bathtime
 

Does anybody have some tips on giving my old dog a bath. She is 11. A year ago she started biting ppl who touched her. (My dd refuses to help me cuz everyone is afraid of getting bit) She stays curled up on the corner of the couch most all day. Also she might be cataracs and arthritis.

Boy, I'm just not sure. Does your dog have a favorite treat or food? Maybe keep it's favorite food or treat right there to munch on while giving the bath?

If I hear anything I'll sure come back to suggest! Good luck!

I suspect she is in pain. Have you taken her to the vet? An animal who bites and is this old is suffering.

Billye

Will she let you touch her?

I found some wipes for dogs at the store that will allow a little bit of clean up. I use them when we go camping to wipe the dogs down with.

You can also put a soft muzzle on her. They are made of cloth and don't hurt the dog at all.

Hope you figure out why she won't let anyone touch her...Sue

It does sound like she is in pain. She might need some medicine to help with it. However, if she lets you touch her you might be able to lift her into the bathtub and sit on the side with your feet in there with her and be very very gentle and wash her. (Maybe cushion the bottom of the tub with a towel or two...)

I am the only one my cousin's dog lets give her a bath, everyone else she freak out and tries to bite. This is the only way she will let me wash her. She is not happy about it, but she puts up with it.

So hey Lor! How is it going???

Aw, poor ol' gal.
If the vet agrees she has arthritis...

When my shep/chow was about that age, he had arthritis too. He'd whine when he tried to stand up. He was okay after he got up, but he'd walk slowly. He also had cataracts and loss of hearing.

He'd growl if you grabbed his collar, I guess it was uncomfortable and a little scary.

We put him on glucosamine/chrondrointin supplements, OTC. Within a week or so, he was standing and walking without pain. He started running around like a much younger dog, and we had to watch him because he still couldn't see so good, lol.

But he lived to 15.5 with a lot less stiffness and pain. He even got on the raft and swam in the pool. He chased a few rabbits around the yard and he never would have done all that without those supplements.

I'd see about the dog's discomfort and then worry about her bath. Perhaps a dry bath would be less stressful on her. You can ask about that at a pet store. I think they used to recommend brushing corn starch into the coat, letting it set a few minutes, then brushing it out.

Just seems like if she felt better, she wouldn't be snapping at people. I know when I hurt I wanna bite people too.

:o

God luck with her.