Dog Health and Hygiene

Dogs are durable animals, for this reason a majority of owners fail to see the importance of a regular hygiene regimen for their hounds. Unlike humans who are constantly among other people and able to contrast the condition of their hygiene, the average dog is rarely associating with other dogs. Therefore the steady decline in dog's hygiene such has the buildup of plaque on their teeth or increasing poor coat texture may continue throughout a dog's life without a whole lot of notice. Owners should create a schedule for performing their dog's hygiene care tasks. The structure of having a calendar will help owners develop the discipline it takes to follow through and perform the various task of canine hygiene care. There are four areas, teeth and gums, skin and coat, ears, and nails. Fortunately canine health care products now exist which reduces the time and effort while considerably increasing the results. Select products that utilize natural ingredients, this helps avoid unpleasant or dangerous side effects, while still achieving successful results.

Oral Hygiene is performed by very few dog owners, as a result periodontal disease affects over 90% of dogs. Beyond a dog's bad breadth, harmful bacteria that results from unhealthy gums and teeth can travel into a dog's bloodstream distressing the health of the heart, kidney, and liver. The preventative health benefits of maintaining healthy teeth and gums can be significant in addition to avoiding expensive canine dentistry from your veterinarian. Select products that utilize plant enzymes such as lysozyme to break down the tarter on the teeth. Also ingredients such as mint will keep your hounds breath smelling good.

Skin and Coat health is highly reflective of dog's health in general. While humans tend to experience upper respiratory symptoms in response to allergens, dogs experience intense itching caused by inflammation in their skin. Nutritional supplements reduce food allergies and improve a dog's immune system which influences skin and coat health. Naturopathic shampoos can clean the coat improving your dog's odor and health of their skin. Select a nutritional supplement that aids your dog's digestion such as VitaHound Daily Supplement, you can find this product at the www.vitahound.com website.

The ear canal of dog is inherently prone to the buildup of wax. A relatively long ear canal combined with the tendency of a dog's ear to flop down and cover the ear restricting the healthy flow of air makes a dog's ear prone to infections. A dog's balance, similar to many animals is dependent on the nerves in the inner ear that connect to the brain. The buildup of wax can cause infections that damage the nerves in a dog's ear. Once a week cleaning will deodorize the ears, and protect against infection. The product you use should contain natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal ingredients along with oils that are compatible with a dog's ear natural flora to prevent excessive drying. Examples of a natural antibiotic cleanser is the ingredient echinacea purpure, and to prevent drying look for natural oils also in the formula.

A dog's nails are probably the easiest to maintain. The claws on the rear feet are often shorter and require less frequent trimming than those on the front feet. Always remember to trim the dew claws that are located on the inner surface. A dog's nail consists of two parts, the quick which contains blood vessels and is the base of the nail. The toe nail is the end of the nail and contains no blood vessels, this is the part you trim off, make sure you know how to identify the toe nail on your breed. Trimming into a dog's quick causes pain and will bleed. Use guillotine type clippers to handle this task. Trim your dog's nails on a schedule that doesn't allow them to grow more than a 1/8 inch, this makes it easier to trim the correct amount each time.