Page 323 - (DK) The Dog Encyclopedia

GROOMING CHECKS

Teeth cleaning
Use a toothbrush or fingerbrush to clean your dog’s teeth,
taking care not to apply too much pressure. Use this time
to check that his teeth, gums, and mouth are healthy.

Nail trimming Ear cleaning
When trimming your dog’s nails, make sure you clip Check that your dog’s ears are not swollen and do not smell
below the quick. Trim only small sections at a time to unpleasant. Antiseptic ear cleaner can be applied to cotton
prevent cutting through the quick. Check your dog’s balls and used to wipe the visible areas of your dog’s ears. Do
paws for swellings and his claws for breaks or splits. not insert cotton balls or any other object into the ear canal.

plastic tube that fits over your finger and on dogs with black nails. It is a two-tone
has built-in bristles. This can be a lot pink area in the center of the nail. If you cut
easier to maneuver around your dog’s the nails too short, you will sever the quick,
mouth and prevents you from applying which will cause the nail to bleed copiously.
too much pressure. Hold your dog’s foot firmly to avoid him
Teeth cleaning will be a strange experience moving at the moment of cutting. Place the
TEETH CLEANING for your dog at first, so use treats at each nail clippers just below the quick and cut the
Your dog can be taught to accept you looking stage to put him at ease and encourage good nail swiftly in one smooth movement. If you
in his mouth and brushing his teeth. First, get practice in future. If he shows signs of do cut the quick, remain calm and apply a
him used to the feel of having your hand aggression or anxiety during the process, small amount of styptic powder to the nail
resting across the bridge of his nose, with stroke him slowly and gently for several to help stem the bleeding, and apply firm
your thumb held under his chin to keep his minutes before trying again. pressure until the bleeding stops.
mouth closed. Once he is comfortable with
this, use your other hand to lift his top lip NAIL TRIMMING EAR CLEANING
gently to reveal the outer surfaces of the Train your dog from a young age to allow Your dog should not find it painful to
teeth. Ideally, these should be white, but his feet to be lifted up and examined. have his ears touched. There should be no
light brown tartar may accumulate along the Look between the toes for grass awns and swelling of the flaps, and the ears should
gum line. The gums should be moist and bright orange harvest mites. Check for be pleasant smelling and clean as far down
pale pink, and the breath smell pleasant. A swellings and broken or overly long claws; as you can see.
toothbrush can be inserted inside the cheek, when the feet are fully weight-bearing, the Inspect your dog’s ears regularly for
if your dog remains calm. The most claws should just touch the ground. any signs of discharge, unpleasant odor,
important places to brush are along the gum How often you will need to trim your dog’s redness, inflammation, or ear mites. Any
line and the outside surfaces of the teeth. nails depends on the breed and his lifestyle; of these symptoms may signal an infection,
Move the brush gently in a circular motion monthly trimming should be sufficient for for which you should seek veterinary help.
rather than scrubbing from side to side. most dogs. Nails need to be trimmed back as Monthly ear cleaning will maintain the
Dog’s teeth benefit from weekly brushing, far as the “quick,” which is where the blood health of the ears and prevent infections.
using only dog-specific products. You might vessels and nerves are. The quick is much This is particularly important with
find it easier to use a fingerbrush—a hollow easier to see on dogs with white nails than pendant-eared dogs such as spaniels.

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