Useful Tips to keep Your Dog Clean and Ensure Doggie Hygiene

Good grooming is the key to maintaining a healthy and happy dog. Proper and thorough grooming ensures that you dog is tick-free, mite-free, allergy-free and odor-free. A bright and glossy coat is a sign of good care and health and dull, flaky skin requires your immediate attention.

All dogs need grooming. Some need it extensively like the Toy Poodles, Dachshunds and Wire-head Pointers, while other like Basset Hounds or Dobermans have moderate to low grooming needs.

Your dog’s grooming needs depend largely on its breed.

The coat of a longhaired dog is susceptible to tangles and odor and requires regular brushing. Silky coated breeds like the Spaniels and Setters have an abundance of dry flakes and dead hair that needs to be removed by hand to avoid matting. Some breeds like the wire haired dogs need stripping of the coat at least once a year.

Even hairless dogs like the American Hairless Terrier or Hairless Chinese Cresteds require grooming of their delicate skin to avoid sunburns.

Dogs with wrinkled skin like the Shar-Pei or Pug or Bulldog need cleaning everyday to free their skin off dirt and moisture.

To know details on Grooming check out our FREE e-Book on Canine Grooming Needs and Shedding Habits, which gives you a comprehensive list of dog breeds, categorized according to their grooming needs and shedding habits. Also, look for details on dog bathing, brushing of coat, nail trimming, cleaning eyes, ears and teeth.

Just Sign-in to get Instant Access!

---

Grooming Your Dog

Here’s an overview of what your Grooming session should include.

Bathing - Bathing helps to eliminate doggie odor by removing excessive oil, bacteria and dander. It also prevents skin infections from dirt. On an average, your dog should be bathed at least once each week.

Choose a bathtub or sink that suits your dog’s size. Use only luke warm water and dog shampoos to bathe your dog. Ensure that coat is wiped dry and followed up by brushing to prevent matting.

Brushing - Regular brushing of your dog’s coat is essential as it stimulates the sebaceous glands responsible for conditioning of your dog’s coat. Regular brushing also helps get rid off dry skin, dirt and hair coat remains.

Brushing also helps control shedding in dogs. Shedding is normal in dogs, whereby they lose unwanted or loose boy hair and replace it with new growth. When this happens, it is not uncommon to find owners complaining about dog hair all over the house. Proper grooming care ensures that this is kept in check.

Nail Trimming - Dogs need to have their nails trimmed when you bring them home for the first time. Only use nail clippers specially made for dogs and ensure that you trim your dog’s nails at least once every month.

Take the help of a professional if your unsure of how to proceed. Watch out for the vein and keep first-aid handy.

Cleaning the Ears - Your dog’s ears should be cleaned once every month to avoid developing ear problems. A dog’s ears are sensitive and immediate attention should be rendered if the ears smell foul. Clean your dog’s ears gently with a cotton swab.

Check with a vet in case of persistent ear problems.

Cleaning the Eyes - Cleaning the eye corner is essential since they tend to accumulate dirt and dead hair. Make sure you clean your dog’s eyes using a damp cloth.

Cleaning the Teeth - Most chew toys are specially designed to clean your dog’s teeth and control plaque or tartar and reduce bad breath. If you brush your dog’s teeth, use only toothbrushes and toothpastes specially meant for dogs.

Frequent oral check-ups are important.

To groom your dog from nose to tail is absolutely necessary to keep him healthy, fit and fine. Staying clean and healthy is the key to a happy dog.

To know details on Grooming check out our FREE e-Book on Canine Grooming Needs and Shedding Habits, which gives you a comprehensive list of dog breeds, categorized according to their grooming needs and shedding habits. Also, look for details on dog bathing, brushing of coat, nail trimming, cleaning eyes, ears and teeth.

Just Sign-in to get Instant Access!