Dont Neglect These Dog Grooming Tasks

A complete grooming routine involves doing several tasks that improve your dog's health, comfort, and appearance. But for many people, "grooming" their dog is synonymous with giving it a bath and perhaps brushing its fur. If that's the case for you, you are doing your dog-and yourself-a disservice by neglecting some important tasks.
Not sure what you're missing? Follow the handy list below.

Expelling Anal Sacs We are starting with the nastiest job first because it is probably the single most neglected one. Your dog has anal sacs on the sides of his anus. These sacks release a scent when it defecates. When the anal sacs get blocked, they become very uncomfortable and irritate your dog. When you see your dog scooting along the carpet as though it is your dog's personal toilet paper or when he seems obsessed with licking/biting anal area, it could be a sign that his anal sacs need to be expelled.
While you can learn how to do this yourself, it is an outhouse-in-your-nose nasty job. You will probably be far happier paying your groomer or veterinarian to handle this one.

Brushing Teeth Dogs have a much shorter lifespan than people, but they are still susceptible to a long list of problems that can be prevented by regular dental care. And while dental chew toys can be helpful, they are not a substitute for a proper daily brushing.
You will need to buy a toothbrush and toothpaste made specifically for dogs, both of which are commonly available in pet stores. Just as toothpaste for people now has flavoring to make it appealing, so too do toothpastes for dogs. This tends to make the experience something your pet enjoys.
If your pet has never had its teeth brushed and resists your attempts, there are a couple of things you can do:

 

• Condition him to the toothpaste
• Take a bit of toothpaste, put it on your finger and let him lick it.
• With toothpaste on your finger, begin "brushing" his teeth with your finger.
• Condition him to the toothbrush

• Once he is comfortable with you brushing with your finger, put the toothpaste on the brush and let your dog lick off that.
• Gradually begin gently brushing the teeth with the brush.

Also, be sure to have your veterinarian check his teeth and do annual cleanings.

Ear Cleaning Cleaning your dog's ears helps prevent infections and will alert you to problems (such as mites) that your dog has. At least once per month, take a cotton swab and mineral oil and clean the outer (the floppy) part of your dog's ear. Stay away from the ear canal-you can create more problems by trying to go too far.

These tasks are essential parts of caring for your dog. If you regularly take your dog to a groomer, you may find it worthwhile to have them take care of most of these items.