Grooming Tips to Give Your Dog Healthy Skin

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     Grooming a dog is very important. Healthy dogs have lovely, shiny coats that need to be cared for. Of course, it is important that the dog is healthy and made to eat nutritious foods, but proper grooming cannot be underestimated By following proper skin care steps, the owner can have a lot healthier and happier pet.

It is important to brush the dog's hair regularly. This removes dead hair and dead skin, increases blood circulation, and spreads the natural oils that are secreted by the dog's skin. How often one has to brush a pet depends on the breed of the dog. Since short haired dogs do not require frequent brushing, a good brushing once a week will suffice. However, long haired dogs require daily brushing to keep their coats shiny and tangle-free. Use a conditioner to make the hair softer and odor free.

Bathing a dog is not a good idea. Sure, one can do so, but never bathe a dog more than once a month. Bathing can rob the skin of the natural essential oils and leave the dog's skin dry. In addition, when the dog is given a bath, normal human shampoo should never be used. The pH balance of a dog's skin is different and requires a specially formulated shampoo and conditioner.

Dog skin is often infested by ticks, fleas, ringworms and other unwanted guests. The owner has to make sure that the skin is free of all these parasites. Fleas are the most common problem. They cause itching and skin irritation. It is often necessary to use a specially formulated anti-flea shampoo to get rid of them. Since these ticks can be found anywhere in the house, one has to use pesticide and defog the entire house. Once the fleas have been totally eliminated, it is a good idea to have the dog treated once a month.

Ticks can cause diseases in human occupants of the house too. Use tweezers to pick out ticks from the dog's fur. After any visible ticks have been removed, special shampoos can be used to clean the minute ones. Chiggers feast on the dog's blood and cause skin irritation. They are often found around the head and neck and can be treated with antiseptic creams. Mange causes hair loss in patches and gives rise to itching. To treat mange, one has to consult a vet.

Like human skin, dog skin too faces problems during winter. Their skin tends to get dry and flaky. Therefore, remember to brush the coat regularly. This will increase blood circulation and enhance oil secretion. During winter, the dog need not be bathed, but the insides of the ears also need to be looked after. Inspect the ears and look for any debris. If there is something inside, it can be cleaned with an ear solution and cotton balls. Follow the instructions on the bottle or from a vet about using such solutions. The medicine needs to be sprayed inside the ear and left for about 20 seconds, after which the ear can be cleaned with a cotton ball.

Dogs can have skin problems for many reasons, and allergies are often the cause. It is easy to detect an allergy if a dog is found scratching or licking a spot where no fleas or mites are found. For allergies, one has to consult a vet, and the dog will be given anti-allergy creams and medicines. Dogs are also prone to certain serious illnesses that can cause hair loss. These include hypothyroidism, cancer and Cushing's syndrome.

Groom the dog regularly to detect skin problems, if any, on time. Consult the vet if a problem persists and is serious.