Dog grooming is the process of providing skin care to your dog and is an important part of your dog’s health care. It comprises of bathing with a suitable shampoo for dogs, drying, brushing, hair trimming or cutting, nail trimming, and cleaning the ears. Mats are removed and dead hair brushed out, making your dog clean and odour free.
We care about you and your dog which is why we provide you here with a lot of tips that will give you confidence to work with your dog to keep him or her in balance and therefore in harmony.
Grooming not only makes your dog clean and odour free, it also stimulates the blood supply to the skin, giving your pet a healthy and shiny coat, and moves your pet toward having optimum skin condition. Grooming also helps you bond with your pet. So, is it something you want to do, or would rather have the professionals that you trust, do it for you? Basic grooming is quite straight forward, so pet parents do not need to be afraid to get into this routine with their pets.
Bathing your dog is the best way of removing dirt, oil and old hair from the skin. This helps to remove potential sources of skin irritations that may be accumulating on the dog. As you bath the dog, you are also able to feel the skin and will be able to check for lumps or bumps that may have appeared, giving you early warning of potential problems. It also provides the opportunity to identify early warning signs of fleas, ticks or other skin irritations. If you do find any, then take your dog to the veterinarian for a check up. They can sell you registered veterinary medicines to help return your pet to a happy balance.
All dogs require baths, and the frequency of bathing depends entirely on your dog’s lifestyle, the breed and any existing skin problems or conditions.
Dogs that swim in natural waterways such as ponds and rivers, or those that visit the beach should be rinsed after every such outing. Use an appropriate dog shampoo. Select a good dog shampoo, which is formulated specifically for dogs. Do not use human shampoo since the pH for a dog is different to that for humans, and human shampoos often use harsher detergents than pet shampoos.
Ours is recommended by the vet Dr Harley Farmer PhD BVSc(Hons) BVBiol(Path) MRCVS, as it is particularly mild and contains no harmful ingredients like Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLS).
Brushing your dog regularly, several times a week, will help distribute the natural oils secreted from the skin glands, giving your dog a shiny, healthy looking coat. In addition, it stimulates the blood flow to the skin which then promotes normal skin and hair growth.
It will also help to keep the coat clean and free of hair mats and tangles. Matted hair is quite unsightly, but more importantly, mats can be very irritating to your dog and cause skin problems under the matted hair. Use a good grooming spray to help to soften and detangle the hair, making it easier to brush.
Longhaired dogs require regular or even everyday brushing to keep their coats healthy. If your dog’s fur is badly matted, then get your dog to a groomer, and do not attempt to cut off hair mats with a scissors as you may end up cutting the skin as well, causing more problems for your dog.
Remember to wash the brush regularly. It’s a good idea to wash the brush in the shampoo each time you bathe the dog, and you can wash the brush as often as you like.
Nail Trimming is part of the paw care regime. Your dog depends on those four paws to get around, therefore, it is important that the paws are well looked after. Dog nails have a hard outer covering that protects the “quick”, which is the inner part of the nail that contains blood vessels and tender nerve endings. The nails on the paws grow, just like human nails, and because they contain nerve endings, overgrown nails lead your dog out of harmony and balance.
Long or overgrown nails will usually break at the base of the nail, and thereby expose the nail bed. If nails are left untrimmed, they can become ingrown and infected. A dog’s nail can grow so long that it grows and curves back into the dog’s skin. Walking on long nails can also be extremely painful for your dog, as the nails dig into the paw pads, or aggravate any existing arthritis and also cause the toes to splay, and if left untreated, could end up in permanent malformation.
Dog nails can dig into furniture and into your own skin when they jump on you or during play time. For dog owners with wood floors, long dog nails will show up in the form of your dog “skating” over the floors. Paw care is therefore essential.
If you want to do this yourself, then ask your veterinarian to show you how to properly trim your dog’s nails and claws. Use a good dog nail clipper for the job. Otherwise, get a good dog groomer to do it for you.