Grooming
Your Dog

        Regular grooming is essential to your dog’s health and wellbeing. When your dog is brushed on a regular basis, not only does it comb out dirt and loose hair, but it also distributes the natural oils throughout the coat which helps to keep dirt from sticking to the hair. Daily brushing also gives you an opportunity to monitor your dog for fleas, ticks, and any injury.

Checking your Dog’s Eyes . . . . .

      You need to check your dog’s eyes daily for dirt, foreign material, and oozing discharge. To clean, wet a cotton ball or swab and carefully wipe around the eye area, being very careful to not touch the eyeball. Contact your veterinarian if there is any sign of infection, scratches, or other injury.

Cleaning the Ears of your Dog . . . . .

      Checking your dog’s ears is part of a regular grooming routine, and should be done at least on a weekly basis. Make sure that there is no inflammation, redness, or nasty odor. If your dog scratches or shakes its head often, you should check for ear mites. These crablike creatures are difficult to see, but you should look for a brownish-black discharge that looks like coffee grounds. if you suspect any infection or inflammation, consult with your veterinarian.

      To clean your dog’s ears, use a cotton ball moistened with mineral oil or alcohol and wipe out dirt and debris. If you use a cotton swab, be very careful not to push debris back into the ear canal

Bathing your Dog . . . . .

      Cats most often can groom themselves to stay clean, but dogs need to be bathed to remove dirt and maintain a healthy skin.

• Before starting the bath, you may want to place a few drops of mineral oil in your dog’s eyes to protect them from soap. Then dip a wash cloth in warm water and wipe around your dog’s eyes and ears.
  
• Make certain the room is 70 degrees or warmer. Place cotton balls into your dog’s ears to prevent water from getting into the ear canals, which can cause an infection.
  
• Place a rubber mat in the bottom of the sink, so your dog won’t slip. Test the water temperature (lukewarm is best).
  
• If you are using a flea shampoo, wet your dog’s neck first so the fleas don’t crawl on your cat’s face.
  
• After washing and rinsing thoroughly to remove all traces of soap (soap residue can cause skin irritation and dermatitis), wipe over your dog’s body to remove accumulated water.
  
• Keep you dog out of cold, drafty places until the coat is dry.