Animal bathing and drying system

Abstract

An animal bathing and drying system includes a recirculating bathing system which comprises a water input conduit having a first manually operated valve therein, a drainage output conduit having a second manually operated valve therein, a pump to bring the water input conduit and the drainage conduit, and a recirculation loop which includes a recirculating water supply conduit for supplying recirculated water from the system through a nozzle to a bathtub for bathing an animal, and a return conduit for returning water from the bathtub back to the system. The nozzle is preferably hand held and is surrounded by air. This enables a user to direct an aqueous stream through the nozzle and at an animal which is in the bathtub. Preferably, the water input conduit, the pump and the drainage output conduit and parts of the recirculated water supply conduit and the water return conduit are housed in a portable housing. Flexible hoses may be used for the portions of the recirculating water supply conduit and the water return conduit which are external to the housing. A recirculating water conduit connecting the pump outlet with the pump inlet and having a pressure release valve therein is provided to prevent pump burnout. To bathe an animal, an animal is placed in the bathtub, the tub is filled with fresh water either before or after the animal is placed in the tub, the animal is then washed with recirculated water containing added cleaning agent while no fresh water is admitted nor any water discarded, and is then rinsed with a mixture of fresh and recirculated water while fresh water is admitted to the system and simultaneously waste or used water is discarded. The animal is dried after rinse.