Pet grooming guide

How to clip your dog’s nails.

Nail clipping is a very important pet grooming routine that needs to be carried out a couple of times per month. If you don’t clip the nails then your dog could start to suffer from in-growing toenails and infection, which would then require expensive medical treatment.

A dog’s nails should be long enough to just about reach the ground but without making a clicking sound as they walk.
Start by purchasing some specialist dog nail clippers from a pet store. They will be able to give you good advice on what to look for and how to use them.

Trim a very small piece from the end of the nail and keep trimming until you can see the quick of the nail (this will be the pink bit on a dog with white nails but you will need to look more carefully on dogs with dark nails as the quick can be difficult to see). Once the quick has been seen then use a nail file to smooth the edges.

If you do accidentally cut the quick then be warned, it can bleed quite a lot. Use some cotton wool to stem the flow and then leave any clot that has formed.

Don’t forget the claw that is slightly up the back of the dog’s leg, though this will need trimming during pet grooming much less often as it doesn’t get worn down very much.

How to get rid of ticks.

Ticks are a severe irritation to animals as they cause redness, swelling and itching. It is very important to make tick removal a regular part of your pet grooming routine as, as well as the above mentioned problems, they also introduce harmful bacteria into your pet. When removing a tick it is very important that, as well as the body, the head is also removed.

There are a lot of myths surrounding the removal of ticks from animals, such as covering it in petroleum jelly to stop it breathing or holding a hot needle to it to make it withdraw its head. These methods are more likely to cause the tick to release more bacteria into the wound.

It is very important that, when removing the tick, you don’t squeeze the body at all as this will push the bacteria into your pet. For this reason you need to start with the appropriate pet grooming equipment for the job. Proper tick removers are a better option than tweezers which may squeeze the body if you are not very skilled!

The tick needs to be grasped right where its head is entering your pet (this way you won’t accidentally squeeze the body) and pulled straight out. Do not twist as you pull unless you are using a special tool that specifically tells you to twist.

The final part of this pet grooming process must be to check that the head is completely out and to then apply plenty of anti-septic lotion.

How to clean your dog’s ears

Having their ears cleaned is one aspect of pet grooming that many dogs don’t enjoy which, unfortunately, can make it a tricky procedure to carry out. It is very important that you learn to make the experience one that your dog gets pleasure from.

1. First, get your dog into a position where it can’t squirm around too much. Dogs’ ears are very sensitive and you wouldn’t want him to move while you are working and cause damage. A good idea is to get a friend to help by holding onto the dog collar while you are working.
2. Squeeze plenty of the ear cleaner gently into the ear canal, until it starts to overflow. Then feel for the tube of cartilage beneath the ear and rub this to help spread out the ear cleaner. It should make a nice squelchy noise!
3. Massage the ears very gently for 30 to 45 seconds and then give him some space to shake his head to rid his ears of some of the wax, dirt and cleaner that has built up. The massage is something that most dogs love and they will press their head towards your hands to show how much they are enjoying it.
4. Clean cotton balls or medical kit gauze pads are ideal to use to carefully remove any fluid that did not come out when your dog shook his head. Be warned! There can be a lot of wax and dirt in dog ears and it can come in many different colours. If you start to get more than usual or it has turned a bloody or very bright colour then take him to see your vet as it may mean that he has developed an infection. Always use sterile, all natural cotton that is flexible and soft.

How to clean your dog’s teeth.

Taking care of your dog’s teeth on a regular basis at home and considerably reduce the number of times that they will need to be cleaned by a vet.

1. Before starting to clean your dog’s teeth it is important to be completely prepared with all the dog care equipment that is required.
2. There are 2 options for a toothbrush. One is a finger toothbrush that you can place over your finger and the other is a long handled, soft bristled specialist dog toothbrush. Generally they have an angled head to allow easier access. You can buy dog toothbrushes at any store that sells pet grooming supplies.
3. You will need to buy toothpaste that has been specifically made for dogs as they have special plaque controlling enzymes and some fluoride to help control bacteria. Do not use human toothpaste as it contains ingredients which are bad for dogs. Push the paste down between the bristles so that it spends maximum time next to the dog’s teeth.
4. Choose a calm, quiet time and sit in a position that will give you easy access to your dog’s teeth.
5. When you first start to brush his teeth just gently wipe at the teeth with some gauze, gradually moving on to the use of warm water and eventually, toothpaste.
6. Clean around the whole mouth, brushing each tooth in turn. Make sure that you don’t miss out the back dog teeth as this can be a problem area.
7. Dog teeth cleaning should be carried out once a per week as part of your pet grooming routine but still make sure that you visit the vet once a year to have them checked over and, if necessary, cleaned professionally.

There are a wide variety of tools available for use when pet grooming your dog, all of which can be bought from local pet stores. The most useful are a curry comb for overall brushing and removal of loose dead hair and skin, a shedding blade to remove coat shed and a de-matting comb to help remove tangles.

Curry comb
Curry combs stimulate your dog’s skin to produce natural oils, which help to keep the fur clean and healthy. Frequent use of a curry comb during pet grooming will ensure a shiny, glossy coat and will also keep the skin clean and healthy too. As well as stimulating the skin, the comb will encourage blood flow and remove flakes of dead skin. If your dog has long hair then the comb can be used to remove tangles and matts, which can be uncomfortable and unhealthy.
The gentlest curry brush is made from rubber or a rubberised material. The rubber is bendable, allowing the comb to flex with the animal’s body.

Shedding blade
A shedding blade is a looped piece of metal with the ends held together by a handle. One side of the blade has small, rounded teeth which catch hold of and remove coat shed and help to minimise the occurrence of matting. Many pet grooming experts recommend getting a shedding blade since it is especially good for keeping dogs with short coats from shedding all over your house. Shedding blades are primarily used in the pet grooming of shorter haired dogs as they are less effective on long haired coats. Always use a light touch when using the blade as it is possible to cause harm to the coat or skin if you press too hard.The first few times you use a shedding blade on your pet, keep a good watch on the dog’s skin. If they seem to show signs of irritation or begin to scratch, you may need a softer brush or a gentler technique with the blade.

De-matting comb
Even regularly brushed dogs develop matts and it’s very important to remove them before they become out of control. There are many styles of de-matting comb or rake and the one you choose will depend entirely on the type of coat that your dog has so, for example, a dog with a thick, curly coat will need a much wider toothed comb than a dog with a long, fine coat. The best method of removing the matts while pet grooming is to put your fingers between the dog’s skin and the matt and to then ease the de-matting comb gently through.

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.