Always Free February 2013 - Pets in the City Magazine

6 February 2013 Pets In The City Magazine
EXPERTS’ ADVICE
On The Health
& Safety of your pet
Dog Grooming 101
Lynn A. McCarron, DVM, Diplomate ABVP
Many dogs often benefit from regular bathing or grooming. Simple
techniques can make this an easier adventure to try at home. When
preparing to groom your dog, you’ll want to make sure you have
all the tools you need for the grooming to make things go more
smoothly. First brush and comb your dog’s coat prior to bathing. If
you don’t, your pet is likely to end up with nasty tangles and mats.
Tools for grooming include:
How to brush your dog
• An undercoat rake or long comb to remove the
loose undercoat hairs. Some people prefer using
wide-toothed combs first and then changing to
progressively narrower, finer-toothed ones. This
is especially helpful when your pet has tangled
or matted hair.
• Detangler solution and a mat splitter or mat
rake is very useful for tangles and mats (use
electric clippers in extreme cases).
• A shedding blade has small teeth and is
generally shaped like a loop attached to a handle.
It is very useful for dogs that are shedding
extensively.
• A slicker brush stimulates the coat and
skin and removes dead surface hair, and is a
good choice for routine brushing, but may be
irritating to very short haired dogs’
skin.
• A short curry brush polishes the coat
and helps get rid of dead hair.
To keep your dog’s coat healthy and shiny regular brushing
is a necessity. To get all of the hair brushed (not just the
top coat) a good method is to brush “backwards” against
the direction of the fur growth and then brush it back into
place in the direction of the hair growth. This usually loosens
and removes dead hair and stimulates your dog’s skin.
Bathing your dog
Specially formulated dog shampoos, conditioners, cream rinses, and
detanglers make bath time a healthier and happier prospect for man
and beast! As tempting as it may be to use human shampoo or even
baby shampoo, these are not formulated with a pH (acidity level) that
is friendly to your furry friend. This can make their skin dry, itchy,
and even inflame allergy conditions.
Basics of bathing
1. Place your dog in a tub of appropriate size. Only the smallest dogs
fit comfortably in a sink. Your bathtub or a groomer’s tub is your best
choice. You can use the shower to bathe your dog but plan on getting
wet! A plastic apron or a raincoat may be your best friend when
bathing your dog.
2. Wet your dog’s hair thoroughly with lukewarm water. Be very
careful not to get water into the ears. Placing cotton balls into the ear
canals can help keep them dry, just don’t forget to remove them!
3. Dilute shampoo with a small amount of warm water, and then
lather up your dog’s coat thoroughly with a good pH-balanced dog
shampoo. Wash the face and sensitive eyes with the wet washcloth.
Soap free shampoos are a good choice for gentle cleaning of dogs
with healthy skin. There are great medicated shampoos available for
dogs with skin allergies, bacterial, or yeast infections, or those with
excessively oily or scaly skin. Ask your veterinarian to help choose
one best for your dog’s skin.
4. Rinse thoroughly. Soap left on the skin can cause itchy, inflamed
skin and dryness.
5. Apply a good pH-balanced conditioner or cream rinse for dogs.
Using a conditioner that prevents tangles and also keeps the coat from
drying out is a good idea for most coat types.
6. Thoroughly rinse away the conditioner.
7. Get out those towels and start drying. You can use a blow dryer,
on the low, cool setting to hasten the drying process. Be aware some
dogs really hate the blow dryer, so in their case towel drying
may be better.
Once your pet is dry, give them one more
thorough brushing and voila! You are done!
Dr. Lynn McCarron is the owner of
the University Veterinary Hospital
and Diagnostic Center. Originally
from Ohio, she has been practicing
in the 9th and 9th district for more
than twenty years, is a board
certified Veterinary Practitioner
in canine and feline practice,
and a member of the American
Association of Feline
Practitioners.