Basic dog grooming tips
Brush your
dog often .
Brushing your
dogs coat will stimulate oils in your pets skin & help to keep it moist & healthy. Brushing will also prevent matting of your
dogs coat. Brushing is also a great way to show your
dog how much you love him. Brushing also eliminates dead hair in your
dog’s coat which contributes to shedding.
Cut your
dog’s nails.
One way to keep your
dog’s nails short is to walk him often, but you should still remember to clip your
dogs nails on a regular basis. Be careful, if they are cut too short they can bleed & sting which will cause your
dog pain. Groomers usually charge a little less than veterinarians to cut nails, but either should be able to provide the service at a reasonable rate. If you believe your
dog will be aggressive when getting their nails cut it is probably best to take them to the veterinarian.
Give your
dog a bath regularly.
Buy only
dog shampoos & conditioners and make sure they come from pet stores and do not use flea & tick shampoos unless your
dog needs them, they will dry out your pets skin. Be sure to rinse your
dog thoroughly, leaving soap on his skin can lead to problems. Bathing a
dog with knots & mats will not make them go away, it will only worsen them, be sure to eliminate these before or immediately after the bath. When drying your
dog, you can use a hair drier but remember to use low heat. Dogs are often sensitive to burning, keep this in mind while adjusting water temperature. Bathing your
dog will cut down on the number of fleas & ticks. By washing away dead hair, regular bathing reduces shedding of your
dogs coat.
Keep your
dogs ears clean.
You can accomplish this with
dog ear cleaner purchased from any pet store. Put a small amount of ear cleaner on a cotton ball and swab the outer surface of the inner ear. Keeping your
dogs ears clean & dry will significantly reduce the chance of ear infections & ear mites. Ear wipes are also available from any pet store which will keep your
dogs ears clean. Dog groomers & veterinarians can also clean your pets ears for you. Many longhaired
dogs grow hair in their ears which needs to be pulled or trimmed to prevent ear infections. This hair can be gently pulled out with hemostats. Most people leave this to their groomer or vet.
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