After the Trail or the Lake: Keeping Your Dog Clean After Hikes and Swims in Southern California

Southern California is a great place to be a dog. There are mountain trails, lakes, pools, and long sunny days. But all that fun comes home with your dog: lake water, chlorine, dust, burrs, and the occasional hitchhiking bug.

A few minutes of care after each adventure keeps your dog comfortable and your house cleaner.

After a lake swim

Lake water can carry mud, algae, and plant bits that cling to the coat and skin. Before your dog dries off, give them a rinse with clean water.

• Bring a jug of fresh water and a towel in the car for a quick rinse at the shore.
• At home, rinse again with the hose or in the tub, from the neck down to the tail.
• Work your fingers through the coat to the skin, so the rinse reaches all the way down.
• Keep an eye out for posted warnings about algae. If your dog swam in water that looked green or scummy, or acts sick afterward, call your veterinarian right away.

After a pool day

Chlorine and salt can dry out the coat and skin. A simple rinse with clean water after swimming helps, even if your dog seems clean.

Make sure your dog knows how to find the pool steps, and never leave a dog alone near a pool.

Dry the ears

Water left in the ears creates a warm, damp space. Dogs with floppy ears, and dogs who swim often, need extra care here.

• Gently dry the outer ear and the inside of the flap with a soft towel or cotton pad.
• Do not push anything deep into the ear canal.
• Let the ears air out after drying by lifting the flaps for a minute.
• Watch for head shaking, scratching, redness, or a bad smell. If you see these, check with your veterinarian.

Dry the coat properly

Thick and curly coats can stay damp close to the skin for hours. A damp coat can tangle and start to smell.

• Towel dry firmly, pressing into the coat rather than rubbing in circles.
• Brush through the coat once it is mostly dry, to stop tangles from setting.
• For thick coats, a pet dryer on a low, cool setting can help.
• Do not crate or bed a soaking-wet dog with a heavy coat.

After a trail hike

Trail dust, dry grass, and brush end up in the coat, on the paws, and in the ears. Before you get back in the car, and again at home, do a slow check.

• Look between the toes and pads for stickers, burrs, and small stones.
• Run your hands over the body to feel for burrs or anything stuck.
• Check for ticks around the ears, neck, armpits, groin, and between the toes.
• If you find a tick, or are not sure how to remove one safely, check with your veterinarian.
• Brush out dust and plant bits before they get worked deeper into the coat.

Dusty coats during Santa Ana winds

When the Santa Ana winds blow, dust and dry debris get everywhere, including your dog's coat. Dogs who spend time in the yard may come in looking dull and feeling gritty.

• Brush more often on windy days to lift out dust.
• Wipe the face and around the eyes with a soft, damp cloth.
• Bring dogs inside during the worst of the wind when you can.
• Keep fresh water handy. Dry, hot winds are tiring for dogs too.

When a full bath is worth it

A quick rinse handles most days. But sometimes a full bath with shampoo and conditioner is the better choice:

• Your dog still smells after rinsing and drying
• The coat feels sticky, gritty, or greasy
• Your dog rolled in something
• After a weekend of swimming or trail days in a row
• The undercoat is full of loose hair and dust

When to call a groomer

If your dog's coat is thick, or bath day at home ends with a soaked bathroom and a half-dry dog, a professional bath and brushout can save you the work. A warm bath, a full dry, and a thorough brush leave the coat clean down to the skin.

Book a bath at home

Our grooming van comes to your driveway with warm water ready. Call or text (310) 993-5993, or book online.