Dog Care
Your dog loves you! Even better, you love 'em right back. To help you show your affection, here are some helpful topics on caring for your dog.
Brushing
Brushing your dog regularly not only keeps his coat looking good, it helps release dead hair, cuts down on excess shedding, removes mats, and distributes the natural oils in the skin to keep your dog healthy.
It'll also save you money. Regular brushing helps prevents matting. If a dog's coat is in bad shape when it's grooming time, your groomer will have to spend extra time addressing the mats either through excessive brushing or possibly having to shave the hair short. When the coat is well kept, your dog will be able to spend less time on the grooming table and get back to playing sooner.
Heavy matting can cause skin irritation, bruising, and an all around unhappy dog. Imagine yourself having to sleep on a pile of knotted bumps, no fun. To learn more about what you will need and how to to brush your dog, check out these articles:
Nail Trimming
It's a good idea to have a vet tech, veterinarian or dog groomer show you how to trim nails first. Once you have an idea of what not to do you will be more successful in getting the job done. Keep in mind if you have a nervous pup that you don't have to trim all their nails at once, you can do them a few at a time if needed.
Not all dogs need their nails trimmed. Many will naturally wear the nails down, or the dried ends of the nails will simply flake away without you even knowing. But some breeds, notoriously Bassets and Dachshunds, may need our help in keeping the toe nails reasonably short. Depending on the breed and size of your dog, you'll need to clip its nails anywhere from once per week to once per month.
Take a look at these articles to learn the steps on how to maintain your dog's nails:
Foxtails
Foxtails are widespread, near impossible to avoid, and pose a real danger to your dog, if left unchecked. But don’t start thinking you need to go into permanent indoor hiding. There’s a lot you can do to keep your dog safe from foxtails.
Foxtails and grass seed awns are designed to do one thing: burrow. This is how the grass spreads as the seed slowly works its way deeper and deeper into soil and becomes lodged when the barb-like spines set in place. And this is why foxtails are such a hazard to dogs.
Due to the unique shape of this seed, it’s always moving forward — never backward. Forward through your dog’s skin. Forward through their eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Forward through their lungs. Forward through their paws. And even forward through your dog’s “private” areas.
Below are some of the signs you may see.
• Excessive head shaking
• Pawing at their ear(s)
• Head tilt
• Whimpering and pulling away when you try to pet or touch their head
To find out more, look at these articles:
• How to Prevent Foxtail Injuries and Remove Foxtails From Your Dog