Hot Spot - because of leftover shampoo
Ouch!
Poor Hua Hua suffering from hot spots 1 day after being shampooed by a "groomer".
We always hear people complaining about how smelly their dog is even though they shampoo the dog a few times a week. The reason is the dog's fur is not totally dried. Just like our clothes will surely smell if you keep them in the wardrobe when they are still damp, dog's fur will also smell if they are not dried properly after shampooing.
Instead of shampooing a few times a week, use that time to brush the dog's coat thoroughly with a suitable brush. Different brushes are designed for different breeds. You can spray the coat conditioner (available at pet supply stores) which makes it easier to brush. If your dog swims in the sea, rinse him/her with tap water thoroughly before drying and brushing him/her.
When you shampoo, you must use dog shampoo, not human shampoo, soap or detergent. Don't buy a tick/flea medicated shampoo if your dog does not have tick or flea problem as the shampoo might be too strong and can cause side effects.
Place cotton balls inside the dog's ears to prevent water from entering. Do not pour the shampoo directly onto the dog. Pour it into a basin and dilute it with water first before spreading it over your dog. Remember dog's skin is very sensitive.
You must rinse thoroughly. You should rinse another 5 more minutes after you think it's already OK to stop. Leftover shampoo is one cause of hot spots.
Dry the coat THOROUGHLY! Towel dry while blowing. If you have a dog with thick undercoat, you might want to invest in a powerful dryer (5000W) which can dry your dog much easier than our human dryers. Our human dryers are very noisy and hot air is concentrated at the center which can be as high as 90 degree Celsius, too hot! The noise also gives the dog a lot of stress.
Remember to remove the cotton balls.
If your maid is used to washing your dog after he/she poops or urinates, make sure your dog's coat is totally dried or else the continuous dampness will result in stinky coat, a bad smell that is hard to get rid of. You might have to cut botak your dog!