Denver Dog Wash

December 3, 2016 1:39 PM

I have a very frail, elderly dog that needs a bath. She is also terrified of water. I need some recommendations for a pet groomer in the Denver, Colorado area who I can trust will be very gentle and make the experience as less traumatizing as possible. Thanks!
posted by LilithSilver to Pets & Animals (8 answers total)

Not directly answering your question, but I wonder if the least traumatic option is to get a bath at home given by you in your sink or tub (depending on the dog's size)? Strange place + stranger + fear of water = high stress.
posted by cecic at 2:41 PM on December 3, 2016 [2 favorites]

Perhaps treat her like an elderly person? Get comfy bed and unfold about 5 towels and lay her down on it. Give her a nice sponge bath around her bum and mouth, etc. You can either get her a dry shampoo, or a no rinse shampoo. With the no rinse you could carefully and slowly wet her with a warm wet cloth and then apply the no rinse shampoo. There are some good sprays, too. Finish with a nice gentle thorough brushing.

There are a lot of newer products for pets that could help.

It won't be like a bath, but it might really help without distressing her.
posted by ReluctantViking at 3:01 PM on December 3, 2016 [3 favorites]

A mobile groomer could come to your house and groom/bath the dog in their grooming RV/van. We use one for our nervous dog and he's so much calmer now about getting groomed since it eliminates going to a strange place, riding in the car, being around other dogs, etc.
posted by ilovewinter at 3:18 PM on December 3, 2016 [2 favorites]

I would either take her to a do-it-yourself bathing place (usually called "pet wash" or "dog wash", like a car wash, but they've got raised tubs so you don't break your back) or get a mobile groomer, or maybe see if the vet will do it, but I've heard too many things to ever, ever leave a dog alone with a groomer out of my sight.

I don't know if the stress of grooming work turns people into psychopaths or if it's just a job they enjoy, but nope. Not a healthy dog, and definitely not a frail one.
posted by Lyn Never at 3:23 PM on December 3, 2016 [3 favorites]

I, also, have an (adopted) elderly pup who is terrorfied of baths. I give him a 'sponge bath' with waterless shampoo. No need to rinse. I saturate him with the shampoo with a sponge while he lies down and/or rolls on his back. I, then, gently, rub him all over with a soft towel. He does like this type of bath, and it does the trick. He's clean, smells good and loves the afterward treat. I buy the shampoo from UPCO.com which is less expensive than a store like petco and the like. I, also, give my great dane this type of bath during the winter, so I buy a gallon of shampoo.
posted by donaken at 4:22 PM on December 3, 2016

Response by poster: Just to clarify.... She is a large dog that I can't lift. I tried to bathe her in the bathtub once and she injured herself trying to jump out of the tub. She is much more cooperative for a stranger than she is for me.
posted by LilithSilver at 7:35 PM on December 3, 2016

Zen Den in Park Hill is very gentle and patient and owned by a very sweet lady.
posted by stormygrey at 8:50 PM on December 3, 2016

I'm not in Denver, but Urban Dogg in Denver is owned by a very nice guy I know through Welsh Terrier rescue. They have good reviews and at least a few mentioned how their dogs who are normally very squeamish about grooming had good experiences.
posted by SisterHavana at 4:49 PM on December 4, 2016