The global pandemic has made things more difficult for everyone, including our pets. Because of lockdown restrictions and the consequences thereof, it’s become more important than ever to learn how to keep your dog clean between trips to the groomer.
Perhaps you’re wondering, “How often should I have my dog groomed?” That’s a simple question with a complicated answer. But, generally speaking, you’ll want to take your dog to the groomer in Canal Winchester, OH anywhere from once a month to once every three months. But what about maintenance between trips? Here’s how you can keep your dog clean at home.
Brushing your dog’s coat
It is imperative that you brush your dog regularly. If your dog has longer hair, you should brush it every other day, and if it has shorter hair, you could brush it once every two weeks. Brushing your dog’s hair prevents it from getting matted, and allowing unwanted dust, dirt and bugs to become stuck in its fur. It’s generally beneficial to your dog’s coat and has the added bonus of preventing your pet from shedding all over your house and furniture.
Bathing your dog
While bathing your dog is important, you must be careful not to do it too frequently, as it can have adverse effects on their coat. Bathing your dog every four to seven weeks is a good guideline, or do so as necessary to remove unpleasant odors or accumulated dirt and grime.
When bathing your dog, it’s important that you not use human shampoo on its coat, as this can be harmful. You should use special shampoo for dogs, which is widely available. When bathing your dog, it is best to use lukewarm water and be gentle when rubbing the shampoo into its coat and scrubbing all the areas of its body, taking extra care when you are near the nose and eyes. You should use a soft towel to dry your dog off thoroughly when the bath is finished.
Brushing your dog’s teeth
Your dog’s teeth can decay and cause health problems, just like a human’s can, but the difference obviously is that they can’t brush their own teeth. That’s why you need to do it for them anywhere from once a day to twice a week. You could do this with either a child’s toothbrush or a rubber finger brush, making sure to use special toothpaste for dogs because they cannot spit it out like humans can.
Cutting your dog’s nails
It’s important that your dog’s nails be kept at a healthy length because they walk on all fours. A torn or broken nail could lead to bleeding, which could lead to pain and/or an infection for your dog. You should do this anywhere from every two weeks to every six weeks, or if you can hear their nails clicking on the floor when they walk. For this task, you can use rotary trimmers or clippers specially made for dogs. It would behoove you to have a professional groomer demonstrate this before you attempt it on your dog, so you know the correct way to do it.
Now that you know how often you should have your dog groomed and how to keep a clean dog by brushing your pet’s teeth and coat, bathing it and cutting its nails, it’s time to schedule your pet’s next grooming appointment in Canal Winchester, OH. Reach out to Lucky Bones Pet Resort today to book your dog’s visit!
