Dog Grooming

Think grooming a dog involves washing it in the bathtub? Think you don’t need a groomer?

Dog groomers do far more than just fluff and dry; they address several vital health practices regarding your dog’s eyes, ears, and anal glands. Of course, it’s not impossible to take care of these grooming concerns yourself, but in many instances it’s safer and more practical to let a professional handle these sensitive areas.

Proper ear car requires periodic ear cleanings. Veterinarians and professional dog groomers use an agent that dissolves earwax, or saline solution to clean dogs’ ears. These cleaning agents are usually put into the ear before bathing. It is crucial for the groomer to keep the dog’s ears dry. If water runs into a dog’s ear during the bath, a drying agent containing isopropyl alcohol, acetic acid, or boric acid must be put into the ear. Professional dog groomers recommend using a wash rag instead of Q-tips to help dry out the ears. Using Q-tips increases the chance of injuring the dog’s eardrum. If the cleaning requires reaching places that are out of a wash-rag’s reach you should seek professional help.

Dog groomers usually apply an ointment to the dog’s eyes before bathing in order to protect the cornea. However, the trend is to move away from these practices because some professionals believe the ointment may trap irritants that run into the eyes during the bath. Closing, redness, squinting, and excessive tearing are good indicators of eye problems.

Another part of proper dog grooming that the professionals see to is expressing the anal glands. Have you ever noticed your dog dragging its bottom across the carpet? If you have, you know how important it is to take it to the dog groomer. What it is trying to do is release the fluid that has built up in tiny sacs located under the base of his tail. If he is successful, you will know it by the rank smell. Since the sacs are fragile (and discoloration of the fluid could indicate infection), this part of grooming should be left to a professional or a veterinarian.

Adequate grooming is absolutely necessary to maintain your dog’s health. If it’s something you want to do personally, educate yourself on the finer points. But using a professional dog groomer will be the most beneficial to you in the long run.

For some of you dog owners, this article will simply be common sense. For other owners, however, this information might just be a real eye-opener. If you really want your dog to be as healthy as possible, than take a few minutes to make sure you’re really doing all you can to ensure your dog’s good health by reading this article.

Of course, proper nutrition is essential to your dog’s health. Making sure your dog has the necessary vaccinations, heart worm tests and preventatives and fecal tests done annually is also imperative for your dog’s very survival. But what about grooming your dog? Isn’t that just something that people who show their dogs or people with long-haired dogs need to be concerned about? Absolutely not! Dog grooming is something that every conscientious dog owner should concerned with.

So what’s the big deal about dog grooming? Let’s take a look and see. First, the obvious: it makes your dog look good and healthy. But it also makes him feel good too. Brushing your dog makes the skin and hair coat healthy by bringing up the natural oils in the skin that nourish and protect your dog’s coat.

Grooming your dog serves other important purposes as well. It keeps the shedding problem down, which is a big concern for the indoor dog. Grooming on a regular basis (which means more than a couple of times a month) will also keep snarls and tangles out of your dog’s coat, which is a big problem on the legs and tails of dog breeds like Golden Retrievers (like mine), spaniels, Pomeranians and scads more.

Regular brushing also gives you a chance to closely examine your dog’s skin for possible problems. Some examples are flea and tick problems, hot spots, rashes, cuts or lumps. Catching some of these problems early may prevent disease or infection or even be the difference between life and death.

When you’re through brushing, don’t forget to check their ears (some breeds require cleaning more often than others) and their toenails (more for inside dogs…my two outside dogs keep their toenails trimmed down just fine all by themselves just running around.) The eyes and teeth are important too, but your vet will examine them on your annual visits.

And what about those who just don’t have the time or desire to make dog grooming a priority? Ever heard of a professional dog groomer? Take the time to find a reputable groomer, or get a recommendation from a trusted dog owning friend. A seasoned dog groomer can give you some great tips for grooming in between visits, and are often a great source for tips on keeping your dog healthy.

Will grooming alone ensure good health for your dog? Of course not. But done regularly in conjunction with good nutrition and proper vet care, grooming your dog sure will give your dog a better chance at a long and healthy life.

What do you know about properly grooming your dog? Dog grooming is extremely important and your responsibility as a dog owner. Dogs generally need to be bathed once a month, brushed weekly, have their nails clipped, and some dog breeds need to be taken to the groomer every couple of months to have their coats trimmed. A properly groomed dog is a happier and healthier dog and makes for a happier dog owner!

Many dog breeds do not need regular visits to the groomer. Shorter-haired dogs like Labradors, Boxers, and Bulldogs do not need to have their coats trimmed, but longer-haired dogs such as Collies, Scottish Terriers, and Poodles do need to visit the groomer every 4-6 weeks for a trim. Regular visits ensure that your dogs coat is free of tangles and well-maintained.

Dog grooming also includes brushing your dogs coat, whether he has long or short hair. Regular brushing removes your dogs dead hair. This dead hair is what normally will shed, but with regular brushing you can brush out most of the dead hair and your dog will shed much less as a result. Brushing your dog also distributes the hairs natural oils, which makes the coat shiny and healthy looking. Its amazing what a good brushing can do in making your dogs coat shine. Not to mention, what dog doesnt like a good brushing?!

Proper dog grooming also means trimming your dogs nails. This may seem like a daunting task to some until you and your dog get used to it. You can buy a good nail clipper at any pet store. Make sure to buy one that fits your dog. Some dogs have small nails like Chihuahuas; other breeds like Labradors need a much larger nail clipper. If you dont feel comfortable clipping your own dogs nails, many pet stores offer this service for a reasonable price. Proper exercise of your dog should keep his nails at a good length but they will need to be trimmed occasionally. Be very careful not to trim the nails too short as dogs have a fleshy material inside their nails called quick. If nails are trimmed too short and you cut the quick, it is painful for your dog.

Are you bathing your dog once a month? This is a general rule of thumb. If your dog spends a lot of time outside running around or going to the beach, chances are he will need to be bathed more often than a dog that spends most of his time indoors snuggled up at your feet. Its important to spend a little bit more on dog shampoo, especially if your dog has any kind of skin conditions. Unfortunately, the less expensive brands of dog shampoo have harsher ingredients that can strip away too much of your dogs natural oils, drying the skin and possibly causing skin irritations. You may want to ask your vet for recommendations for the best shampoo for your particular dog.

Dog grooming is of the utmost importance in dog ownership! Most dog owners take pride in having a healthy, well-groomed dog. Bathing your dog, clipping his nails, and brushing him are also good bonding experiences for dog and owner. Take your time in grooming your pooch and enjoy the experience. A happy, healthy, well-groomed dog makes for a happy owner!