Dog Grooming Promotes Good Dog Health

Dog grooming refers to not only promoting a dog’s physical aesthetic, but also the hygienic cleaning and care of a dog. Grooming is imperative to a dog’s wellbeing and good health.

The amount of grooming a dog requires is very much reliant on its breed. Some breeds can easily be groomed at home; others require the expert services of a dog groomer. All breeds require basic daily grooming though. It reduces the incidence of skin conditions, it improves the dogs overall cleanliness, allows for examination of the dogs health for parasites and finally, it forges a closer bond between dog and owner.

Basic grooming for all dogs includes bathing, drying, brushing, trimming, cutting, shaving, clipping, stripping dead hair away, claw trimming, cleaning eyes and ears.
The amount of grooming required is dependent on the type of breed. And it’s not always related to the dog’s size. Breeds which require minimal grooming include short haired breeds such as the Bulldog, Basset Hound, Beagle, Bullmastiff, Daschund, Dalmatian, Great Dane, to name just a few. These breeds have grooming requirements that are considered to be easy along with the Boxer, Whippet and Miniature Pinscher.

There are many dog breeds that require significant grooming; such as the Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Border Collie, Airedale Terrier, Irish Setter, German Shepherd, Newfoundland and Pomeranian. These dog breeds have grooming requirements that are considered to be intensive and difficult and require a strong commitment from the owner. Afghan Hound, Bichon Frise, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Great Pyrenees, Old English Sheepdog, Pekingese, Shih Tsu.

The primary explanation as to why the above dogs require so much grooming is related to their coats. Their coats are dense, lush, long, fluffy, wiry, or curly, and they mat easily. Many of these dogs have double coats, and not all of them shed without any trouble. Although in the case of the Chinese Crested Dog which is totally unique, this hairless dog requires vigilant care of its skin, and must be oiled regularly to avert dryness.

Proper grooming depends on the groomer having good knowledge of their breed, the type of coat, how it grows, and how it sheds. In addition, key considerations such as particular eye and ear issues; such as, dogs with floppy ears require extra attention to make certain ears are clean and trouble-free.

A shiny coat of fur on a dog indicates they are in great health. As a matter of fact, a good, radiant layer of hair is one of the strongest indications that your dog is benefiting from excellent health. Appropriate dog grooming therefore is necessary in encouraging this level of health and wellness.

A Glossy Coat with Dog Grooming

If you want your dog to have a healthy coat of hair, you must brush him every day. You do not need to bathe him day-to-day. Simply once every so often will do, depending on your dog type and whether it has long or thick hair. Bathing a dog can be a wearisome process, however it can be rather fun once you master it. If your dog is small breed, you could safely give him his bath in your kitchen sink. However, if your dog is large, you would definitely have to use your tub or set up a location outside where you can wash him properly.

How you can Bathe Your Dog

During the dog bath, high-maintenance dogs try the groomer's skills at the maximum. One problem with home bathing is that it can be superficial at times and that lumps, bumps or injuries under the hair may pass unnoticed. Unless you prevent matting, you'll pay a great deal of money to get the dog's hair untangled. Moreover, such a delicate procedure really tries the dog's patience. There are even cases when the coat has to be shaved off to remove mats, and that is certainly not desirable at all.

Therefore before you intend to bath your dog; it is very important to brush them first. Make sure you get the mats and tangles out, especially in long haired breeds because if you don’t the tangles and mats will be impossible to remove once they get wet. Brushing will also get rid of whatever burs, ticks and fleas are making their home in your dog’s hair. Do this every day, also on days when you are not offering your dog a bath.

When you bathe your dog, use a hose pipe or a removable shower head and wet him thoroughly. Afterwards, use dog shampoo and work up lather, beginning from his chest to the top of his head, down his back and tail and afterwards to his legs. Similarly, use an appropriate pet shampoo for your dog instead of your own shampoo. Shampoo for human hair just works on human hair; it is really extreme and aggravating to your dog’s skin. Dog shampoo, on the other hand, is especially designed for dog grooming, and is suitable for the sensitivity of the skin and hair of dogs. For extra lustre and suppleness to your dog’s fur, a dog conditioner also works well.

Wash your dog completely after shampooing and conditioning. Make sure that there are no remaining soap suds on your dog’s skin, or else the soap might produce some irritability. He may also start licking at the surplus soap on his skin, and that could cause a visit to the vet if it does happen.

After the Bath

Once you are done bathing your dog, dry him thoroughly by rubbing all the surplus water out of his fur with a towel. If your pet has short hair, you could leave him to air-dry, however if your pet is the type that has thick or lengthy fur, dry his fur out with a hair dryer.

A Gleaming Coat beyond Dog Grooming

A silky layer for a dog is a strong indication of good health and well being. In addition, good nutrition similarly plays a big part in good dog health. If a dog gets all the nutrients that they require, then certainly he will have a sleek coat. So make sure that your dog is eating good meals, do not hold back on on high quality dog food. Otherwise, you can cook up your own dog meals to supply your pet.

If after regular dog grooming and a diet of quality meals, your dog still does not present a shiny, healthy coat, it may indicate that there is something else that is wrong within his system. In this case, it is time to head to the vet for a complete examination, to find the true cause.