Home Dog Grooming Tips

Good hygiene habits are essential for maintaining your canine companion’s health. Unlike their owners, though, dogs don’t need a daily hygiene and grooming routine. But when some grooming needs to be done, you can either take you pooch to a professional or tackle it at home. And while there are well-trained groomers out there, it can be useful to educate yourself on the dos and don’ts of doggy grooming to help maintain your pup’s hygiene in between appointments.

Dog Grooming Things to Do

• Own & Use the Right Tools: To do a good job, you need the right tools. Items to keep on hand include doggy nail trimmers, styptic powder to stop the quick from bleeding if you trim too far, doggy toothbrush & toothpaste, wide & fine-tooth combs, and dog-friendly shampoo. Another tool needed is a brush, but you need to be sure it’s the right one for your pup’s coat when picking one out. Check with your vet or groomer to find out which brushes they recommend for your pooch.
• Check for Ticks: During your grooming sessions, be sure to check for ticks. When it’s tick season, try to do this at least once a day.
• Give Those Paw Pads a Look: You should definitely be checking Fido’s paw pads regularly for not only cleanliness, but also to make sure they’re not cracked, dry, or injured in any way. When checking those paws, look for any excessive hair growth to trim between their toes. If grown out too long, the hair could become matted and cause issues.
• Keep Those Nails Trimmed: If your canine’s nails get too long, they can curl up and actually start to poke at your pup’s paws, big OUCH. So be sure to give them a look over now and then and trim when needed.
• Cleaning Fido’s Ears: At least once a week, try to take a moist cotton ball or soft cloth and wipe the inside of your dog’s ear. While you’re up close and personal with their ear, also check to see if there’s any redness, swelling, discharge, or bad odor. These could be signs of an ear infection, in which case you should call your pup’s vet.
• Keep Those Canine’s Clean: Oral hygiene is another important thing to keep up with. If you can, you should be brushing your dog’s teeth every day, and at the very least once a week. You can use specially made dog toothbrushes and toothpaste, or wrap a washcloth around your finger.

When keeping up with your furry friend’s hygiene, always use dog or pet-friendly products. Any products that you might use are probably not safe for Fido.

Dog Grooming Things to Avoid

• Stay Away From Human Products: As mention above, only use dog-friendly items. Just because a hygiene item is safe for you to use doesn’t mean it’s safe for Fido.
• Don’t Try to Treat Wounds Yourself: If, when grooming your pooch, you notice any sores, lacerations, or injuries of any kind, do not try to fix them yourself. Always call your pup’s vet.
• Don’t Spray Perfume on Fido: Our canines have sensitive sniffers, so you shouldn’t be spraying perfume products on them. Many perfumes contain chemicals that are dangerous and toxic to your pooch and can even lead to respiratory problems.
• Don’t Try to Remove Foreign Object on Your Own: If you notice any foreign objects in your furry friend’s eyes, ears, nose, mouth, or paw pads – do not attempt to remove them yourself. Always contact Fido’s vet first.

Adding at-home grooming and hygiene sessions in between your pup’s scheduled professional grooming visits will help keep your pooch looking, feeling, and smelling a lot better.