What is a pet spa tub and how do you bathe a small dog?

The Ella Pet Spa is a 51 x 32 inch acrylic microbubble grooming tub for dogs and other pets, with a walk-in door that seals shut, 20 fully adjustable sidewall jets, a removable platform that raises a small pet to a comfortable height, and a multi-function faucet set with an extendable hand shower and a microbubble handset with built-in ozone. To bathe a small dog you drop the platform in, check the water on your own hand, let the dog walk in through the door, close it so the seal holds, and wash with the handset while the jets work on the fur. Ella Pet Spa: Microbubble Grooming Tub Specs has the full spec list, and this page explains what makes it a spa rather than a sink and walks through a small-dog bath from setup to cleanup.

What Makes It a Pet Spa

The word spa refers to the microbubble system. The handset generates billions of microbubbles under 1,000 micrometers, small enough to penetrate hair follicles and skin pores, and the product video lists the effects of hypoallergenic microbubble bathing as exfoliation, softer skin and fur, deep pore cleansing, relief of itching and irritation, improved circulation, odor removal and a gentler bath that many pets find calming. Ozone sterilization built into the handset adds disinfection and odor reduction to the bath water. The same Infusion microbubble technology is used in Ella's walk-in tubs.

Around that system is a tub built for a wet animal:

• A door that opens so the pet walks in rather than being lifted over a wall, then closes with a secure handle for a leak-proof seal so water stays in the tub.
• 20 sidewall jets, each aimed individually.
• A removable platform. Leave it out and a larger dog stands on the floor; drop it in and a small pet is raised to a comfortable height for the hand shower.
• A faucet with a thermostatic control valve to prevent scalding, plus the extendable hand shower.
• A textured floor.

The Pet Spa is positioned for single-family homes and pet grooming businesses. Ella's team describes it as best for small animals; it is not a large commercial grooming tub, though some groomers use it. The video on this page shows the door, the platform going in for a smaller pet, and the handset in use.

Setting Up Before the Dog Gets in

A few habits from the owner's manual make each bath simpler:

• Keep it indoors. The manual states the Pet Spa is not intended for outdoor use, because the electrical and water pump requirements call for a protected location. Garages, homes and stores are the usual placements.
• Keep hair dryers, lamps, phones and radios at least 3 feet from the tub, and never drop or insert objects into any opening.
• Make sure the drain backnut is tight and the drain closes completely so the tub holds water. The screw on the drain plug is adjusted first, then the backnut is tightened.
• Test the water on your own hand before the pet gets in. The thermostatic valve limits the temperature at the faucet, but your hand is the final check.

Bathing a Small Dog, Step by Step

1. Drop the removable platform in so the dog stands at a comfortable height for the hand shower.
2. Close the drain completely and set the water temperature, checking it on your own hand.
3. Open the door, let the dog walk in, and close the door handle so the seal is tight.
4. Bring the water level above the sidewall jets before running any pump. The owner's manual rule is that water must be above the jets before a pump runs.
5. Wash with the extendable hand shower and the microbubble handset, aiming the adjustable jets where the dog needs them.
6. When you are done, open the drain fully. The drain must open completely to drain properly, and you must never step on an open drain.
7. Open the door and let the dog walk out; the video describes the door as easy in and easy out.
8. Rinse hair from the tub after each bath so it does not reach the drain.

Day-to-day operation, GFCI testing and cleaning are collected in the Pet Spa owner's guide.

What It Needs from the Room

Three connections decide where the Pet Spa can go:

• Electrical: one 120 volt, 20 amp GFCI-protected dedicated line with a single plug-in connection, installed by a licensed electrician and tested periodically. Pushing the GFCI test button should trip it to reset mode; if it does not, turn off the power and do not use the tub until the cause is found.
• Drain: a 2 inch PVC drain with a cable-operated lever, glued to a 2 inch drain pipe or a reducer to 1 1/2 inch per the spec sheet.
• Supply: two 5 foot stainless steel braided supply lines with 3/4 inch IPS connectors.

The drain outlet sits between the bottom of the tub and the subfloor, in the same place on every unit whichever door hinge side you order, so the drain line runs beneath the unit rather than out the back or side. The hinge side only sets which way the door swings, which lets you choose the swing that suits the room without moving the plumbing. Where the Pet Spa Drain Is and Whether the Door Side Changes It explains why, and How Do I Plumb the Drain and Water Supply for an Ella Pet Spa? covers the connections. Before your plumber cores concrete or cuts a floor, request the drain location drawings and the owner's manual at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850 with your hinge side stated. On delivery day, remove the two side access panels and one end panel and carry the unit by its stainless steel frame, never by the plumbing, then inspect the plumbing for anything loosened in transit.

Watch: MicroBubble Therapy Pet Spa with Pet Grooming Tub & Moisture/Exfoliating Bubbles | Ella's Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Videos

Common Questions