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Ever
seen your dog roll on the ground, lick his coat
or chew at matted fur? These are natural ways in
which companion canines keep clean. If he has a
coat that needs extra attention, your dog will need
some help from you to look his best.
Dog Breed Care & Grooming Tips
It's
a good idea to check your dog's ears, eyes and teeth
weekly. Remove wax and dirt from his ears with a
cotton ball moistened with water or a little mineral
oil. If you have a long-haired dog, you may need
to remove the excess hair leading into the ear canal.
This can be done with a special hair remover, available
from pet stores or your veterinarian, and carefully
pull one strand at a time. Do not insert any instrument
in the ear canal. This can damage delicate tissues.
Gently
bathe the skin around the eyes and inside the ear
flaps with moistened cotton. Dogs with loose facial
skin, such as Shar Peis, need special attention.
Clean the folds with damp cotton to prevent dirt
and bacteria from causing irritation and infection.
Always thoroughly dry the areas between the folds.
Brushing Is Important for Proper Pet Grooming
Regular
brushing is important, too, and will allow you to
check for flea infestation. Dogs with smooth and
short coats are low-maintenance, but should be brushed
weekly. For a smooth-haired dog, such as a Boxer,
use a rubber brush to loosen dead skin and dirt.
Then, remove dead hair with a bristle brush. Polish
your short-haired dog's coat with a chamois cloth.
If
your dog has a short, dense coat that's prone to
matting, such as that of a retriever, use a slicker
brush to remove tangles and a bristle brush to catch
dead hair. Don't forget to comb his tail.
Dogs
with long, luxurious coats-think Yorkshire terrier-need
more attention. Every day you should remove tangles
and gently tease mats with a slicker brush. Use
a bristle brush for the coat.
Do
the same for dogs with long coats, such as collies.
Comb through the fur and trim the hair around the
hocks and feet.
Dog & Cat Grooming Baths
Keep
your pet's coat in top condition with a bath every
3 months. Start with a good brushing. Next, put
a bland ophthalmic ointment in your pet's eyes and
cotton in his ears. Place a rubber mat in the bathtub
and fill it with 4 inches of warm water. Place your
pet in. Next, use the spray hose or pitcher to wet
him thoroughly. Gently massage shampoo in from head
to tail. Always use a shampoo formulated for dogs.
Human shampoo can irritate canine skin. Avoid the
eyes, ears and nose and rinse thoroughly. Dry him
with a fluffy towel or blow dryer, but be sure to
monitor the level of heat.
If
your dog gets very excitable during bathtime and
try to nip you, put a toy that floats in the tub
with your dog so he can focus on the toy rather
than on mouthing you.
Help
your dog put his best paw forward with neatly trimmed
nails. ANIMED recommends that you clip his nails
once monthly. Use a guillotine-type clipper to trim
off the tip of each nail at the point just before
it begins to curve downward. And be very careful
not to cut the sensitive pink area that can be seen
through the nail.
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