Blueberries are surprisingly helpful to your pup’s skin and coat, but the benefits don’t stop there. Here’s what to know about blueberry facials for dogs.

Key takeaways:

• Blueberry facials, or shampoos, are beneficial to a dog’s health and wellbeing.

• Pup parents can add blueberry facials for dogs to their treatment plans.

• Blueberries help remove tear stains, clean the fur, and condition the skin.

• Itching, hotspots, and dandruff are temporarily relieved after a blueberry facial.

Did you know your pup can get a blueberry facial treatment, and that it’s got great health benefits? Blueberries have antioxidants and are full of vitamins and minerals such as B, C, K, iron, and potassium. They have all sorts of health benefits, too, including helping to fight off skin infections and keeping hair shiny and healthy.

While these fragrant and moisturizing facials are beneficial for both people and their pups, the recipe and methods differ. Let’s go over what pup parents need to know about blueberry facials for dogs.

What are blueberry facials for dogs?

A blueberry facial is a special bath using a shampoo made from blueberries and other ingredients, such as coconut oil, avocado, and jojoba. It is massaged into the coat and skin and worked into a lather before rinsing out. Pup parents can create their own blueberry facial mixtures, but it’s crucial to use only non-toxic, natural products that can be licked and are gentle on the eyes. Stick to basics like coconut oil and aloe vera. Simply smash the berries into your ingredients until you have the consistency of fruit juice and get started.

Benefits of blueberry facials for dogs

Blueberry facials come with a wealth of health benefits. From skin and coat to mental health and overall wellbeing, pup parents can find the answer to many everyday issues such as:

• Cleaning and exfoliating – Blueberry facials for dogs help to clean the skin by exfoliating and clearing away the dead cells of the epidermis. Dogs do a lot of rooting, sticking their faces and noses into all manner of smelly things. Those with deeper face folds or longer facial fur gather even more dirt and debris. If not removed, this mixture of dirt and dead skin cells leads to clogged pores, bacterial infections, and nasty smelling fur.

• Tear stain removal – Dog tears aren’t clear like human tears. Dog tears are a rusty brown color because they contain iron-rich waste products of red blood cells. It’s more obvious on lighter-colored dogs, but all dogs get teary-eyed and some – such as poodles, pugs, and Maltese – are even more prone to the condition. Blueberry facials for dogs help to minimize the hue of the stains, soften skin, and brighten the coat.

• Anti-inflammatory – Dogs love to be outside in the sun, but that can contribute to the creation of cell-damaging free radicals that cause disease, infection, and a host of illnesses. Free radicals are also blamed for speeding up the aging process. The known antioxidant properties of blueberries help to fight the effects of free radicals and replenish Vitamin A, E, and D reserves.

• Moisturizing – Blueberry facials for dogs contain a base oil, such as coconut or jojoba, which calms and conditions dry and itchy skin. The antifungal properties combine with the blueberry’s anti-inflammatory characteristics to form a barrier to protect skin from the sun and further environmental damage.

• Aromatherapy – Blueberries smell great, even to pups. The warm steam from the bath carries the fragrant scent through the room while your pup gets a pleasant massage. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Aromatherapy sessions are also beneficial to overall health, and can help pups with separation anxiety, firework anxiety, thunderstorms, and car sickness, just for starters.

• Safe – An itchy pup can be uncomfortable. Blueberry facials for dogs are a safe solution to help alleviate itchy, dry skin. While blueberries are completely safe for a dog to eat and have on its skin, make sure the base oil and additional ingredients are non-toxic.

• Increase circulation – A blueberry facial can increase your pup’s circulation. The oils and extracts improve heart health and circulation, help oxygen and nutrients get to cells, and remove toxins and waste to keep blood pumping strong. The massage of a shampoo and bath also helps improve circulation and encourage strong blood flow.

• Support wound healing – Blueberries have a high vitamin C and K content, and both are required for wound healing. When skin is damaged, free radicals outnumber antioxidants, and acute inflammation and oxidative stress occur. The high antioxidant levels in blueberries support faster healing.

Scheduling blueberry facials for dogs has benefits far beyond smelling better. From cleansing and tear stain removal to aromatherapy stress relief, this fun add-on service hits all the marks.

Give your pup the care they need

At Scenthound we provide the routine care and grooming that all dogs need. Blueberry facials for dogs are one of the add-on services we offer our customers. Use our store locater to find your nearest Scenter and learn more about how we can help keep your dog clean and healthy.