rij73
09-20-2006, 07:31 PM
OK, so my doggie has demodectic mange (since before I got him). He is getting the best treatment possible, and one of the components of this treatment is 3 baths a week with a benzoyl peroxide shampoo.
This poor boy has been getting at least a bath a week for almost 4 months now, so you think he would be used to it, right? Well, guess again! He makes me feel SOOOOOO BAAAAAAD about the whole thing.
It's not that he growls or snaps or anything (I don't think he's capable of getting angry), but he just stands completely still in the tub with all his muscles tense and just leans in the opposite direction from me the entire time! He looks so miserable and pathetic! He's just wishing a hole would open up and swallow him. He'd rather be anywhere else doing anything else. He alternates between staring at the door, and staring at me.
Add to it, that the shampoo has to stay on for ten minutes. I pet him calmly the whole time and try not to make a big deal out of it, but I just can't get him to relax. I've tried treats and toys and everything.
Anyway, it's not too bad, it's just hard to work with him when he is so stiff and unwilling, plus there is major guilt since he looks so pitiful, LOL.
Anyone have a similar experience? Any tricks to make it easier on him?
This poor boy has been getting at least a bath a week for almost 4 months now, so you think he would be used to it, right? Well, guess again! He makes me feel SOOOOOO BAAAAAAD about the whole thing.
It's not that he growls or snaps or anything (I don't think he's capable of getting angry), but he just stands completely still in the tub with all his muscles tense and just leans in the opposite direction from me the entire time! He looks so miserable and pathetic! He's just wishing a hole would open up and swallow him. He'd rather be anywhere else doing anything else. He alternates between staring at the door, and staring at me.
Add to it, that the shampoo has to stay on for ten minutes. I pet him calmly the whole time and try not to make a big deal out of it, but I just can't get him to relax. I've tried treats and toys and everything.
Anyway, it's not too bad, it's just hard to work with him when he is so stiff and unwilling, plus there is major guilt since he looks so pitiful, LOL.
Anyone have a similar experience? Any tricks to make it easier on him?