Grooming - Everyday care of your dog
Grooming is an essential part of taking good care of your dog. Weekly or daily brushing, depending on the length and thickness of a dogs coat, not only makes your dog look attractive but aids in keeping strands from floating onto your furniture and food. Brushing is not only good for your dog but is also a pampering fuss most welcomed by your furry companion.
Dogs do not need to be bathed as often as humans, but regular bathing is essential for healthy skin and shiny coat. It's a good idea if you accustom your dog to bathing from when he is a puppy. It's much easier if your dog is at ease in a bath - if he isn't the whole episode can turn into a wet, soapy, messy ordeal for both of you. Give a good brushing before bathtime, more so if your dog has a long thick coat. Make sure your dog has a good non-slip surface to stand on. Begin by wetting the coat - always check water temperature is not too hot nor too cold. Next apply shampoo and work into a lather. Wash the head last as you don't want shampoo running into your dogs eyes whilst you are washing the rest of the body. Do not neglect any areas of the body, get all the hard-to-reach places. Always use shampoo made for dog's and not shampoo made for human hair as it can cause severe skin irritation. There are wonderful animal shampoo products on the market that are medicated to help for problems such as skin sensitivity and irritation or pesty parasite problems. Ask your vet about the right product for you dog.
Once the dog has been thoroughly shampooed, he should be thoroughly rinsed (shampoo left in the coat can irritate the skin). Avoid water in the ear canal. Once the dog is thoroughly rinsed, dry him with a heavy towel. In cold weather never let your dog outside with a wet coat. Ear cleaning is very important and should be done regularly. Ears should be clean and free of unusual odours. Ears can be cleaned with cotton wipes and a special ear cleaner solution, which can be obtained from your local vet. Be on the look out for any signs of infection or ear mite infestation. Shaking head or scratching ears frequently can indicate a problem.
Dogs should be accustomed to having their nails clipped from a young age. Not only can long nails result in an injury if your dog jumps up, but can cause the dogs feet to spread. Before you start cutting, make sure you identify the 'quick' in each nail. The quick is a blood vessel that runs through the centre of each nail. If accidently cut is very painful for the dog as it contains nerve endings. Nails clippers specially made for dogs should be part of your dog grooming kit.
