Grooming your dog is an essential part of being a pet parent and you have to make sure that you’re doing it regularly to keep your animal healthy and happy, no matter what age they happen to be. Getting a bath may not be your puppy’s favorite part of the day, but you have to do it to keep their hair from getting matted and to clean out all the dirt and dander they love to build up in their coats. Here are 5 more essential tips to keep your best friend as happy and healthy as possible.
1. Different Brushing for Different Coats
One important thing to keep in mind is the fact that different dog coats are going to require different types and frequencies of brushing to make sure your pet is getting what they need. A dog with a short coat is going to need weekly brushing with a rubber brush to loosen dead skin and dirt. If your dog has a long coat then daily brushing is going to be best so you can get rid of any knots or tangles that show up.
2. Trimming Long Fur
It’s easy to trim your dog’s fur at home, as long as you’re careful and know what you’re doing before you get yourself into trouble by nicking their skin and earning yourself a trip to the emergency room. It’s important to realize that dogs have thinner skin than humans, making it extremely easy to cut them, no matter how much effort you’re putting into safety. Use one hand to keep your pet still and move their skin away while you trim the fur around their face, tail, feet, and ears and you’ll be okay.
3. Simple Health CheckUps
You can keep on top of your pet’s health by regularly checking in on their eyes and ears to see if there are any signs of a problem. Look for a buildup of crust and wipe it away with a damp cloth as an easy way to keep up with the overall health of your dog and make sure you take the time to look at their eyes. Both pupils should be the same size and their eyeballs should be white anytime you look and you shouldn’t be able to notice any tearing or discharge.
4. Skincare
Just like the eyes, your dog’s skin is an indicator of your pet’s overall health and should be monitored regularly if you want to catch any problems before they turn into something much more dangerous. If you notice an excess of scratching or licking then it’s a good indicator that your pet may be dealing with allergies or stress and it’s best to get them looked at. Constantly dealing with an allergic reaction would be difficult for a person and it’s no easier for a pet who has no option but to chew at the problem areas.
5. Trimming Your Dog’s Nails
You don’t have to wonder when it’s time to trim your dog’s nails when you follow a very simple rule of thumb that tells you by the sound he or she makes whenever they take a stop on your floor. If you can hear clicking, that means the nails are touching the floor and that’s when it’s time for you to trim them back. One of the best dog grooming tips and tricks to keep in mind is that you always have to trim before the quick and, if you hit it, use styptic powder to stop the bleeding as quickly as you can.
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