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Lovabledogs
Health
Dog Grooming Tips:
Dog Grooming Tips
By Cindy the Vet
http://lovabledogs.info
It's important to choose the right grooming tools. What
may be great for one dog, could be totally unsuitable
for another.
For short coated breeds like the Labrador retriever the
best tools massage the skin and bring out dead hair and
dandruff, the Wahl Smartgroom Rubber Palm Brush and the
Furminator are good examples of this.
For medium "double-coated" breeds like the German
Shepherd and Collie, you need a brush that will
penetrate the coat more deeply. A Slicker Brush is
ideal, accompanied by a comb. When the dog has been
thoroughly brushed with the slicker, run the comb
through the whole coat, checking for tangles, that way
you can be sure the dog is groomed all the way to the
skin. A Furminator or shedding rake can be useful for
these breeds too. The Furminator can get into the coat
more deeply so it is great for heavily shedding dogs,
getting every last dead hair out till the coat shines
with health.
For single coated, non shedding breeds like the Bichon
Frise, poodle and any breed of dog that is clipped, a
comb is my recommendation, added with a slicker brush,
with perhaps a pin brush for sensitive areas.
For wire coated and hand stripped dogs i.e. Airedale,
Fox Terrier, use a slightly blunted stripping knife, a
Furminator or Zoom Groom, and a slicker brush.
Dog shampoo should also be chosen carefully. The right
products can really aid in your pet’s health and well
being, added benefits like tick and flea deterrents can
also be found in shampoos. Buying the wrong products
like a more harsher shampoo can irritate some breeds
sensitive skin.
If your dog's coat is prone to tangling, use a good
quality conditioner as well, which will not only make
brushing easier, but also will speed up drying time for
you, and keep your dogs coat and skin in good condition.
Pet dogs should be washed one or two times a week. You
can use your judgment on how often. Skin problems are
far more likely to be associated with diet and
environmental factors than by regular bathing, but you
should make sure your use a more mild shampoo as it can
be a factor
You should remove any tangles or knots before bathing,
as water can cause them to tighten.
If, for whatever reason, the grooming regime has been
temporarily abandoned, and your pet has knots that
cannot be brushed out, then seek professional help from
a groomer, as tugging at the hair will only cause pain,
fear and resentment in your dog. In such situations, the
kind course of action is usually to lift out the mats
with clippers, and start fresh.
Nail clipping is another important procedure for your
dog to get used to. Many dogs dislike having their nails
clipped, particularly those of the front paws. Be very
careful not to cut the quick of the nail, and remember
to treat each nail as an individual when choosing where
to cut. It is easier to tell where to cut when the dog
has white nails, rather than black, if in doubt ask your
vet or groomer to trim the nails. Some dogs never need
their nails cut, some have nails that grow like
wildfire, and some nails grow round and back into the
foot if left unchecked. If your dog is fussy about
getting his/her nails clipped, a useful tip is to have
someone hold them down and sooth them while placing a
piece of cloth over there eyes so they don't need to
watch.
Many dogs should be professionally groomed every six
weeks or so, in which case the groomer will have checked
the nails and clipped them off if necessary as part of
the service.
Ear care is another area of importance, excessive wax,
redness, scratching, excessive matting of hair in the
external ear, rubbing, head shaking, smelly ears and
disorientation can all be signs of ear problems. Check
your pet's ears regularly for these signs. Don’t be
afraid to sniff the ears, healthy ears should not smell
foul. Floppy eared dogs are particularly prone to
infections, as the air doesn’t tend to circulate the ear
canal. It is sometimes necessary to clear the hair from
the ear canal, at least partially, to allow more air
flow. Again this is a regular part of a professional
grooming service. If you suspect ear problems do consult
your vet, as those sorts of problems can become a long
running battle without proper care.
Many breeds of dog suffer from weepy eyes, which can
stain the coat in an unsightly way. Keeping the area
clean and free of excess hair will help reduce the cause
of the staining, which are the tears. Have the eyes
checked whilst at the vets, to make sure there are no
underlying causes. Stained eye hair can usually be
removed by the professional groomer, to good effect, as
can similar staining of feet caused by saliva as the dog
washes his or her feet.
Regularly groom your dog and often, and with the right
products , will help keep your dog beautiful
,comfortable, healthy and happy, which is what we all
want for our beloved companions.
Lovabledogs.info
Cindy Beatty
Lovabledogs_staff
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copyright: 2008
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