Back in the old days, we fed our dogs a diet of one of the few products we could find at the grocery or feed store. Aside from the occasional backyard flea bath, little or no hygiene routine existed for our pets. It never occurred to anyone that our animals needed any kind of a preventive maintenance routine to live a long and healthy life.
With the advent of food preservatives, coloring and the addition of high amounts of corn in dog food recipes as well as the use of pesticides and herbicides, our pets are exposed to many more environmental factors that can affect good health.
A routine that includes cleanliness and flea and heart worm prevention and dental, ear and nail maintenance can help your pet live a long and healthy life. Another benefit of performing a regular, "hands on" hygiene routine is that you can identify health issues before they get out of control and ultimately save on medical costs.
Keep your pet clean. Bathe in a good quality shampoo. Monthly baths will help to keep your pet clean and comfortable.
If you have a pet that has a long coat and needs grooming, ask your groomer to be sure and trim the belly on your boy, in front of the penis, to limit the amount of urine that ends up in the coat and to trim the hair around the genitals on your girl. And, trim hair in the "armpits". Also, ask your groomer to clean ears and anal glands when your dog is groomed. Ear and anal gland infections are common. A good groomer will be willing to do that for your dog.
Spend about 15 minutes, weekly, with your dog working on hygiene. Make it fun. Use lots of treats, take breaks between each process and make it positive. We recommend:
With the advent of food preservatives, coloring and the addition of high amounts of corn in dog food recipes as well as the use of pesticides and herbicides, our pets are exposed to many more environmental factors that can affect good health.
A routine that includes cleanliness and flea and heart worm prevention and dental, ear and nail maintenance can help your pet live a long and healthy life. Another benefit of performing a regular, "hands on" hygiene routine is that you can identify health issues before they get out of control and ultimately save on medical costs.
Keep your pet clean. Bathe in a good quality shampoo. Monthly baths will help to keep your pet clean and comfortable.
If you have a pet that has a long coat and needs grooming, ask your groomer to be sure and trim the belly on your boy, in front of the penis, to limit the amount of urine that ends up in the coat and to trim the hair around the genitals on your girl. And, trim hair in the "armpits". Also, ask your groomer to clean ears and anal glands when your dog is groomed. Ear and anal gland infections are common. A good groomer will be willing to do that for your dog.
Spend about 15 minutes, weekly, with your dog working on hygiene. Make it fun. Use lots of treats, take breaks between each process and make it positive. We recommend:
- Use a non alcoholic baby wipe to clean ears. Wrap it around your finger and go into the ear cavity only as far as your finger will fit. Wipe out any wax or debris in the ear. If you see dark or black discharge on the wipe, see your vet, your pet may have an ear infection.
- Invest in a good quality nail clipper with a guard. Hold your dog in your lap and trim the nails on a regular basis. Make sure the guard is up. Fit a nail between the cutting blades. The guard will keep you from cutting off too much. If your dog rebels or you are uncomfortable, take your dog to the vet, monthly, for a nail trim. Most vets will do it at a reasonable cost. Walking your dog on a road or sidewalk, daily, can act like a "doggie nail file" and you may not need nail trims. The important thing is not to let nails get long. It is painful and unsafe for your pet.
- Buy a battery operated toothbrush for your pet. Use an enzyme-based pet toothpaste and and brush your dog's teeth, focusing on massaging the gum line where plaque collects. If your dog's teeth and gums have collected tartar and plaque, schedule a professional cleaning. Poor dental health can shorten your pet's life. Once your pet's teeth have been cleaned by your vet, its much easier for you to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
- Finally, check your pet for bumps, cuts and ticks. Then, give your pet a good combing and brushing. Even short haired dogs need to be brushed. It removes dirt, and stimulates protective oils.
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