Dog Grooming Tips
When you hear a word “grooming,” you may picture taking your dog to a professional groomer. Here, we are talking about at home grooming. It’s easy and more beneficial than you think. Not only does regular grooming makes your dog look nice and pretty, but it also helps to maintain your dog’s overall well-being. It is also a good “bonding” moment with your dog.

Grooming is a good opportunity for you to check your dog for a sign of any problems. While brushing, examine the skin for signs of fleas and ticks, skin irritations, hair loss or lumps. While cleaning ears look for any unusual problems such as inflammation, foul odor and excessive ear wax buildups. Paying special attention to your dog’s body helps early detection of potentially serious problems. If any problems are found, consult with your veterinarian.

Coat:
Brushing allows the natural oils to circulate to the coat and promotes a shiny healthy coat. Brush in the direction of hair growth, starting at the head and working your way towards the tail and down the legs. Long haired, heavy coated dogs may need daily brushing session while short haired dog may only need to be brushed two to three times a week.

Nails:
Use a nail clipper that is specially designed for dogs. Different sizes of clippers are available for different sizes of dogs. Hold the dog's paw firmly and clip the tip of the nail. Be very careful to avoid cutting the quick (pink line inside the nail), the area of the nail that contains blood vessel and nerve. If you are not comfortable with the task, have the veterinarian do it for you.

Ears:
Clean your dog’s ears with cotton balls or pre moistened dog ear wipes. Cotton balls can be moistened with mineral oil or ear cleaning solution. Hold open the ear and gently clean inside. Be sure to use clean piece for each ear. Never use Q-tips to clean a dog’s ear.

Dental:
Brush your dog’s teeth at least twice a week or more (preferably daily) with a toothbrush and toothpaste especially made for dogs. Do not use human toothpaste. It can upset your dog’s digestive system. See Dog Dental Care page for more information.

Bathing:
Brush your dog’s coat thoroughly prior to bathing. Choose a shampoo suitable for your dog’s needs. Always follow manufacture’s directions. Avoid soap in the eyes and water in the ears. Be sure to rinse thoroughly. Shampoo residue can cause skin irritation. See Dog Bath Tips for more information on giving your dog a bath.