FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS
Regular grooming can keep your dog looking and smelling good, but it’s also important for maintaining health. If you choose to groom at home instead of opting for (often expensive) professional care, this is also an opportunity to examine your pet for potential concerns.
Proper repair work begins with the right tools. Consider these suggestions from The Humane Society of the United States:
- Dog-friendly nail clippers
- Brush with rubber bristles
- Dog-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste
- Dog-friendly shampoo and conditioner
- Cotton balls
- Blunt-ended scissors or small scissors with guides
- Microfiber towel
Cutting nails
When your dog’s nails almost touch the ground, it’s time to trim, usually every 3-4 weeks. Cutting the part of the nail that comes down helps prevent pain and damage to the feet.
If your dog has white nails, avoid cutting the “quick,” the pink part found on white nails, which bleeds when cut. For dark nails, just cut one at a time until you see evidence of a quick.
Bathing and brushing
Bathing and brushing frequency depends on your dog’s coat type – be sure to research the best grooming schedule based on his breed. In general, The Humane Society of the United States recommends these guidelines:
- Short, smooth or loose coat: Brush once a week with a brush with rubber bristles
- Long, silky or curly coat: Brush once a day with a brush with rubber bristles or a wire slicker brush. Use a wire comb to prevent tangles or mats, if necessary.
- Double coat: Use an undercoat rake or de-shedding tool to gently de-shed once a week in addition to regular brushing routines.
When it’s bath time, use shampoo made for dogs and a damp cloth or cotton ball to clean around the eyes and ears without pushing anything into the eyes or ears. Dry with a microfiber towel or hair dryer on low setting.
Hair cutting
Be careful and move slowly to avoid mistakes and keep your dog calm and comfortable. Brush, bathe and dry completely before trimming with blunt clippers or small clippers with a comb guide. Specifically trim the hair covering the eyes and private areas and between your puppy’s paw pads. It may help to watch a tutorial online to ensure success.
Brushing teeth
You can prevent gum disease and plaque build-up by brushing your dog’s teeth with a soft toothbrush and dog-friendly toothpaste. Make sure your pet is comfortable and start slowly, staying outside the teeth and gently rubbing back and forth. Focus on the area where the surface of the tooth meets the gum.
Visit: eLivingtoday.com to find more pet health advice.
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Source: eLivingtoday.com
