Grooming or hygiene of the dog is a task to which we must dedicate constantly and continuously throughout the life of the animal. Dogs get dirty and can sometimes give off an unpleasant smell, so if their coat is not well cared for, their hair is damaged, their ears fill with wax, their nails grow, especially those who do not exercise daily … So, as with humans, we have to dedicate part of our time to grooming the dog. Here we have no excuse not to carry out this type of task, since your hygiene is essential, both from the point of view of your health and your socialization.
Bathing and drying the dog
The most common measure to take care of the cleanliness of the dog is the bathroom. Indeed, dogs must be bathed regularly, for example, once a month. Washing the dog is not complicated, we only need water that is not too hot (the dog has very sensitive skin), a special shampoo for dogs and some patience, since it is highly likely that our animal will try by all means to escape from the bathroom , although it is no less true that over time they will get used to it and even many come to take it as a welcoming and rewarding activity, especially if we take advantage of the bath to massage their body.
Bear in mind that pampering and caresses, ultimately, human contact, is essential to strengthen the bonds of union with our dog. As a preventive measure, plugging the dog’s ears to prevent the entry of water or soap is very positive, especially if one takes into account that the inside of the dog’s ears are quite delicate.
Once we have bathed the canid, it is important to dry it thoroughly to avoid colds in the animal, either through a towel or even accustom it to the noise of the dryer, as this accessory is the best option to achieve drying of its coat in a short period of time. weather.
Brushing and removal of dead hair
Once cleaned and after finishing the drying task, it would be important to eliminate the dead hair that the animal is shedding, for this we can have a brush or comb designed for this purpose, in this way we prevent it from getting tangled with the hair that does not It has fallen or is spreading on the floor and household items. The brushing should be done gently, without disturbing or stressing the dog, that way usually get that familiar, a prize as a reward and massaging are good alternatives to achieve good results.
Brushing should be done from puppy age, in this way we will get the dog to get used to this beneficial exercise without difficulty. We can start with its head, then the back, its sides, to later brush parts of the body that are a little more difficult such as its extremities, that is, the legs and tail.
Short-haired dogs should be brushed once a week, although more regularly at the time of shedding. Those with long hair will need to be brushed almost daily, especially so that the coat remains in good condition, that is, they remain untangled or free of knots and balls.
Cleaning of ears, eyes and nail trimming
Patience is an important quality in the grooming of our dog, in addition, since we bathe him, we can take the opportunity to dedicate hygiene to other parts of his body, for example, cleaning his ears, with the help of a damp cloth, toilet paper or existing products on the market for this purpose, it is necessary to perform this task gently and in case of using liquids, we will make sure that they do not penetrate into the ear canal, in addition, once the ear cleaning is completed, it is important to dry the ears well Of the dog.
We must also take advantage of this moment to trim your nails, if we find that they are too long, there are special nail clippers on the market that facilitate this work, we will always take precautions so that the cut does not affect the soft or live part of the nail, since it will be painful and can cause a small bleeding, it is not very pleasant to cut nails for dogs, for that reason we must get used to it from a young age, associating this action as something pleasant and rewarding their good behavior.
Cleaning the eyes is also essential in the dog, we will avoid the formation of legañas and even pathologies related to conjunctivitis due to accumulation of dirt, in addition many breeds of dogs require a thorough cleaning of the eyes to avoid obstructions in the tear duct. Cleaning must be carried out in a safe place for the canid, with the absence of noise and situations that may stress it, we can use gauze impregnated with physiological saline for this purpose, we will gently clean its eyes and proceed to the removal of legañas, always taking extreme precautions so as not to damage the eyeball. The eyes of dogs should be cleaned once or twice a week, even in certain more delicate breeds it will be necessary to do it more assiduously.
Oral and dental hygiene
As we already indicated on another occasion, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene of the dog, in the market there are many products manufactured especially for oral hygiene, to the extent that they reduce tartar and bacterial plaque at the same time as they refresh their breath, with which prevent the bad smell that your mouth may give off.
An alternative is toothbrushing with toothpaste made especially for dogs, many get used to it, especially if they have been educated since puppies, others will show sensitivity, it will not even be convenient because they show symptoms of bleeding gums or inflammation, in these cases snacks, toys specially designed for the prevention of tartar, gel or spray are the most suitable products to keep the dog’s mouth in good condition. Without forgetting the periodic check-ups and even mouth cleanings carried out by the veterinarian, without a doubt a professional examination has a positive effect on the dog’s health.
If we follow these tips related to hygiene, the dog will be clean, will feel more comfortable and happier. In addition, along with the game, it helps to improve their socialization.
