We recommend the following as best grooming practices to keep your best friend happy;
- Brush your dog at least every couple of days no matter what the length of the coat. It helps to prevent matting, removing dead hair and help in shedding their seasonal coat. This will keep your dog's coat healthy and in good condition.
- Keeping your dog's feet trimmed up neat is important, not only because it looks nice, but because it will help reduce the amount of tar, stickers, rocks, etc. that will get caught in their feet, all of which can be uncomfortable for your dog.
- Regular nail clipping is recommended. Dogs nails grow curvy and can become very uncomfortable for your dog to walk. Keeping nails short will prevent torn nails which can be very painful. This can also prevent scratching of your floors.
- Clean your dog's ears regularly, this will not only feel good, but is a good way to help prevent ear infections. If you notice an unusual smell or you see discharge coming from your dog's ears, bring it to your veterinarian's attention. The outside surface of the ear it is a good place to find ticks and or fleas.
- Maintaining your dog's teeth clean is very important as they can suffer from many of the same dental problems as humans such as gum disease, cavities, tartar buildup, etc. Bacteria from gum disease can also cause other health problems. Regular teeth cleaning will eliminate the stress of having your dog anesthetized for cleaning procedures and will save you vet expenses.
- Anal gland expression is an important aspect of dog grooming. Because they enable the animals to mark their territory, the glands can spontaneously empty, especially under times of stress, and create a very unpleasant change in the odor of the dog. Anal gland expression can be performed to maintain the dog's hygiene and to eliminate discomfort. Discomfort is evidenced by the dog scooting on the ground, licking or biting at the anus, sitting uncomfortably, having difficulty sitting or standing, or chasing its tail.
- As the weather gets warmer, and you are out enjoying the spring and summer, make sure you take your precautions for keeping fleas and ticks away from your dog. You may want to treat your yard and use some type of medication for your dog. There are many types of medications, you may want to ask your vet. Not doing this can cause severe irritation on your dog's skin and several other health issues or diseases.
Summer Shave Downs
We do not reccomend shaving down certain breeds. Dogs have their coat for important reasons, The most vital is thermal regulation. Certain breeds that have a double coat SHOULD NOT BE SHAVED. Removing their coat can result in overheating and sunburn. Some examples of these double coated breeds are Austrailian Shepherds, Huskies, German Shepherds and Golden Retreivers, among others. Our priority is the health and well being of the dog. They will not be cooler in the summer months if you shave them down.