Grooming basics

Grooming your new puppy
It is important to make your puppy feel comfortable about grooming from an early age. Look into its ears, eyes, nose and mouth regularly. Look at its paws to prepare it for claw trimming when it needs it. Brush or comb your puppy regularly.

Regular grooming
This activity is essential for your dog's good health. A glossy, beautiful coat is a sign of your dog's overall health, well-being and good nutrition. As you groom your dog, become familiar with its distinctive characteristics. By learning what is normal for your dog, you will be able to observe changes in his appearance that may be warning signs of potential health problems. If diagnosed and treated promptly, minor problems can usually be prevented from developing into serious conditions.

Some things to check for as you groom your dog:

• Unusual lumps under the skin, rashes, bald spots, sores, cuts;
• Unusually dull coat, flaky skin, fleas, lice, ticks;
• Red, inflamed, cloudy eyes or excessive tearing;
• Tender or swollen ears and/or strong odour;
• Bad breath, swollen gums, excessive tartar.

Brushing and combing
For shorthair dogs, we recommend grooming once a week with a natural bristle brush and a fine-tooth comb. Longhair dogs require more frequent grooming, usually 2-3 times a week unless it is an outdoor dog. Then, every day might be necessary. In order to properly groom your longhair, you will need a wire brush, a wide-tooth comb and a fine-tooth flea comb.

If your dog's hair is falling out, if he or she seems to be scratching excessively, or if you notice any signs of a rash, consult your veterinarian.

Shedding
Dogs living indoors will shed often throughout the year. Regular brushing and a high-quality diet will help reduce shedding and will ensure the growth of new hair.

Bathing
When your dog starts to look dirty or smell "doggy", it's time to put the dog in the tub! Bathing should only be done when your dog is truly dirty, since over bathing removes natural oils and can dry out your dog's coat.

First, place a rubber mat in the tub or sink to help your dog feel secure. Wet your dog's coat, rub in a special dog’s shampoo (keeping suds away from eyes). Rinse with warm water trying not to get water in your dog's ear canals. You can avoid this by putting some cotton plugs on your pet’s ears before the bath. Make sure to remove all the shampoo. Towel dry your dog while he's still in the tub.

In winter months, you may want to use a hair dryer to dry your dog's fur. Be sure to keep it far enough away from his hair to avoid burning. And when it's cold, keep your dog indoors for several hours after the bath, so he doesn't get chilled.

If you bathe your dog outdoors in warm weather, you can let him dry outside after you towel dry him.

Trimming claws
If your dog's claws start snagging - on fabric or on your clothes -it's a good indication that they need clipping. A pair of specially designed clippers for dogs should be used and are available at pet stores. Never use regular scissors as they can crush and injure your dog's claw. When clipping your dog's nails it is a good idea to use two people — one to hold your pet securely and the other to clip the nails. Otherwise, begin by holding your dog in your lap or on the floor between your knees. Make sure there is sufficient lighting and that you are familiar with the way the claws look. Pin the dog to your side with your arm and hold one of its front paws in your hand. Gently take one toe until the claw pops into full view. Clip it, being careful not to cut the slightly pinkish area containing nerves and blood vessels. When in doubt, trim less of the nail. Repeat with the next toe and so on. Don't forget the dewclaws – found always in the front paws and sometimes on the back paws- located right about where humans would have their thumbs.

Ear cleaning and care
If you have questions about the appropriate method for cleaning your pet's ears, or how to observe warning signs of ear problems, consult your veterinarian. If your dog's ears need cleaning, use a cotton swab moistened with hydrogen peroxide or another product suggested by your veterinarian. Remember to be gentle. Never go deeper into the ear than what you can see and never apply or pour the peroxide directly into the ear.

Ears, specially in dogs with thick long ones, are very susceptible to problems, since they are a primary collecting point of dirt and debris.
It is important to check your dog's ears once every other week. Signs of an ear infection may include:

• Your dog wont let you touch his head, specially the area near the ears.
• Ears that are inflamed, reddish, with excessive discharges or have a strong odour.
• Head shaking and/or scratching in the ears.

Causes of ear infections include parasites, bacteria, yeast, foreign bodies among others. Unless all the causes are identified and treated, recurrence may be expected. Ask your veterinarian for correct diagnosis and treatment
Consult your veterinarian if you find hair loss, crusting, itching, ulceration or bruises, since they may represent signs of a systemic disease.

Eye care
Look at your dog's eyes. They should be clear and bright with no excessive opacities, tearing or mucus discharge. It's a good idea to keep plenty of clean cotton balls on hand and use a moistened one to remove any discharge from around the eye area.
Red, inflamed or cloudy eyes, or excessive tearing are indications of possible infection or eye injury. Because eyes are very delicate organs, any injury should receive prompt veterinary attention.

Dental Care
Puppies have 28 deciduous teeth (temporary) and adult dogs have 42 permanent teeth. Deciduous or "milk" teeth begin to appear when a puppy is about four weeks of age, and are lost gradually between 14 and 30 weeks of age. During this time, puppies may eat slightly less and chew more. Hard rubber or rawhide toys made especially for dogs are a good investment to help prevent household damage during this time.

Dogs, like humans, need dental care on a regular basis. Here are some frequent problems that your animal can meet if he doesn't receive the appropriate dental care.

If the last problems persist for a long time, they could lead to Periodontal or gum disease, one of the most common conditions today. This disease has a lot of stages, so you can’t stop it from becoming worse at any time. The problem begins when plaque and tartar are allowed to build up on your pet's teeth just as a cause of lack of oral hygiene. Plaque harbours the bacteria which can infect gum tissue and the roots of teeth leading to disease and tooth loss. Besides the negative impact on the oral cavity, bacteria can enter the bloodstream through the large network of blood vessels located near the gums and teeth. Recent studies have documented that certain heart, liver and kidney diseases may be associated with these bacteria.

How to avoid these problems?
Diet is a major factor in the development of plaque and tartar. Soft or sticky foods may contribute to periodontal disease. Beef hide chews, hard, crunchy foods, biscuits, and chew toys may be helpful, but they are not the entire answer. Only tooth brushing can remove plaque and food debris below the gum line. It is below the gum line where disease-causing bacteria flourish, resulting in irritation, inflammation and infection.

Clean your puppy's teeth 2 or 3 times a week. In a cup of water, pour a teaspoon of baking soda and with this solution, gently rub the puppy's teeth with a soft cloth. When your dog gets his or her adult teeth, brush them periodically with a special animal toothpaste and toothbrush. Do not use toothpaste formulated for humans, because pets swallow rather than spit out the preparation, this way cause stomach upset.

• Do use a tooth brush with no paste at first so that your pet get used to the object in the mouth before having to deal with the flavour.
• Don’t attempt to clean the inner surface of your pet’s teeth. Natural saliva cleans this surface on its own.
• Have your dog's teeth examined at least once a year by a qualified veterinarian.
• Don’t perform dental home care during the first week after a full dentistry in the hospital as your pet’s gums may be still sensitive.
• Don’t consider dental home care as an alternative to full dental cleaning if your pet has more advanced dental disease.

Some dogs will not allow anyone to reach into their mouths for any reason and will not tolerate brushing, spraying, rinsing or any other home care. For these animals, dental treats represent an excellent method of dental home care.  One treat daily  is recommended  for routine home care.

In addition, research has shown that daily rawhide chewing can be as beneficial as brushing.  There are special compressed rawhide chews which cannot unroll and cause obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract. Give your pet appropriate toys to prevent teeth fractures.