Easy Grooming Tips to Keep Your Dog Healthy and Clean
Owning a dog is a lot of work. You need to train it, feed and walk it. However, far too many owners often overlook one simple but necessary aspect of dog ownership and that is grooming. While they can't exactly tell you, your dogs love to have healthy and shiny coats. You can just tell it makes happier. So needless to say suitable grooming should never be underestimated.
Here are a few skin and coat care tips towards having a healthier and happier pet:
The first order of business is to start brushing your dog's fur regularly. Not only does it feel good for your pet but it also helps to remove dead hair and dead skin. Regular brushing also stimulates blood circulation and spreads the natural body oils secreted by the dog's skin. The breed of dog you own dictates the amount of brushing you'll need to do. Obviously dogs with short hair don't have to be brushed as much as one with longer hair. I would say once a week would suffice. Long-haired breed typically need a good brushing once a day to keep their coats from getting all tangled.
You may think giving the dog numerous baths is a reasonable way to keep their coats clean. Your dog doesn't think so, though. The truth is you should only give your dog a bath about once a month. The reason is a bath removes the animal's skin of important natural oils. This leaves its skin dry and annoyingly itchy. Also, never wash your dog with human shampoo. This can cause the dog's skin to break out in a rash. Use a shampoo specially formulated for dogs.
Don't forget about flea & tick control. At any point your dog could have ticks, fleas, ringworms or some other unwanted guest crawling through their fur. They cause any number of problems such as itching or skin irritation. Your dog is dependent on you to help it get rid of all those pests and parasites. Try to find a specially formulated anti-pest shampoo to help get rid of them. If you find your dog has a few fleas, a good flea bath with do the trick and try to have the dog treated for fleas at least once a month.
Just like humans, dog can experience skin problems for a number of reasons, like allergies for one. If your dog is scratching or licking a spot where no fleas or mites are found, then there is a strong possibility it may have an allergy. Consult with a veterinarian on the best course to help alleviate the dog's problem.
Here are a few skin and coat care tips towards having a healthier and happier pet:
The first order of business is to start brushing your dog's fur regularly. Not only does it feel good for your pet but it also helps to remove dead hair and dead skin. Regular brushing also stimulates blood circulation and spreads the natural body oils secreted by the dog's skin. The breed of dog you own dictates the amount of brushing you'll need to do. Obviously dogs with short hair don't have to be brushed as much as one with longer hair. I would say once a week would suffice. Long-haired breed typically need a good brushing once a day to keep their coats from getting all tangled.
You may think giving the dog numerous baths is a reasonable way to keep their coats clean. Your dog doesn't think so, though. The truth is you should only give your dog a bath about once a month. The reason is a bath removes the animal's skin of important natural oils. This leaves its skin dry and annoyingly itchy. Also, never wash your dog with human shampoo. This can cause the dog's skin to break out in a rash. Use a shampoo specially formulated for dogs.
Don't forget about flea & tick control. At any point your dog could have ticks, fleas, ringworms or some other unwanted guest crawling through their fur. They cause any number of problems such as itching or skin irritation. Your dog is dependent on you to help it get rid of all those pests and parasites. Try to find a specially formulated anti-pest shampoo to help get rid of them. If you find your dog has a few fleas, a good flea bath with do the trick and try to have the dog treated for fleas at least once a month.
Just like humans, dog can experience skin problems for a number of reasons, like allergies for one. If your dog is scratching or licking a spot where no fleas or mites are found, then there is a strong possibility it may have an allergy. Consult with a veterinarian on the best course to help alleviate the dog's problem.
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