One of the best ways to keep your dog looking great is to start a regular schedule of grooming. Getting in the habit of doing so is much simpler than you may think, and once you have a weekly routine established, the time it takes will be nominal.
You will want to purchase a few dog grooming items either from your local pet store or from a pet hospital Lenexa KS. You will need a dog brush, a pair of nail clippers, a bag of cotton swabs and a quality dog shampoo. Talk to your veterinarian to find out which shampoos are safe to use on your particular breed, as some dog types can have sensitive skin and cheap shampoos can cause irritation.
The best time to groom and care for your dog is right after one of your walks. Let him cool down and drink some water. Then begin to work the brush through his fur or hair, taking care around the sensitive parts. You are not looking for a final brush down. This is simply to work out any burs or stickers that may have gotten tangled in his coat. Take the time to check your pet’s overall condition. Examine his eyes, his ears, his teeth and gums. Run your fingers across his skin, feeling for unusual bumps or the presence of any ticks. Doing this is especially important if you notice your pet has been biting at or scratching a particular area of his body. The time should serve as an excellent bonding time, and your dog should come to love the experience.
Once you have completed your examination of your dog, bath him either in a bathtub or outside with a hose, taking care not to let him get free. Although your kids may love seeing a soaking wet and soapy canine running lose, you’ll spend more time cleaning up after him than actually bathing him. If you don’t want the mess at your home, you can take your dog to a do-it-yourself dog grooming salon, or you could try your local pet hospital in Lenexa KS. Some of the clinics will have on-site dog groomers and may have washing bays for you to use. It is important to make sure you lather your dog’s coat well. Too many times a dog owner will miss this step, and the dog’s coat will not truly get clean.
After you have shampooed your dog and thoroughly rinsed his coat clean, give him a good brush down. Brushing your dog’s coat will not only keep if from drying matted and tangled, but it helps to better distribute the natural oils which makes for a healthier coat. Feel free to use either slicker brushes or rubber curry brushes. Both work great.
After brushing, check your dog’s ears. With equal parts water and white vinegar, use a cotton swab and gently wipe out the ear canals. Use a different swab for each ear so that you don’t contaminate one ear should the other be infected. Then check your dog’s nails and trim them and brush your dog’s teeth. Use a toothbrush and toothpaste with baking soda and gently massage your dog’s teeth to remove any plaque build up.
If all of this sounds like more work than you can take on, then consider the services of a professional groomer. For around a hundred dollars, most breeds can be groomed professionally from someone either at a dog groomer or at a pet hospital in Lenexa KS.
Pet hospital of Cherokee Animal Clinic has been caring for pets in Lenexa, KS and the surrounding areas since 1964. Get in touch with them.
