet can be quite painful, while also creating more tangles and knots. That's why you should always brush dogs before you bathe them and then just let it all dry naturally afterward.
Small companion dogs are most at risk in temperature extremes and it would be cruel to leave them outside at temperatures below 10°C or above 30°C. Larger breeds are often okay to stay outside when the temperature goes as low as 7°C as long as there's no wind.
Storm Fear/Phobia
Dogs diagnosed with storm phobia can react with anxiety or fear to wind, rain, thunder, lightning, and other associated stimuli, including barometric pressure changes, the “smell of rain,” static electricity, and even time of day.
Outside of just getting mud, dirt and dust on your floors and carpets, not cleaning your pup's paws could lead to bacteria outbreaks in your home. These can be very harmful for you and your family.
Yes, you can bathe your dog too much. If your dog has healthy, normal skin, excessive bathing—more than once per week—can dry out their skin and coat and compromise the skin's moisture barrier. Remove as much dirt as possible with brushing to prolong the time between baths.
A daily full bath is more than what most dogs need. So a bath mixed with rinsing or wiping him down is a very good plan. You can tell if his skin is getting too dry if you see seborrhea ("dandruff") or dry skin flakes. If his skin looks healthy – you are probably doing just fine and not over-doing it.
Grab their leash and a large umbrella
It may take some patience, but most dogs will usually potty this way, eager to get back inside. If you can't be home, your dog may appreciate a rain shelter where they can access the grass without being directly in the rain.
One of the most common reasons why your dog won't pee in rain is simply because they don't like being rained on or having wet paws. Walking around on the squishy, wet earth and getting mud squeezed into your paws must be an awful feeling.