Sarah Schachterle - HERLIFE Magazine

ody over their back. Using your arm to hold their neck in place
so they can’t raise their head to fight or bite you, use the hand
on that arm to hold their paw in place and the other hand to
trim the nails. Dark-tipped nails are harder to trim because you
can’t see where the nerve ending begins so trim sparingly. And
you might also consider using a pedicure filing tool that grinds
instead of cuts (similar to a rotating nail file).
Bathe your dog at least monthly and be sure to use a
soap-free formula made especially for dogs. While your dog
may not be thrilled about their bath, they can be trained to get
used to it. Dogs are not much different than humans in that
Dog’s ears are a veritable
breeding ground for
bacteria so they need to be
checked on a regular basis.
Unfortunately, many ear
problems are based upon
genetics, so while some
dogs go a lifetime without
problems, others get them
on a regular basis.
they enjoy warm bath water. If you can use a tub or sink instead
of an outside garden hose, try to do so. And wear clothes that
you don’t mind getting wet because you’ll be lifting a drenched
dog that needs to be dried off!
Dog’s ears are a veritable breeding ground for bacteria
so they need to be checked on a regular basis. Unfortunately,
many ear problems are based upon genetics, so while some
dogs go a lifetime without problems, others get them on a
regular basis. Some dogs have allergies which cause infections,
and some have ear canal problems due to the structure of their
ears (dogs that have long ears or hair covering their ears). As
a layman, your role is to merely inspect the outer and middle
ear areas. Start with the outer ear to ensure that it’s not scabbed
over or torn in any way. Sometimes, if a dog is experiencing inner
ear problems, they’ll scratch at their outer ear in an attempt
to alleviate pain. Likewise, if you look at their middle ear and
see redness or discharge, or smell an odor, get your dog to a
vet’s office for treatment. If your inspection of your dog’s ears
doesn’t uncover anything to cause concern, use cotton balls and
swabs to clean the flaps of the middle ear ONLY. Do not insert
anything into your dog’s inner ear for any reason.
Finally, seek professional grooming for any breed of dog
that has continual hair growth such as a Poodle or Shih Tzu.
These breeds require special grooming at least once a month to
keep their hair from matting and tangling, which can become
very painful for your pet.
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