Dog Grooming

What with doggie day care centers, dog spas, dog hotels, and now dogs can go to some restaurants it really is a dog’s life.

Pampering a dog consists of a nice bath, in most cases an oatmeal product that does not irritate the skin. A good cut, nails trimmed, ears cleaned and trimmed, brushing, drying, and more primping can enhance your dog’s life.

However pet owners, especially dog owners are dealing more with allergies today. Do food additives contribute to allergies, could it be the environment? As with humans, pollen, dust mites, insect bites can set off skin allergies in dogs or cats.

Some skin allergies are sometimes a breed problem such as some of the Terriers, and Golden Retrievers which are prone to allergens and itching, but most dogs do have itching now and again.

In some areas of the country dogs are more susceptible than other areas depending on the climate, vegetation and other factors.  Especially with the onslaught of perhaps all three causes such as a dog reacting to a food allergy, a dust mite, and a ragweed allergy may have severe symptoms of an allergic reaction to its environment.

Starting a routine can be simple and especially when we are grooming our favourite house pet it forms a closer bond with your dog.

photo credit: .Larry PageTo start with examine your dog.  Deep down under the fur, is the skin flaky, dry, itchy, chances are that means dry skin.  Also examine ears, feet, face, armpits, and the back end areas with thinner skin, and which with moisture can attract micro organisms, which can lead to infections and open sores.

Yeast infections usually common in ears can be associated with allergies, scratching can make the problem worse.   A cycle of itching causing inflammation, attracting more bacteria, can cause more inflammation leading to rashes and sores that become infected.

Flea or mite bites can cause sensitive reactions and the skin surrounding this area may increase histamine excretions causing itching.  These allergies can all be tested by blood tests, or skin tests by your veterinarian once diagnosed there are several strategies.

Weekly bathing with organic oatmeal shampoo can prevent itching, washing away the allergens before they get worse.

For dog allergies use Fatty Acid Supplements for pets which are readily available in health food stores but remember quality of product and ingredients is key here or allergies can progressively get worse.

Keeping a dog away from down pillows if they are allergic to feathers is just common sense, and there are also Allergy shots that can help. Usually if you see allergies in puppies less than one year old check what you are feeding the pup as allergies will probably worsen as the dog gets older.

If they are 3 to 4 years old and have been exposed to several summers they should not be getting new allergies unless you move to a new location, with a different environment or climate.

However in any case of allergies, a dog’s diet can be enhanced, and allergies kept to a minimum with the use of dietary supplements and an increase of omega fatty acids.

These are usually an oil that contain: fatty acids, vitamins and minerals such as zinc, for a healthy shiny coat. A few teaspoons in their food is easiest to get a daily dose. Some brands contain Linoleic Acid, Vitamin A, D3, and Vitamin E. These products can be used for Puppies, Pregnant and Nursing Dogs, Dogs with dry skin or brittle coats.

If your dog is allergic or has an itching problem especially with a dry coat, you may want to try these nutrients that offer great relief and are not usually found in their daily food or diet.  The summer heat seems to make allergies worse, than colder winter months.

photo credit: balleyne

GROOMING TIPS FOR DOGS

Brushing

Get a good brush, that can be easily cleaned. Brushing prevents tangles, removes dirt or debris, stimulates blood circulation, spreads the dogs natural oils, brush all over, not just one spot. Brushing can be done daily, or every few days, for long haired dogs its a must to keep them tangle free and get rid of stray fur that ends up on your carpets.

Eye Care

Eye areas should be dry and clean, always keep a cotton ball handy to clear the eye areas. If air conditioning in the home is constant, some mucus could develop which can be seen visibly and removed. Start with a damp cloth to remove any dirt wipe downwards away from the eye, on white dogs tear stains products can be purchased to remove those stains, avoid getting them in pets eyes. See a vet if there is a lot of staining, there could be a medical issue with constant staining under the eyes.

Ear Care

Ears can be cleaned with a cleaning solution, just put some on a cotton ball, squeeze out the excess amount, and clean around the ear canal. Do not go in too deep, or you can actually damage the ear canal.  Hairs can be trimmed in the ear canal, but I would leave that to a professional groomer. Only clean around the areas where you can actually see your finger. Keep the dog’s head restrained in case of sudden jerking movements which can be hazardous.

Nails

Tips on grooming with nails, especially when nails are black, are tricky since you cannot see where the nerve is, and that can cause bleeding.  It can be a difficulty if you never done it, and you can tell when you dog needs its nails trim since it will make noise walking on hardwood floors of any kind.  Keep an eye if they grow too long, nails should be trimmed every 4 to 6 weeks, if they grow long enough, they can weaken.  With white nails, they are a little easier to trim since you can see the nerve.  Always just trim a little off the bottom of the nail at an angle.  Again, if you do not feel you can do it, take the dog to a vet, or a groomer, sometimes they will trim the nails for free.

Bathing Your Dog

Once a month, use a good quality shampoo, some have vitamins added to the mix which actually benefit the bathing process.  If the dog’s skin is dry, every 6 weeks, it is important to get a bath every 6 months, at least, to get rid of fleas, to keep the coat clean, no matter what breed of dog they need a bath.  If your dog has itchy skin, oatmeal shampoo will help to calm the irritation and can temporarily neutralize itching problems. Depending on the season like in the summer your dog will be outdoors a lot longer, and they can get dirty.  Cats usually groom themselves, brush the coat of cats can help to keep them clean.

Good grooming habits can be started at the puppy stage, so they get used to bathing, and keeping your dog clean, healthy, and happy will become a part of the dog’s routine. Actually some dogs just love the attention of it all, it is after all, A Dog’s Life.

TAGS: dog grooming, grooming a dog, puppy grooming, bathing a dog, cleaning a dog’s ears, pampering your dog.

Original Post: June 14, 2007

**Updated: July 21, 2009

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 14th, 2007 at 8:15 pm and is filed under Dog Grooming, Dog Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.