My Friendly Pets

You know how good you feel when you take care of yourself. Whether it is getting your hair done, or having your teeth cleaned, a manicure or a pedicure; taking the time to “groom” yourself makes you feel refreshed, clean and generally a happy individual.

Grooming your dog has similar effects on the pup. A dog who is not taken care of or groomed may experience both physiological as well as psychological problems.

Brushing your dog’s coat everyday is important. While they might not seem to thoroughly enjoy this task at first, they can be trained to tolerate if not enjoy being brushed. Brushing your dog helps to keep your dog’s coat in good condition. Brushing helps to remove dirt, spreads the natural oils throughout the coat, minimizes or eliminates tangles and helps to keep the dog’s skin free from irritation.

Ears are another part of your dog that require attention. Check out a prior entry specifically dedicated to the ears of a dog.Your dog’s ears should be checked about twice month and the skin behind the ear flap should look a pale pink color. It there is red, black or brown skin, or a peculiar odor, you should contact your vet. To keep your dog’s ears clean and fresh use a cotton ball moistened with warm water or mineral oil and clean the opening into the canal and the flaps of the ears. You sould never probe into the ear canal of the dog. If you notice perpetual scratching, head shaking, odor or redness, it is important to contact your vet. Ear infections can be very destructive to the hearing of your dog.

Grooming your dog’s nails is important as well. It was one of my least famous chores and to be honest, I let my husband do it. A dog’s nails should be clipped about once a month. I would suggest asking your vet for the best way to do this with your particular dog. (its not the dog’s favorite chore either!!)

Brush your dog’s teeth!!! This should be done about twice a week. Dogs can develop periodontal disease as well as cavities, so proper care for your dog’s teeth will save you both on pain and trips to the dental vet!!! Use pet toothpase with a small tooth brush that has soft bristles for the best results.

Try and bring fun into grooming your dog. The more tense you are about these tasks, the more tense your dog will be too. Use treats and a lot of encouragement to get through the grooming. These are also time with your dog, so make the time as pleasant as possible.