Care for Your Dog’s Skin and Coat

How often your dog needs to be bathed depends on a variety of factors including the type and length of their coat and their activity level. Dogs with allergies may need more frequent baths with medicated shampoo. Bathing your dog provides a good opportunity to check them over for signs of skin problems or other issues such as lumps. Be sure to give special attention to your dog’s paws and the skin between the paw pads.
For a quick clean-up after swimming, group play or when your dog has been exposed to potentially unsanitary conditions, you can try a quick express bath. Use a small amount of shampoo and rinse very well, paying close attention to the paws. Try to make sure to clean the genital areas with organic or natural safe cleaners but also without getting irritants such as soaps in those areas.

The Importance of Grooming Your Dog Regularly – Source; Lauren Corona – Pet Guide 8-14
“If you’re just grooming your dog so that she’ll look her best, then you might be missing the point. Of course, it’s a bonus that a well-groomed dog looks neat and smells as fresh as newly laundered sheets, but there are many more benefits to the process. Ideally, you should be doing some sort of grooming to your pooch every day (nobody ever said that owning a dog was easy!), but this varies depending on the task at hand. A number of reasons exist why it’s vital that your dog is groomed regularly.

Keeping Them Comfortable

Regular grooming is important for keeping your four-legged friend as comfortable as possible. While this is true for all dogs, it’s especially pertinent for long-coated canines. If your dog has lots of furs you should be brushing her every day to make sure that her coat doesn’t become tangled or matted, which can cause her a good deal of discomfort. Pay special attention to the hair around the elbows, on the tummy, and between the legs, as these areas are particularly prone to matting. If you’re not prepared to brush her daily, take her to a professional dog groomer to get her coat clipped regularly. It’s not just brushing your dog that will help keep her comfortable. Make sure that her nails are trimmed regularly and her ears and teeth are kept clean.

Maintaining Good Health

Certain elements of grooming are not only important for comfort and aesthetics but are also essential for good health. You should be brushing your pup’s teeth every day to help keep them free from plaque. If your dog has poor dental hygiene, this can lead to gum disease and even to more serious infections of the mouth. Cleaning your dog’s ears is also important for their health. If too much dirt and builds up, it can lead to ear infections, especially in breeds with large, floppy ears. Regular bathing is also important for skin health, although bathing your dog too frequently can be detrimental. As long as she hasn’t got herself in a mess, never bathe your pooch more than once every two to four months.

Brushing is Bonding

For you, brushing your dog might seem like a chore, but for her, it’s a lovely massage. Even if your dog has short fur, brushing her once or twice a week is a pleasant experience for her and is a good way of bonding. Never underestimate the amount of love your dog has for you, so giving her some extra special attention in the form of a brushing session can be extremely pleasurable for her. This can be especially important if you’ve newly rescued a dog and bought her into your family, as it may help her to start trusting you are more quickly or help form a stronger bond between the two of you.

Checking for Abnormalities

Dogs can get all kinds of lumps and bumps of without you noticing, but when you’re grooming your dog you have a good opportunity to check for these kinds of things and for any other changes. Run your hands over your dog as you brush her and check her gums for any lumps or inflammation. The majority of bumps and knobby bits that you may find on your dog might get are benign and nothing to worry about. However, it’s always best to check with a veterinarian, just to make sure. After all, it never hurts to be cautious when it comes to the health of your beloved dog.”

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