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It goes without saying that you must give your dog a bath regularly. Many pooches don’t like to be dunked in water and covered in suds. But if you let them be because you can’t be bothered to coax them into a bath, you’re guilty of neglect. An unclean dog is a breeding ground for parasites and a sitting duck for diseases. Bathe your dog after taking care of other grooming details – trim and brush their coats to remove tangles, trim their nails, clean their eyes and ears, and brush their teeth before giving them a bath. Don’t put a collar on a dog that’s not completely dry – this could lead to infections!
· Brush your dog’s coat of hair every day – you have to invest more time in brushing dogs that have thicker coats. Dogs with matted and unkempt hair can contract yeast infections. Buy a brush that is soft and gentle on your dog’s skin if you have short haired dogs, for long hair you need the correct tools.
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You must clip your dog’s nails when they’ve grown too long. Long toe nails could curl inwards and hinder your dog’s ability to walk.
Your dog’s teeth have to be brushed; yes, you read that right; dental hygiene is important to prevent periodontal disease which can cause plaque to build up and lead to kidney and liver disease. Some people use antimicrobial spray if their dog is averse to brushing. If there is excessive buildup of plaque, your dog may need a vet to clean their teeth.
Clean your dog’s ears from time to time to prevent ear infections that happen as a result of accumulated wax and dirt. Use rubbing alcohol to remove any excess moisture from your dog’s ear.
Your dog’s eyes have to be cleaned of eye boggies that could irritate your pooch – when you take care of your canine’s eyes, you know it’s healthy when the eyes are clear and don’t show signs of irritation or infection.
Don’t hesitate to spend money on necessary dog grooming products – they make taking care of your dog and keeping them well groomed easier and more convenient.
Remember, owning a pet is a great responsibility; so just as you enjoy the company, attention and love of your dog, you must reciprocate by taking care of him/her and providing them with the best in terms of grooming and attention. It takes time and effort, and if you cannot spare these two qualities, you’re better off without your canine pooch!
Bullet points to remember:
- Brush your dog every day and remove tangles when you find them , a FURmintator will hep you do this http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&cp=6&gs_id=q&xhr=t&q=furminator&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=832&bih=636&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=14396925891318000661&sa=X&ei=lCcoT_q1DsPR8gODr5XDAw&sqi=2&ved=0CHoQ8wIwAg they come in different sizes.
- Buy the correct tools for your breed of dog to help maintain the coat, ask for information from your Groomer if your not sure.
- It is essential that you dry the coat of dogs with woolly fur to ensure that it doesn't go into mats this is one of the main reasons it happens. Towel dry then dry with a hairdryer combing out the fur thoroughly.
- Make sure eyes are cleaned every day if you have a breed that is prone to tear stains or eye boggies.
- Check ears and nails , ears for any sign of infection, this can be extremely painful and can lead to kidney failure if infections are left for prolonged periods of time.
- Take them to a groomer regularly to maintain coat condition and cut.
- If you are unable to do the above as you have no time then its better to keep the coat very short.
- Start taking your puppy to the groomers as soon as possible so they get used to the experience.
- Your dog is totally reliant on you to take care of it in every way.
- No one ever said owning a dog was easy!
