Dog Grooming Tips

Fleas and ticks

  • Check your dog for fleas and ticks daily.

Grooming and bathing your dog

  • Regular bathing will keep your dog smelling sweet.
  • Always keep your grooming equipment clean and if using clippers have the blades sharpened regularly.
  • For dog’s who need a lot of grooming invest in a grooming table. The dog will learn to stand to be groomed and your back will thank you.
  • Small dogs can be bathed in the laundry tub, larger ones in the bathtub.
  • Always put a rubber mat in the bath so the dog can’t slip.
  • Always put cotton wool in the ears to prevent getting water into them.
  • Never use human shampoo, buy a good quality canine shampoo and conditioner and make sure that you rinse the coat thoroughly.
  • A large chamois leather works wonders removing excess water from the coat.
  • Small, long haired breeds can be dried with a hair dryer but for a large breed a dog dryer is a worthwhile investment.

Salt water and your dog

  • Never leave salt water to dry in a dog’s coat, after swimming the coat should be rinsed off with fresh water.

Regular care of your dog

  • Wipe your dog’s face daily with a wet face flannel to remove any particles of food adhering to the whiskers as they can become smelly.
  • Long eared dogs, such as Poodles and Basset Hounds, should wear a snood when eating to prevent their ears  dangling in the food and being chewed.
  • Eyes should be checked for redness, soreness and discharge, the corners of the eyes can be gently wiped with a damp cotton wool ball to remove dust and dirt.
  • Dogs such as Pugs that have folds of skin around the eyes require daily cleaning to prevent dermatitis.
  • Check ears frequently, if your dog is shaking their head , scratching at their ears or have smelly ears then a trip to the vet is advisable.
  • Breeds with pendulous ears such as Poodles and Spaniels and dogs with excessive hair in the ear canal may require having the hair plucked from the ear canal.
  • Gently clean accumulated wax from the ears, a variety of ear cleaners are available however avoid using cotton buds as they can cause injury to the ear drum.

Exercise and play

  • Walking on hard surfaces, such as footpaths, keeps the nails short, others who mainly run on grass need regular nail trimming.

Dog nail care

  • Take care when using nail clippers, in light coloured nails you may be able to see the vein inside, dark nails are harder so only trim a tiny snip at a time as cutting the vein will cause it to bleed profusely.
  • Should the nail bleed don’t panic, applying pressure for two or three minutes usually stops the bleeding, alternatively pushing the nail into a cake of soap or applying styptic powder works.
  • Dew claws need trimming as left to grow they can arc around and eventually dig into the skin causing pain and problems.

Caring for your dog’s teeth

  • A dog’s teeth must be cleaned regularly to prevent the build up of tartar which leads to gum disease.
  • Dog toothpaste and applicators are available plus a variety of gels and water additives. Do not use human toothpaste.
  • Removing  tartar will prevent gum disease and future tooth loss.