Everyone knows that dogs are man’s best friend, and for good reason. Dogs provide their owners with love and companionship like no other pet can. They also offer protection by alerting their owners to possible intruders or other dangers in the home. And they’re great at providing stress relief simply by being there for you when you need it most. Despite all these benefits, many people neglect one of the most important aspects of owning a dog: proper grooming.
Regular bathing, brushing, nail trimming, and other good old-fashioned pampering will mean your dog is healthy, happy, and long-lived. It’s a small investment with big returns in terms of satisfaction from both owner and pet!
Brushing is a Must
Grooming is not just about washing your dog to remove the dirt, but it’s also important for you to do some brushing so that tangles and matting can be removed. This reduces their shedding which helps them maintain healthy skin with fewer problems. Brushing also increases blood flow to the skin which stimulates it enough to produce more oils that moisturize their coat.
Of course, it depends on what kind of hair your dog has. Short-haired pups need to be brushed with a dog brush for short hair, daily or two times a week, and long-haired breeds should be brushed about once a day. Every dog owner knows that long-haired dogs shed, but you must keep up on the brushing to reduce how much they are shedding. This will help with their coat and reduce some of your vacuuming issues.
Brushing your dog regularly can also help to reduce matting and tangles. When you brush them, the hair is spread out evenly so that the skin and coat stay healthy. It’s also a good way to pick up any debris or other matter in their hair such as grass seeds, fleas, or burrs that get stuck.
Cleaning Their Ears
You should clean out your dog’s ears once or twice every week. You do need to make sure that you don’t insert anything deeper into them because they can cause inner ear problems which lead to infections.
Just take a cotton ball and wet it with some ear cleanser or tearless shampoo so that you can wipe out the inside of their ears. This will get rid of any dirt, wax, or other matter in their ears that might need to be removed. Make sure all the dirt is removed from the ear before putting another cotton swab in there because that could lead to an infection if you leave anything behind.
Some dogs, especially shorter ones with longer ears have problems catching grass seeds or other things in their ears. If you see them scratching at their ears a lot, they might have caught something and need to be cleaned out, very often by a professional groomer or a veterinarian as they could injure their eardrum.
Removing the Nails
When your pup’s nails get too long, they can become uncomfortable for them because it puts pressure on their joints. It also increases the chances of having ingrown nails because they’re working hard trying to shorten up the nails, which causes other problems including infection if not treated quickly by a vet.
When you cut their nails regularly, you eliminate this pressure and help them feel better. Regular nail cutting helps prevent scratching in the house as well since their nails stay short. Just like us, when dogs start feeling the pain they act out by either withdrawing or acting out aggressively. If your pet’s feet are painful then it makes it difficult for them to walk around which causes even more discomfort.
Therefore, toenails need to be clipped regularly when they get too long.
Getting Rid Of That Grime
You need to bathe your pup using a shampoo that is designed for their skin type. For example, if they have very dry skin you want to use something with more moisturizing ingredients rather than one that is too harsh on them. If they have very sensitive skin you’ll want to find something that won’t irritate it further since bathing can sting in some cases when there are issues with the skin. When in doubt, always go with something gentle but effective.
If possible, bring your dog in for professional grooming so that any messes can be cleaned up properly. This helps your dog feel a little more comfortable when going to the groomer by reducing their anxiety and stress levels.
A good way to determine if your dog needs a bath is by rubbing your hand against their coat; if there is any moisture or residue, then that’s a good indication that they need one. Dog bristles will hold some substance that can irritate their skin and lead to itching and other problems.
Prevention is the Key
An ungroomed dog does not feel good about themselves because they often get dirt in their coats along with tangles and matting. They can’t move well and they feel very uncomfortable which causes them to be grumpy. This causes your dog to have a shorter temper, making it difficult for you to train them.
Most health issues in dogs cannot be cured but rather managed in some form or another. That is why when you take your pet to the vet, they always recommend preventative treatments before any other type of. When your pup does not receive regular grooming, you are setting up your pup for future issues. Dogs commonly develop cysts in their skin when certain glands in the skin are not regularly expressed (removed). These cysts can become infected and lead to serious problems down the road.
So, to make sure this doesn’t happen, you should keep up with regular sessions of bathing your dog along with brushing or combing out mats in their coat. You should shampoo them with a solution that is designed for their skin type and use the appropriate tools.
Your dog’s health should always be your primary focus because as much grooming sounds and maybe for the looks, it’s actually regarding the health of your beloved pup. So, one of the best ways to ensure that your dog is healthy is to make sure they are groomed on a regular basis. This helps you catch problems before they become serious, and will keep your pup feeling their best for a long time.
