Pet grooming guide

Pet grooming is an important part of dog care. Frequency of grooming will depend on factors such as age, breed and general health of the dog. Some breeds will need daily grooming while others will require significantly less than this, but regular grooming helps to make sure that the dog is clean, healthy and comfortable. While a lot of dogs shed, others don’t and instead their fur grows much like human hair and therefore needs trimming.

• The length of your dog’s coat will dictate how often he needs to be brushed but long haired dogs will require brushing every day. Brushing helps to keep the fur shiny, clean and free of any matting, which can be a cause of irritation. Most dogs enjoy pet grooming and often eagerly await combing.

• Ensure that your dog’s face is clear of long hairs, which can get in their eyes and cause eye irritations.

• Like humans, dogs can suffer from ear infections, especially when they have floppy ears which cover the ear canal allowing bacteria to breed in the warm, damp environment. If their ears aren’t cleaned regularly then they can suffer from repeated serious ear infections. A healthy ear should look and smell clean. Any discharge or excessive scratching should be investigated immediately.

• Dogs frequently suffer from dental disease and so you will need to check your dog’s mouth and teeth regularly to help you spot any problems before they become serious. Dogs often don’t like the pet grooming involved in brushing and so try at least to check for chips, tartar or excessive wear.

• One of the most difficult pet grooming chores is clipping your dog’s nails. Ensure that you handle a puppy’s feet regularly so that they don’t mind you holding their feet when you cut their nails. It is very important that, even if your dog hates having his nails clipped, you trim them regularly so that they don’t suffer the pain of walking on overgrown or in-growing nails.

• Most dogs will need a bath at least a few times per year, depending on its breed and lifestyle. Bathing helps remove oil, dirt and old hair from the skin. Many dogs enjoy their baths and you can use it as an opportunity to check for fleas and ticks. Dogs that enjoy regular swims in canals, rivers or the sea need to be rinsed after every outing.

• Many dog owners don’t ever check their dog’s bottom but it is important final place to check. Faeces can get caught in the hair around the anus, causing an obstruction. Also, the glands either side of the anus can get blocked and painful and a common sign of this is scooting.