How to keep your dog clean and healthy is the most important thing you should know once you have decided to own one. The following are some tips you need to remember:
Dog grooming, a vital aspect of dog care, is not limited to bathing. Like humans, dogs need to be cleaned thoroughly. For that matter, dogs need to be cleaned from the tip of their nose to the end of their tail. This covers, the ears, teeth, coat, nails, and of course the whole body.
Ears
For ear infection can be very painful to your dog (it sometimes leads to a permanent hearing loss), ear care is one dog care procedure you should prioritize. To know if your dog is suffering from an ear infection, look out for the signs of odor, redness or swelling, head shaking, and constant scratching.
To clean your dog’s ear, take a cotton ball, put a small amount of mineral oil or warm water on it. Clean the flaps and the opening of the canal.
Check your dog’s ears twice a month. The inside flaps should be pale pink. Watch out for any black, brown, or red skin inside the flaps and ears. If you spot some, take your dog to a veterinarian for an examination.
Teeth.
Clean your dog’s teeth with a soft-bristle toothbrush at least 2 times a week. Use a toothpaste specially formulated for dogs. Tooth brushing will prevent cavity build-up and would prevent periodontal disease. Dog toothpaste is available widely in dog supply shops. You may also want to seek for veterinarian’s help on cleaning your dog’s teeth.
Coat
For different types of breeds, the frequency of brushing and trimming varies.
For dogs with long, thick, coarse, or straight coats, daily brushing and frequent trimming are required.
Dogs with smooth coats require weekly brushing. They can be washed occasionally. Dogs with this type of coat are Dachshunds, Labradors, and Dobermans. They tend to be some of the easiest dogs to groom.
Dogs with wiry coats have dense, stiff hair that requires daily grooming. This will prevent matt build-up.
Short coat dogs – German Shepherds and Welsh Corgis – require at least twice a week of brushing. Dogs of these kinds may have straight surfaces, thick hair combined with downy, profuse, and water-resistant hair near the skin.
Dogs like Poodles, Portuguese Water Dogs, Irish Water Spaniels, and Kerry Blue Terriers are distinct on having an extremely waterproof and non-shedding coat. Bathing and clipping may be done twice a month.
Silky coat dogs like the Yorkshire Terriers, Shetland Sheepdogs, Rough Collies, and Afghan hounds, require daily grooming, a lot of care, and regular trimming.
Nails
Keeping the nails clean is another important dog grooming practice you should know. You can use either a scissors-style nail clipper or a guillotine-style clipper. Both will work best in keeping your dog’s nails neat.
Bathing
Bathing frequency depends on the breed of your dog. Unlike humans, dogs don’t need to take a bath every day. This is because they would lose the natural oil needed in keeping their coat shiny and clean. The normal bathing would be twice a month. Make sure you brush the coat to avoid tangles. Use a rubber mat to keep your dog from slipping. Use warm water and dog shampoo and conditioner. Rinse your dog thoroughly and dry him with a towel or hairdryer.
