Grooming is an essential part of pet care and it needs to be done for the maintenance of our little canines. Some breeds may have long manes whereas the others would have no manes at all. So where there may be some pet who will require a lot of maintenance whereas there are others would. The benefits of grooming would be better health, hygiene, reduces the chances of ailments and also makes the bond between owners and the pets. The first time pet owners always have this haunting question as to how to take care of their little pooches. Do not fret; here is all you need to know how to groom your pets the right way!
The first thing that comes to our mind when referred to grooming is brushing and combing. Shedding of the fur occurs naturally and their coat is replaced with new hair follicles. Brushing enables the loose hair to be caught in the brush than lying down on your floor or sticking to your dresses! Also when the dogs shed their hair they also shed the dead skin. There are various kinds of brushes and you should buy one according to the breed you have. There are slicker brushes that come is different sizes. They are used for the dogs with dense and furry coats. Also a softer slicker is used for the puppies or small canines with little hair. The pin brush is used for canines with long hair and it prevents from the hair breaking halfway. For dogs with fine hair a rubber comb is preferred. If you want you can also stick to the plain old-fashioned comb but make sure the edges are round so that the skin of your canines won’t be scraped off.
Bathing is another task when it comes to our little furry friends. So many question as to where should you apply the shampoo, cover the ears, et al. some dogs enjoy bathing while others don’t. Bathing your pets weekly once is a must. Other than summer time, warm water should be usually preferred for bathing. Always start from the tail and slowly proceed towards the head. Some shampoos need to be diluted while others don’t and this shampoo should be chosen according to the skin of your dog. Massage the follicle and leave the shampoo for about 5 minutes before rinsing it off. Make sure you don’t let water go inside the dog’s ears as they are highly sensitive and can lead to fungus growth. So covering your dog’s ears with cotton balls and dabbing water with diluted shampoo should do for the ears. Use a clean towel to wipe them dry and pay attention to the joints and paws. Blow drying is an optional part. My dog goes berserk if I hold the blow dryer to his face. But some pooches don’t mind the hot blast of hair. It will prevent your pooches from catching cold also make sure that the temperature is minimum.
Another daunting episode first time owners have is when your pooch loving jumps on you and a chunk of your skin is scratched off due to long nails. And some dog owners will agree that trimming the paw nails is one of the trickiest jobs. If you get the nip wrong it would lead to blood trickling down and your dog to be forever scared of cutting nails. Overgrown nails affect the mobility of your pets and also leads them to crack or split at the tips. If your dog runs around in the park regularly that will keep hid nails from curling however it should be regularly checked. Pliers kind of nail trimmers is usually used as they can be used for all kinds of dogs. Make sure the trimmer is not blunt as it may be relatively painful. And cut exactly where you see the nail is white. If you go any higher that would lead in a blood shed. Nail files are also available for dogs these days. They are used when the nail usually splits at the end. This would make the sharp ends fine and you wouldn’t have to run for the hills every time your pooch jumps on you playfully!
Ear cleaning is also a major thing. A pink and clean shiny skin is the secret to a healthy ear. The usual problems would be bad odor, ear wax and red inflammation. Water is usually the culprit for most of this so avoid getting water in the ear. Just swab the ear with an antiseptic cleaner and check the inside for any problems. Do not stick an ear bud inside because it can be harmful to the ears. Dogs who have folded ears have a higher probability of getting ear infection as the folded ear can lead to moisture being trapped inside. Also it’s advisable to cut the extra hair growing in and around the ears for better air circulation. Ear hairs should be plucked from with the ear canal. You can use ear powder too to ensure no moistening affects the ear canal. This will ensure your canine has a healthy ear.
The eye of your dog can also show you signs of his health. Many dogs like the Lhasa Apso have hair that covers the eyes. Make sure that the hair around the eyes is trimmed and it has proper visibility. This also ensures no bacterial infection and ulcer formation. Mucus around the corner of the eyes is usually signs that the pet is sick or has some kind of infection; this should be treated properly under the guidance of a vet. Tear stains are also a normal sight in dogs. This usually happens with dogs having a lot of fur around the eyes. The tear strains should be cleaned so that it doesn’t serve as a breeding ground for eye infections due to the moisture.
Hopefully with these steps and practice will help you get a grip on grooming your pet right. It will definitely make you grow closer to your pet and you will understand when something is wrong without having a common language!!