Dog grooming is vital to your dog’s health and wellbeing. It’s not just for fancy, little dogs with a bow in their hair. Regular grooming should be an important part of every dog’s life. Here’s why.
Regular grooming makes a dog feel and smell good
Remember that clean, fresh feeling after this morning’s shower? That’s what regular grooming can do for your dog. Ashiny, brushed coat with no matting, clipped nails, clean ears and eyes – what a pleasure! She’ll not only be nice to have around, but your home will also smell good and be cleaner.
Grooming can help to detect possible health issues
Grooming your dog, particularly bathing and brushing his coat, can help you to detect possible health issues that may otherwise go undetected. You’ll for instance see if there are fleas or ticks to get rid of. Not only are they uncomfortable for the dog, but they can be a health hazard to dogs and humans.
Regular contact with your dog’s coat and body will help you to feel lumps and bumps, and spot changes to the skin. The latter is particularly important in dogs with short hair that are close to the body and doesn’t protect the skin against the sun. By examining the dog’s nails, ears and teeth, issues like infection or inflammation can be detected early.
What does grooming involve?
- Brushing not only makes for a shiny, healthy coat, most dogs just love it! You can use it to deepen your bond with your pup. How regularly and what type of brush you use, will depend on the type of dog. Although brushing wouldn’t prevent shedding, it can minimize it.
- Nails need to be kept short. Long nails are ugly and can be extremely uncomfortable for your dog, it can even lead to feet and joint problems.
- Dogs often have problems with their ears, like infection or hair that grows into the ears, particularly long hair breeds. It helps to keep the ears clean, and trim the hair when needed.
- A dog’s eyes should be bright and without discharge. If there is a change to your dog’s eyes, it may need a professional’s advice.
- Dental hygieneis very important for dogs.Pay attention to your dog’s teeth, and try to keep them clean and healthy.
At what age can you start grooming a puppy?
It’s a good idea to start your puppy getting used to grooming from as young as three weeks.Brushing is usually a favorite activity, although it may take longer to get used to ear cleaning, nail clipping and dental care. A puppy from an experienced breeder will probably already be used to grooming and humans handling her when she goes to her home. Teaching an older dog to accept grooming, may however take more of an effort, and need some patience.
Grooming your dog will take time, effort and money. However, it’s a crucial part of taking care of your dog. And the advantages far outweigh your input.