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Keep Clean In Between Baths

7 Ways to Keep a Maltipoo Clean In Between Baths

Overview

Since it can strip away body oils too often (not to mention that it’s time consuming), giving a Maltipoo daily baths is not practical nor advised. But what are you to do? Just a few days after a bath, a dog can begin to look quite a mess. A Maltipoo can become dirty from walking or playing outside, bits of urine and/or feces can cling to the coat, stains from food or eye discharge can develop on the face, and body oils that are needed to keep skin moisturized can start to smell.  

Fortunately, there are easy ways to keep a Maltipoo looking very clean and smelling nice in between baths. This involves a combination of using products to repel dirt, debris, and stains and doing touch-up cleanings. 

Many of the methods to keep a Maltipoo clean have added benefits that contribute to good health, so this is definitely a win-win. Let’s look at the 7 things to do on a regular basis.  

#1 Use a paw wax. 

We’ll begin with the body part that you may look at least often, but is one of the first to get dirty in between baths. When you think of all of the walking surfaces a dog maneuvers over, it’s no wonder. 

But, a quality paw wax can act as a shield to repel dirt, debris, allergens, and irritants. Of course, dirt and tiny debris is picked up by the paws on any sort of outdoor surface. But, another element to think about is allergens, with pollen high on this list. Pollen clings to grass and then to paws that walk over that. And, irritants include lawn care chemicals like weed-killer, fertilizer, and pesticides. Even if you do not use these at home, there can be run-off from neighbors or the use of these in public areas including dog parks. In the winter, ice-melt products and road sand can cling to the paws. 

Using a good paw wax like Mushers Secret Pet Paw Protection Wax to act as a shield on the paws has the additional benefits of offering a layer of protection from hot walking surfaces, frozen surfaces that tend to dry out the paw, and snowballing (when snow melts between the toes, refreezes into ice, and stretches the sensitive skin there), helping a dog with traction, and keeping the paw pads healthy and moisturized. 

If your Maltipoo is taken out for daily walks and regular outdoor playtime, you will want to apply this once a week. Musher’s Secret absorbs very quickly (about 10 seconds), but you may find it easiest to massage this onto the paw pads and in between the toes right before your little one is ready to go to sleep. 
Cuteness break!
Maltipoo in a pink outfit
Maltipoo in a pink outfit
Maddie Faye, photo courtesy of Melanie

#2 Keep the ears clean. 

Dogs like the Maltipoo that have drop ears are at a disadvantage compared to dogs with standup ears. Hanging ear flaps mean that dirt and debris stay in the ear area and excess wax can accumulate fast. In addition, dogs with drop ears that trap moisture tend to have more frequent ear infections. 

There are two steps to keeping your Maltipoo’s ears clean:

1. Regular use of ear wipes. With a good ear wipe, you can keep the ears clean before matter makes it way down into the ear canal. You may wonder if you can use a general grooming wipe for this; but, there are 2 main reasons that ear wipes are preferred over general wipes: 1) Wipes designed specifically for the ears, like Earthbath All Natural Specialty Ear Wipes, contain witch hazel which is ideal to clean the ears and 2) these wipes are only semi-damp and therefore do not introduce moisture into the ears which can lead to infections. 

As often as every other day or at least once per week, take one ear wipe for each ear and clean the entire inner ear (just do not try to push this down into the canal). 
2. Use an ear cleanser. This refers to a liquid that flushes out the ear canal. If your Maltipoo tends to have lots of excess wax, has overly smelly ears, or is prone to ear infections, cleaning the ear canals every 2 to 3 weeks with a quality ear cleanser can be quite beneficial. 

Some owners shy away from doing this because they worry it will be difficult. However, it is rather straightforward. A few drops are placed into the entrance of the ear canal, the base of the ear is massaged for 1 minute, and then a clean piece of gauze, a cotton ball, or an ear wipe (see previous item) is used to swipe up any goop that comes out. 

For this, we recommend Zymox Ear Cleanser. It is very effective and has no harsh chemicals.  
Cuteness break!
Apricot Maltipoo in life jacket
Apricot Maltipoo in life jacket
Sophie Ann, photo courtesy of Melanie

#3 Keep the eye area & face clean. 

Baths alone are often not enough to keep up with facial staining. Stains under and around the eyes and sometimes down the cheeks, around the mouth, and/or on the chin can make a Maltipoo’s face look unclean. 

In regard to stains around the eyes, this can stem from eye discharge or tears (which keep those hairs perpetually moist) which itself can be due to a number of causes including additives in food, allergies, or partially blocked tear ducts. Natural tears may stain hairs at a faster rate if a dog drinks tap water that contains a high mineral count (the tears may have a high iron content). 

Other causes of stains, both around the eyes, and over the face (and particularly around the mouth and/or chin) include hairs staying wet after drinking water, eating kibble that contains artificial coloring, and/or eating or drinking from brightly colored plastic bowls. 

So, to keep the face clean, you can:
1. Take steps to reduce stains by feeding a high-quality kibble that has no artificial coloring, use only stainless steel or ceramic bowls, and have any allergies or excessive tearing diagnosed and treated. 
In addition, do not offer unfiltered tap water. Aside from possible high mineral content, tap water contains hundreds of contaminants ranging from traces of prescription medicine to known carcinogens. Instead, offer bottle spring water or invest in a filtering device like the Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher. 
And 2. Routinely wipe the face. Using a fresh wipe each time, swipe over and around the eyes, as well as down the cheeks, around the mouth, and over the chin if needed. 

Depending on how prone your Maltipoo is to discolored hairs, you can do this 1 to 3 times per day, ideally after a meal(s).

While there are several good eye wipes, one that has come to attention is Arava Pet Natural Eye Wipes. This has chamomile and aloe vera, as well as a blend of dead sea minerals and a natural substance called Lion's Tooth (taraxacum officinale from the Dandelion) that has anti-inflammatory properties. 
Cuteness break!
white Maltipoo with clean face
white Maltipoo with clean face
Zoey at 10 months old, photo courtesy of Suzanne Chai

#4 Routinely brush the coat. 

Thoroughly brushing the coat every 2 to 3 days will help keep your Maltipoo clean by removing dirt and debris. But, brushing also frees the coat of dead hairs which is an important step in keeping a dog smelling nice. Though Maltipoos do not shed like other breeds that have fur, hairs on the coat are always in 1 of 3 phases of a cycle: Growth, rest, or fall-out. Hairs that fall out and stay in the coat end up coated in body oils, and if not removed will start to smell. So, when you pull out any shedded hairs, you are also removing the source of extra body oil odors. 

If your Maltipoo has medium to long hair, a pin brush with polished tips will work well. A great one to use is the Chris Christensen Little Wonder Pin Brush. 
If your Maltipoo has a short puppy cut, a lightly compacted bristle brush is the way to go. A wonderful one to use is the Safari Small Bristle Brush. 

Note that when you brush, you’ll want to use a leave-in spray (see next tip). 

#5 Use a leave-in spray. 

Lightly misting the coat while you brush will help keep your Maltipoo clean in between baths since the right spray will work to repel dirt, debris, and outdoor allergens. 

In addition to this, a leave-in helps reduce mats, protects against contact friction and split ends, locks in moisture to prevent dry hair, gives the coat a nice texture, those with sunscreens can offer protection from UV rays, and a spray will keep your Maltipoo smelling nice and clean. 

In the summer, it is recommended to use a leave-in with sunscreen like Chris Christensen Ice on Ice Leave-in Conditioner. Protection from UV rays helps decrease the chances of squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer (dogs with light colored skin and hair are most prone to this) as well as help prevent sunburns. 
For all other seasons, Nootie Daily Spritz is awesome; this has some fantastic fragrances including coconut lime, cucumber melon, Japanese cherry blossom, sweet pea & vanilla, and warm vanilla cookie. 
Cuteness break!
Maltipoo with curly hair looking clean
Maltipoo with curly hair looking clean
Star, at 1 year and 8 months old, photo courtesy of Bobbie Spring

#6 Do touch-ups with a grooming wipe and/or dry shampoo.

Wiping down your Maltipoo can help in a number of ways. When a dog pees, urine may splash back onto the body. This is a bit more common with female dogs, but can happen to both gender and depends on a number of factors including the force at which urine is expelled and the type of surface that a dog pees onto. Even a tiny bit of urine can smell quite bad, and if it soaks into the coat the smell can become stronger over the course of time. In addition, it is common for tiny bits of feces to cling to hairs around the anus. 

Throughout the course of the day, the coat may also pick up dirt, tiny lint particles, and allergen elements like pollen, though using a good leave-in spray (previous tip) can reduce this issue. 

So, swiping your Maltipoo down with a quality grooming wipe can help you spot-clean certain areas, freshen up the entire coat, and help your little guy or gal smell fresher. 

For general touch-ups, you can use a wipe like Earthbath All Natural Grooming Wipes which includes mango tango (a very pleasant fragrance for dogs that tend to get smelly), green tea (a lighter fragrance) or hypo-allergenic ones that contain no fragrance but will effectively clean a dog. These are all nice and thick and well-moisturized so they work very well both on the body and around the bum and genitals. 
If your Maltipoo has gotten very dirty, with soil and/or grass stains, mud, or is otherwise in a state that would normally require a bath, you may wish to opt for a no-rinse shampoo. Note that full baths should still be given every 3 weeks. For
this, Wahl No-Rinse Waterless Shampoo is a great choice since it is works wonderfully and is safe for skin and the coat with no parabens, no alcohol, and proper pH levels. It’s also very easy to use. This is a foam that you dispense and massage very well into the coat. 

Once you are done, if your Maltipoo has a short coat, you can towel him off. And, if the coat is medium to long length, brush it out. There are two great fragrances, coconut lime verbena and lavender chamomile. 
Cuteness break!
Maltipoo looking nice and clean
Maltipoo looking nice and clean
Taffy, at 1 year and 6 months old, photo courtesy of Paula Yanek

#7 Keep the teeth clean.   

Even if your Maltipoo looks nice and clean, if the teeth are yellowed or the breath is smelly, the whole ‘nice and fresh’ vibe tends to be ruined. Toy and small breeds dogs are prone to tooth decay, so taking steps at home to keep the teeth nice and clean is an important care element. 

Before we dive into this, it’s important to note that chronic bad breath may be due to existing tooth decay; if so, this requires veterinary treatment. And, if plaque has been present on the teeth for some time to the point that it’s hardened into tartar or has moved under the gum line, this also needs to be tended to by the veterinarian and will typically involving a scraping. 

This said, there are several options in keeping the teeth clean. 

1. Brushing. If your Maltipoo tolerates it (and many do become used to this after a week or so), brushing the teeth once per day is the best method to keep decay and plaque at bay. This should never be done with human toothpaste since it foams and can cause a dog to choke, not to mention that fluoride is toxic to canines. 
Toothpaste made for canines will be non-foaming and meant to be swallowed. A really good paste/brush combo is the Nylabone Advanced Triple Action Dental Kit. The paste contains Denta-C, which Is proven to reduce plaque. This is available in two types of kits; we recommend the Triple Action kit which has a 3-side brush along with a fingertip brush. For Maltipoos under 15 pounds, the puppy size brush is usually appropriate. 
2. A dental spray. This type of product can be effective and is ideal for dogs that resist having their teeth brushed or as an added-on secondary method. With one like Sonnyridge Dog Dental Spray, results in seeing plaque disappear can be seen within just a week or so and this works to keep breath smelling fresh. 
Or 3. A supplement powder. A specific one, Proden PlaqueOff Dental Care Powder, is a promising alternative to brushing or using a spray with an interesting way of working. This is not a topical, it’s a powder that’s added to meals. It works via its main ingredient: a particular Scandinavia seaweed that, when ingested, releases its all-natural plant compound into a dog’s saliva that is very effective in gradually removing plaque. 
And no matter which option you choose, it is advised to also offer a daily dental chew to keep both teeth and gums healthy. Note that dental chews are meant to be very hard, so a dog should be supervised when given one of these. 

One of the most effective chews is Greenies Teenie Dental Dog Treats; these are available in all sizes with the 'teenie' type designed for dogs 5 to 15 pounds. There are also different flavors like 'fresh' or blueberry and there is even a weight-management option for dogs that need to be given low-calorie snacks. 

Summary

You will find that these tips for keeping a Maltipoo clean will have your little guy or gal looking better and smelling fresher than just baths alone, along with the added bonuses of healthier paws, skin and hair, lower rate of ear infections, prevention of tooth decay, and more. 

Depending on how messy your Maltipoo gets, you may wish to employ some or all of these 7 methods:

1. Apply paw wax once a week.
2. Keep the ears clean via ear wipes (every 2 to 7 days) and/or ear cleansing solution (every 2 to 3 weeks). 
3. Keep the face clean with eye wipes used 1 to 3 times per day (usually after meals). 
4. Brush the coat on a regular basis. 
5. Use a leave-in spray while you brush. 
6. Do body touch-ups with grooming wipes and/or use a dry shampoo. 
7. Keep teeth clean with brushing, a spray, or a supplement powder and offer a dental treat once per day. 
Other Helpful Articles:

Maltipoo Supplies - A great summary of all recommended items to keep your little one happy, healthy, and comfortable.
Maltipoo Allergies - If your Maltipoo has runny eyes, wheezing, crazy itching or other allergy symptoms, learn how to react and steps you can take to resolve this asap. 
Best Training Treats and Snacks for a Maltipoo - Thought should go into what you offer for treats and snacks. Avoiding chemical preservatives, by-products, artificial coloring and other harmful yet common ingredients is vital. And at the same time, your Maltipoo deserves something super-yummy. 
Helping a Maltipoo Puppy with Teething - If you have a pup that's going through the teething stage, help is here via a guideline to know what to expect and tips to control chewing urges.
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