[nagdu] Bailey's Latest--bathing, weight, etc.

[Mark J. Cadigan]

Some pet stores have a "self service dog wash." I recommend going that 
route, because they have the equipment, and you are not stuck with the mess. 
I have bathed my pet dog at home in the kitchen sink, however, she is only 
10lbs. she made a mess, so I can only imagine how much of a mess my 80lb 
guide dog would make.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Hooper" <hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu>
To: "NFB-NAGDU" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, January 13, 2012 6:05 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Bailey's Latest--bathing, weight, etc.


> Hello all:
>
> I recently returned from a vet visit and was hoping to share the results 
> of my relentless inquiries. It seems as though Bailey's weight jumped from 
> around 31 kg to about 35 KG since the last visit two months ago. This 
> despite my frequent checks of his body condition. The vet didn't seem to 
> notice any overt physical changes in his appearance, but we both thought 
> it a good idea to cut back on the food. Annova Evo is very calorie-dense 
> and dispenses with many ingredients that might hinder or stop the 
> processing of certain nutrients. I was told to start by removing ten 
> percent of his food intake. So, instead of a cup and a half, I half to 
> find a way to remove 3/20 of a cup of food from his daily meals. After 
> doing the math, I came to the conclusion that instead of his usual 90/60 
> cups of food a meal, he would need 81/60 cups. If I gave him 1-1/3 cups of 
> food per meal, this would equal 80/60 of a cup, thus closest (to within 
> 1/60 of a cup) I can get to a perfect mathematical solution. Note that I 
> am not that invested in the numbers-I just had a long time to wait in the 
> lobby before being checked out.
> Another topic I discussed was dog bathing-this is something to which I 
> have never been a party. Many family members encouraged me to find a place 
> that would do it for me. I object to this for many reasons (all of which 
> my vet supported and understood). Firstly, many such places are prone to 
> outbreaks of kennel cough, skin infections, improper technique, etc. 
> Secondly, Bailey is a service animal, so I require a higher degree of 
> control-that is, I am loathed to give up my dog to anyone else who does 
> not know how to handle, treat, etc. him. Thirdly, I am one of those 
> "annoying dog Nazis"-that is, I allow very limited interaction between 
> others and my dog. I do not want Bailey to trust others or form bonds with 
> others as he does me. Furthermore, I do not want him to see people as 
> giant petting machines worthy of his attention and thus potential 
> distraction. So, that desire in itself rules out taking him anywhere for 
> bathing purposes.
> Fourthly, I heartily dislike paying for a service that I could just as 
> easily perform myself. Bathing him at home would lessen my inconvenience 
> of having to find transportation to and from a facility, would save me 
> money, etc.
> Now comes my questions regarding bathing. I have done some research about 
> properly bathing dogs at home. I am most worried about the complete 
> rinsing of shampoo-is dog bathing a very daunting task? Bailey hasn't been 
> bathed since I received him in July and he continues not to smell. I 
> regularly groom him, so that should cut down on his odor and dirtiness. I 
> guess my main concern (as it is with most things) is that I'm afraid of 
> not doing it right. If anybody has any assurances, techniques, detailed 
> instructions with schematics and diagrams, etc. to share, I would welcome 
> such.
> I also discussed heart and flea preventatives with my veterinarian, dog 
> anatomy and behavior, and various other such topics. I welcome feedback on 
> all aspects of this message-from its grammatical style to critiques about 
> my personal objections toward taking Bailey to a Dogwash. I look forward 
> to everyone's thoughts and I hope I have provided some brain food on which 
> we can all munch.
> Sincerely,
> Robert Hooper
> Hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu<mailto:Hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu>
> The Ohio State University
> 0653 Buckeye-Cuyahoga CT
> 653 Cuyahoga Court
> Columbus, Ohio 43210
> (740) 856-8195
>
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