Beyond Washing The Dog

Keeping your dog clean is an important responsibility for every
dog owner. Fido depends on you for general hygiene. Clean ears,
teeth and a coat free from fleas and ticks are all the
conditions you check for a healthy pet. Bath time is a great
time to bond with your dog as well as check his well-being.

A healthy dogs actually don’t need to be washed all that often,
but humans prefer to bathe them so that they smell fresh and
clean and not like…well…dog. Although most dogs don’t like
to be washed, they will appreciate the contact and attention
that they receive from their owners during a bath. It is also a
good time to perform some other necessary “dog maintenance” such
as cleaning the ears, checking for ticks and fleas, and brushing
the teeth. Since many dogs do not like to sit still for any of
these activities, it can be a good idea to do them all at once.

Brushing your Dogs’ Teeth

Brushing your dogs’ teeth is just good dental hygiene. Most vets
recommend that it be done at least twice a week to ensure your
dog maintains healthy teeth and gums. If you’ve have been doing
this, it’s never too late to start. The dog should have its own
toothbrush and special toothpaste designed for dogs. You pick up
everything you need at your favorite pet supply store. Make sure
you brush the back teeth in small circles, the same way you
would your own, and brush up and down the length of the “pointy”
canine teeth. Dog toothpaste is made to have a pleasing taste,
to dogs that is, and this should help make your dog willing to
let you perform this activity. If you cannot brush his teeth,
the next best thing would be to give him teeth cleaning dog
biscuits but brushing is definitely preferred.

Checking for Ticks & Fleas

Ticks are nasty little arachnids (they’re eight-legged creatures
like spiders, and therefore are not insects) that will latch
onto your dog’s skin and feed on his blood supply. They are most
common in wooded areas, but your dog should be checked for them
regularly because they can carry a number of diseases. The best
place to look for these bugs in under the collar or on the dog’s
underbelly, buried in the fur. If you find a tick, be sure to
use tweezers and remove the tick by its head.

Fleas can be found in the same places, under the fur. The
presence of fleas can be betrayed by the sight of their
droppings on the dog’s coat. They look like flecks of pepper.
The fleas themselves can vary in size, from tiny infants to
larger adults, which are about an eighth of an inch long. They
can’t simply be picked off the dog like ticks can, they will
jump before you can catch them. If you do find a flea or their
droppings, you know it’s time to start the dog on a program to
control and eliminate these pests.

Cleaning his Ears

Pet supply stores sell special solutions for cleansing a dog’s
ears. Dogs can easily get ear mites. These small insects live in
the ears and feed of the waxy secretions there. Over time, the
bodies of these short-lived creatures build up and form a black,
dirty substance. Using a cotton swab dipped in a bit of this
solution, gently clean the inner ear. It may be difficult to
hold the dog still for this procedure, but it doesn’t take long.
The result will be clean ears and the avoidance of potential
infection and earaches for your dog.

So you see, the quality time you spend bathing your dog will not
only make him smell great to you but it will make him FEEL
great.