Smelly Dogs May Need Ablutions

Every week there is one date I faithfully keep: 揳blutions?time with my dogs. I don抰 know why we started calling it that ?probably when I was completely and totally addicted to Regency Romance novels. According to Webster抯 Dictionary, 揳blutions?is 揳 washing of the body, especially as a religious ceremony.?

We don抰 actually do a full-body dog wash every week ?I抦 told that less frequent bathing is better for a dog抯 skin and fur ?and it抯 not really a ritual. We do trim nails, brush fur and teeth, clean ears, and wash faces. Because of the breeds we have; Brussels Griffons, Boston Terriers and French Bulldogs, skin folds, beards and mustaches, and wrinkles get special attention.

It抯 down to a routine in our house; it doesn抰 take much more than about 15 minutes per dog, once you catch them. One person holds the dog. The other 揳blutes.擜nd the benefits are vast. The dogs seem happier, they smell good, and we have the chance to check each one for anything that doesn抰 seem quite right.

Contrary to popular belief ?clean, healthy dogs really shouldn抰 smell. 揇og breath?may be an indicator that the dog抯 teeth need cleaning. There are many products available to care for dog抯 teeth, but a start can be made with just a damp washcloth or gauze. Special toothpastes made just for dogs are readily available. Human toothpaste isn抰 a good idea ?it can be too harsh and dogs tend to dislike both the foaming action and the taste of products made for people.

Your nose is an invaluable tool in assessing your dog抯 health. Any odor from a dog抯 ears may be a sign of infection. But we know that cleaning ears can be a challenge. We use a solution available from the veterinarian. It抯 inexpensive and helps wash away any dirt or wax. Getting it into the dog抯 ears is where the problem arises in our house. Even after four years of this weekly routine, our Boston Terrier struggles mightily to see what we抮e doing. No matter how hard we try, we can抰 seem to convince her that no one can see inside her own ears!

Keeping a dog抯 nails trimmed is another part of the routine that can be challenging. Many people are wary of cutting the nails too close and hurting the dog by nicking the blood vessel. Some people avoid the problem by using a hand-held sanding device ?but a light touch is essential. Power tools are exactly that ?powerful. It抯 better to do too little than risk hurting the dog. Most groomers and veterinarians will trim nails for a nominal fee. If you抮e hesitant about trimming your dog抯 nails yourself, it抯 well worth the monthly visit to have a professional do the job. Even if you don抰 trim nails yourself, take a look at your dog抯 feet. See if their pads have any calluses or cracks or any abnormalities.

Lastly, a good brushing, in addition to taking care of any tangles, or mats in the fur, will make your dog look and feel terrific. You抣l distribute the natural oils that keep fur healthy and remove any dead fur that may have accumulated. By paying attention during brushing we discovered a growth on our Brussels Griffon we would not have discovered. A visit to the vet and a couple of stitches later, what might have been a major health issue later was disposed of with very little fuss. As with humans, early detection is the key for dogs.

Our weekly 揳blutions?may not be as much fun as playing ball in the yard, but it is time well-spent with our beloved pets. Getting them used to the routine may take some patience but they抮e well worth the effort.