Have you ever seen your dog rolling on the ground, lick her coat, or chew her fur? These are her ways of keeping clean. Sometimes, she still needs your help to keep her clean and nice-looking.

If you don’t know how to groom your dog’s fur, don’t worry, we are here to help. Read on this blog post to learn how to keep your dog’s fur, skin, nails, teeth, ears and paws healthy and clean.

Bathing your dog

The ASPCA recommends bathing your dog at least once every three months, but sometimes you may need to take more frequent baths for your dog if she spends a lot of time outdoors or has skin problems. Here are some steps to help you get started.

First, give your pet a good brushing to remove all dead hairs and mats, and then put her in a tub or sink that’s been filled with 3 or 4 inches of lukewarm water.

Then, use a spray hose, large plastic pitcher or an unbreakable cup to completely wet your pet. Be careful to not spray or pour water directly in his ears, eyes or nose.

Gently massage your dog in shampoo, working from head to tail, and rinse and repeat as needed. Dry your dog throughly by giving her a good rub with a large towel.

Notice when bathing your dogs

Shar Peis and Pugs

Dogs with loose facial skin or wrinkles such as Shar Peis and Pugs will need your special attention. To prevent dirty and bacteria from causing irritation and infection, clean the folds with damp cotton. Always you should throughly dry the areas between the folds.

Puppy

Some puppies think that bath time is a perfect time to act goofy! Young dogs especially will wiggle and bounce all over the place and tend to nip at bath time. If this sounds like your dog, put a floating toy in the tub with her so she can focus on that rather than on mouthing you.

Shampoo

Using a shampoo formulated for dogs is the best. Shampoo for humans aren’t toxic to pets, but some of them may contain fragrances or other substances that can irritate your dog’s skin. Select a product that’s especially formulated for your species of pet, as some ingredients may be harmful when applied to different types of pets. I’s always smart to talk with your pet’s veteriarian to make sure you’re selecting a shampoo that will meet your dog’s needs.

Protecting your dog’s eyes and ears

Since shampoos and soaps can be major irritants, you should ask your vet for a sterilie eye lubricant to use during bathing your dog as this will help protect your dog’s eyes from shampoo. You can also use a sprayer or a shower-head with a long hose which allows you to control the water flow during rinsing. You can avoid shampooing your dog’s head altogether by simply using a wet washcloth as well as to gently remove any dirt from her face.

Pet grooming services were closed due to Covid-19 and many pet owners are wondering when they will be able to bring their fuzzy friends for a haircut or to have their nails trimmed. We are opening now, so if you find that bathing your furry friend is a complex and sensitive process, call us now and let us take care of your pet!