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Pet grooming is very important. It can actually contribute to their good health. That psychological 'feel good' factor will make a lot of pets become far more active and friendly.
Try your best to brush your dog's coat each and every day. This will help with a lot of things. It keeps their coat clean and free of dirt. It keeps it untangled. It helps spread their natural oils. This can even keep their skin healthy.
Starting this habit early is best. Brushing an older dog can be a struggle at times... but if they are taught early that it's an enjoyable process that bags them lots of attention and the occasional treat, this will become a fun bonding time for both of you.
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You can trim your dog's nails without any help as well. This will make it more comfortable for your dog and quieter on your uncarpeted floors :) I've found that most dogs are NOT fans of getting their nails clipped. Treats and attention can help this problem.
When trimming, trim gradually and stop before you hit the quick. The quick is the part of the nail that contains all the nerves and blood vessels. It's normally visible, but if you can't see it, it ends where the nail begins to curve down. .
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Ear care is essential for a healthy, happy dog. Ear infections can be both painful and damaging. Problems with your pet's ears will be noticable by redness, constant itching, eminating odors, and head shaking.
It's important to check their ears once or twice a month. The skin on the inner ear should be a pale pink. Darker colors and/or stinky odors should be checked by a veterinarian.
After quick checking their ears out, dampen a cotton ball with some warm water or ear cleaner and use it to clean out the entire ear. Both the flaps and the opening to the canal. Don't go too deep into the canal as it can be dangerous.
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Your dog should be bathed at least every few months (obviously more if needed). It's recommended that you brush their coat prior to bathing as it gets out the mats.
Put a mat down in the bath tub to help make sure your dog can stand without slipping and falling. Rinse them with warm water, always keeping the source of water nozzle close to their body. Try not to spray them in the face. Apply a Pet Shampoo all over their body, making sure to get from the head, under the chin, behind the ears, between the toes, inside the legs and under the tail! Apply the shampoo in small amounts to make sure you don't over-do it and to make sure the shampoo gets everywhere, not just where it was originally applied. Next, just rinse them off with warm water then dry him or her off! :)
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