Dog Grooming

As you all may know, dogs love to get dirty.  They love to run around the house with muddy paws and shake their wet hair all over the place on a rainy day or get covered in some cake that they were trying to pull down from the kitchen counter.  Dogs will be dogs.  What can we do?  Well, there's actually a lot we can do.  Even though we can't prevent every moment when our dogs get messy, we can at least keep them clean and healthy before and after they've committed the crime.

Let's start with a bath.  Some dogs love water, some dogs do not.  Either way, they have to get into the water before they can be cleaned.  Dogs should be bathed at least once month to maintain healthy skin and a soft, shiny coat.  Baths are typically meant to remove any dirt and debris or any "doggy smell" that your dog can occasionally get.  Be sure that you do not bathe your dog too frequently as it can dry out your dog's coat and cause the hair to break and fall out or damage the skin by removing the natural oils produced to keep the skin moist and have a shiny coat.  When bathing, use a shampoo and conditioner specifically made for dogs and afterwards use a towel or blow dryer (whichever your dog is more comfortable with) to dry your dog off.

Most dogs should be brushed regularly without having to wait for after bath time.  Depending on the type of coat your dog has, different tools can be used to maintain the coat and the brushing frequency can vary between breeds.  A soft-bristle brush can be used to remove loose hair and dirt and also produce a neat and shiny outer coat.  For short-haired breeds, a palm brush can be used to remove dead hair and a polish the coat as well as a short-toothed metal rake for dense-coated short-haired dogs.  For long-haired breeds, pin brushes, slicker brushes, and long-toothed metal rakes can be used to groom long hair.  

Coats can be easily damaged if one does not know to handle a dog's hair properly.  Always brush or comb in small sections at a time, starting with the undercoat and working your way to the outer coat.  If a dog is not brushed or combed regularly, mats (solid clumps of hair) can form anywhere on the dog's body.  Mats commonly form behind the ears, under arms, around the rump, on legs and thighs, and between toes.  If mats are not removed, they will pinch the skin of the dog and become very painful.  Dog owners should not try to remove mats with scissors and instead have a professional handle it to ensure the dog's safety.

Another essential part of grooming is nail care.  Dogs that are active and have regular activity naturally wear down their nails on rigid or rough surfaces.  But for others, a good nail trim should be given at least twice a month to prevent damage to the pet or people that interact with it.  Untrimmed nails can overgrow into the dog's foot pads which cause painful sores that can become infected.  Some dogs have dewclaws (a little fifth toe that is a little higher on the foot than the other four) and if not trimmed regularly, the dewclaw can curl as it grows and eventually grow into the surrounding skin of the dog.

If you don't know how to trim your dog's nails, visit your veterinarian who can demonstrate where to cut, how much to cut, and how the nails should be cut.  Each nail has a "quick" which is a band of nerves and blood vessels that runs part way down the inside of each nail.  If the quick is cut accidentally, apply some styptic powder on the nail to clot the blood in a matter of seconds.  If you do not have styptic powder on hand, a little bit of corn starch or flour can be used as an alternative.

Naturally, dogs with pointed ears or open ears have less of a risk of getting ear infections because airflow can enter the ear canal very easily and regulate moisture within the ear.  On the other hand, dogs with floppy ears have a blocked airflow through the ear canal which can trap moisture and promote bacterial overgrowth, causing ear infections.  An unpleasant odor or discharge from the ear can indicate the sign of an ear infection.  Healthy ear canals are a light pink color and signs of ear infection can be present if the ear canal is brown or black.  If you see any sign of an ear infection, see your veterinarian as soon as possible and do not attempt to clean the ear as it can cause pain to the dog.

To clean your dog's ears, you use ear cleaning solution (specifically for dogs) or a mixture of white vinegar and warm water or hydrogen peroxide and water as an alternative.  Do not use alcohol to clean your dog's ears because it can dry out the ear and cause allergic reactions.  Always use a damp cloth or cotton ball with a small amount of solution on it to gently wipe out the insides of the visible ear.  If your dog wants to shake, let it because it will loosen the dirt within the ear.

Although many pet owners do not brush their dog's teeth, it is recommended that a dog's teeth be brushed about three times a week with toothpaste and a toothbrush made for dogs.  If you don't know how to brush your dog's teeth, think of brushing the teeth of a child except theres no need to rinse.  Dogs can develop gingivitis (a reversible inflammatory condition of the gums caused by bacterial build up) or periodontitis (an irreversible continuation of gingivitis that affects the deeper mouth structures supporting the teeth) if their teeth are not brushed regularly.

All information provided and any additional information needed concerning the grooming of a dog can be found at Pet Owner's Guide to Dog Grooming.



Works Cited:

Petwave. (2013). Pet Owner's Guide to Dog Grooming. Retrieved February 6, 2013, from Petwave: http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Basics/Care/Grooming.aspx