Grooming is an important part of your dog’s health, with regular brushing and combing helping to remove dead hair and dirt and prevent matting. Dogs that are regularly groomed tend to have a healthier and shinier coat because it stimulates the blood supply to the skin.
Grooming your dog can also be a good way to make a strong relationship with your dog, and it’s important to get him used to it from an early age. Many dogs learn to see their routine brushing as an alternate petting, another source of affection and attention. A good quality brush and comb will help you with your dog’s coat, but also remember that your dog’s eyes, ears, and nails require attention as well.
Brushing helps remove dirt and pests, untangles knots and spreads the natural oils evenly through the coat. Each dog is different and you should consult your veterinarian or a grooming expert on the proper type of brush to use based on your dog’s breed. You should brush thoroughly, including her stomach, behind her legs and her ears. Your pet’s personal groomer can play an intricate part in their health and well being and they can provide YOU, the owner, with a field of valuable information in regard to regular grooming & maintenance. Along with your veterinarian, a groomer can be very helpful in discovering existing health and skin problems, and may be able to work with you in resolving some of them.
When to bath your dog
A dog who is free from fleas and ticks, with no skin problems, should only be bathed when necessary and not more than every 8 weeks. Bathed too often, the oil glands will overproduce to compensate the shampoo’s drying effect and result in the dog becoming “smelly”. Brush your dog regularly instead. Check ears for mites once a month as a preventative measure. If signs of fleas or ticks appear, dust the coat well with flea powder. Baths should be given only when necessary with warm soapy water; making sure the soapy water does not get into the eyes.
Insecticide Treatments: Fleas, Ticks Worms and Ear Mites
FLEAS
Treat once a month with Frontline or similar product – your vet will advise.
TICKS
Treat one week after flea treatment NOT at the SAME time use Bayticol or similar product. Spray yard with Diazinon or similar product.
WORMS
Puppies must be wormed at 8 weeks and again at 12 & 16 weeks. Adult dogs need to be wormed 3 times a year.
EAR MITES
This is a dark brown discharge and can be treated with MITES OUT. Ears should be checked once a month. Left without treatment MITES will cause major problems indicated by continual head shaking and you must consult your Vet.
– The basics of dog grooming
– Top Five Tips on Dog Grooming
– All about dog grooming by Wikipedia
For more information on insecticidal treatments, please contact your vet.
