 |
Sweet Lucy's Main Sections Hairless Dog Breed Sections American Hairless Terrier Pages
Related Pages in Other Sections
If you cannot find what you are looking for, go to the SiteMap for a complete listing of Lucy's 300+ pages.
|
American Hairless Terrier Care Care tips by Sweet Lucy, 1997
Special Considerations The American Hairless Terrier requires some special care because of its hairlessness. It needs frequent baths and protection from the elements. It does not need any care for fleas, because it doesn't have any!
All hairless dogs need frequent baths and the American Hairless Terrier is no exception. Although the AHT does not typically suffer from the more severe skin irritations sometimes seen in other hairless dog breeds, keeping your AHT's skin clean is vital to preventing dirty, clogged skin pores. Frequency of baths depends on how allergic you are to your dog, if you use sunscreen on your AHT, and how your dog's skin tolerates baths. Some AHT owners bathe their dogs weekly, some every 2-3 days, some monthly, and some only every couple of months. Just make sure you don't overdry your dog's skin! Caring for the AHT's skin is much like caring for your own skin. Clean skin is healthy skin. Bathing the American Hairless Terrier is an easy job, just shampoo the dog with a mild dog shampoo and rinse well. You might need to experiment with different shampoos to find the ones that work best for your AHT. After the bath, towel dry the dog and keep warm until dry. This is also a good time to clean ears, brush teeth, and clip nails.
Warm weather The American Hairless Terrier typically has pink skin with brown, red, or black spots. The colored areas tan in the sun, but the pink skin doesn't. The AHT can tolerate some sun (maybe only a few minutes) without sun protection, but if you plan to stay in the sun for a longer period of time, sunscreen or a shirt is a must. Don't forget to sunscreen the tips of the ears, especially if your dog has pink colored prick ears. I always look for sun care products that are hypo-allergenic, fragrance-free, noncomedogenic (don't cause blackheads), and suitable for children or people with sensitive skin. Ideally though, keep your AHT out of sun! Cold weather When the weather is cold, you'll need to bundle up you the American Hairless Terrier for outdoor activities. Depending on the climate where you live, your AHT needs a sweater, a jacket, or a snowsuit to stay warm outside. A good rule of thumb to use - Dress your AHT like you would dress a toddler (temperature wise). If you live in the snow country, consider getting a hat and some booties, too. Natural fiber fabrics like cotton are the most gentle against the skin, maybe as a layer under thicker clothing. On cold nights, your AHT will also appreciate a warm sweater to sleep in, unless you let it sleep under the covers with you (which you should of course not do if you are allergic to dogs). Never expect an AHT to sleep outside in a dog house! See also the page AHT's in cold climates.
Update: More care tips! Over the years, I have received many emails about AHT skin care. Here's an example: "Hi, I am looking into buying an AHT puppy and I was wondering if you had shampoo and lotion suggestions. Also in the winter time I know you have to bundle up your AHT when you go out, can you still take it for walks just shorter ones. Or what would you suggest for winter times?"
American Hairless Terriers may have sensitive skin, so choose products that are fragrance free and suitable for sensitive skin. Experiment with different products until you find the ones that work best for your AHT. What works for one AHT may not work for all, but many AHT owners have had good results with the following skin care products. Your first source for AHT skin care info should be your dog's breeder. Another good place to find advice is the Yahoo AHT group. See the AHT links page for 'AHT List'. Shampoos
Lotions & creams
Other
My experience I personally haven't had much luck with human shampoos or
soaps on Lucy. Her skin looks best when I use mild canine
oatmeal shampoos, hypoallergenic dog shampoos, or the Pyoben shampoo (link above). I
switch between them as needed. I usually bathe her once a
week. I don't use any moisturizing lotions on Lucy because
her skin has enough natural oils. Lucy can tolerate the sun
only a few minutes at a time without burning. I like to keep
Lucy out of the sun to avoid using greasy sunscreens.This page first published in 1997. |
| |
|
|
|
|
Frequent
baths
-
for dogs, recommended by my vet, contains 3% benzoyl peroxide, good for
pimples and skin irritations & infections, antimicrobial,
keratolytic (removes the keratin-containing outer layer of skin,
helps with dandruff), follicular flushing