How to bathe and groom your dog

It’s important to remember that you are your dog’s primary care provider. This means that you not only have to make sure that your dog is clean and healthy, but also that any choices you make regarding his or her care - from choosing the right shampoo to getting the proper nail clippers - is your responsibility. Here are a few do’s and don’ts you should keep in mind.

(Also read: What to do if your dog has fleas)

1. Dog grooming do’s
2. Dog grooming don’ts

Giving your dog a bath can be a fun experience, especially if he or she really enjoys it. Bathing during summers is more enjoyable for most dogs living in warm climates. If you’re bathing your dog in the winter then do bathe your dog indoors so that the low temperature doesn’t affect your dog’s health. Here are a few tricks you can use while bathing your dog: 

• The frequency of dog baths depends on the particular needs of individual dogs. Usually, dogs should be bathed only if they get dirty or if they smell bad. If you bathe them too much, or when they smell normal (remember that dogs have their own healthy smell), it can dry out their skin and lead to skin diseases. 
• It’s also very important to get the right shampoo for your dog. Human and dog skins have very different pH values, so you should not use the same product you use for your dog. Get a shampoo meant for dogs to ensure their safety and health.
• While choosing the bath spot should be about your convenience - not every dog owner has a huge garden or porch to bathe their dog outdoors - you should also take your dog’s comfort into account. Get the right sized tub for them and make the bathing spot comfortable with toys and reward treats.
• Use the praise and reward system to train your dog to be comfortable during bath times, and don’t be too harsh during these times. This will help your dog associate bathing with positive things, and help condition him or her into enjoying, even looking forward to, baths.
• Familiarise your dog with bathing equipment. You can even make your dog practise sitting in the tub and a mat or towel so that they imbibe these behaviours. Familiarising them with running water will also help.
• Exercise your dog before bath time. This way he or she will have spent a lot of energy outdoors and will remain calm during baths.

Use the following steps while bathing your dog to ensure he or she is clean and comfortable:

• Brush your dog to ensure there are no mats or tangles in the fur.
• Wet your dog thoroughly to the skin using a hose, but don’t wet the head area.
• Clean the dog’s face and head with a damp washcloth. You can use damp cotton balls to clean the eyes.
• Keep the dog’s ears dry. If you get them wet it can cause infections.
• Once your dog’s body is thoroughly wet, add the shampoo. Start with the chest area and gradually rub it down the entire body.
• Massage the shampoo and lather on the shoulders, sides, back, front legs, back legs and tail. Massage the underside last, after the dog is comfortable enough.
• Rinse the shampoo gently yet thoroughly with water.
• If you’re using a conditioner, apply it and leave it on for 2-3 minutes. Rinse it off with water thoroughly.
• Towel dry your dog, even if they shake off water right after the bath. Allow the dog to dry off naturally. Do not use dryers unless absolutely necessary.
• Gently brush your dog after he or she is completely dry.

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You need to brush your dog’s coat several times a week to ensure that the fur is untangled, clean and shiny. Regular brushing also ensures that your dog doesn’t shed too much hair. Dogs with shorter fur will need less intensive brushing than those with long fur, and you should buy a brush suitable to your dog’s fur. If your dog’s hair is medium or long you will need a bristled brush, and you can even get a slicker brush if the fur gets tangled or has mats.

Remember to brush all the way down to the skin to ensure dandruff and dirt comes off properly. You should be on the lookout for cuts, scrapes, and mats behind the ears and under the legs. If the mats, cuts and scrapes are too severe, you should treat them or take your dog to the vet immediately.

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A dog’s eyes are expressive, soulful and commanding, but they are also extremely sensitive. Most dogs are curious and tend to burrow into dirt, which leaves their face - and especially eyes - exposed to germs of all kinds. This is why it’s important to monitor your dog’s eye health and clean your dog’s eyes properly.

You don’t need any equipment to clean your dog’s eyes. Moist cotton balls are all you need, but use water and avoid irritating substances. Gently clean around the eyes, remove any globs by wiping gently. Hold your dog’s head firmly while doing so, but make sure you don’t hurt the snout, nose or eyes at this point. A healthy dog’s eyes are usually clear and bright, so if you see any redness, discharge or bumps (which are symptomatic of eye problems like cherry eye in dogs), you should consult the vet immediately.

Your dog’s ears are very sensitive, and cleaning them should be done very carefully. You should clean your dog’s ears once a month, but in case your dog has ear problems and if the vet recommends it, you can clean the ears more frequently. 

Use a damp cloth or cotton swab to clean the outer part of the ear. You can soak the cotton swab in mineral oil if needed, but do consult your vet before using any cleaning agent. You should also consult your vet if your dog shows the following symptoms:

• Head shaking
• Ear discharge
• Ear scratching
• Rubbing ears on floor, furniture, clothes, etc
• Redness or swelling around the ear
• Sensitivity around the ear or head
• Ear bleeding
• Head tilt 
• Unpleasant odour

(Also read: Ear mites in dogs)

A dog’s nails should be kept short for the feet to remain healthy, because long nails affect the dog’s gait and makes walking awkward and painful. Long nails can also lead to injuries and scratches. This is why clipping a dog’s nails is very important, and you should use specially-designed nail clippers for dogs to do this.

If you hear your dog’s nails clicking on the floor, then it’s time to clip them. The base of dogs’ nails have nerves and a blood vessel called quick, so you need to be very careful while clipping the nails. It’s best to ask your vet to show you how to do it properly the first few times, so that you can avoid accidental bleeding or injuries. Clipping the hooked part of the nail is a safe way to do it. 

Dogs usually do not like getting their nails clipped, so make sure your dog is securely held and soothed while doing so. A file can be used to smoothen the rough edges of the cut nail. If you accidentally cut the quick, then stop the bleeding with styptic powder or any other medication recommended by your vet. If you’re unsure about this, go to a vet or groomer to ensure your dog’s safety.

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To maintain your dog’s dental health, it’s very important to give them safe and clean chew toys. Chewing is a natural behaviour, and it promotes teeth and gum health. Apart from this, it’s very important to clean your dog’s teeth frequently. Specially-designed toothbrushes and toothpastes are available for dogs, and it’s better to use them instead of products made for humans. 

Put some toothpaste on a wet brush and gently brush your dog’s teeth. If your dog doesn’t like brushing with a toothbrush then use your fingers to clean and massage the dog’s teeth and gums. Make sure that you familiarise your dog to the toothpaste beforehand. Accumulation of tartar in the teeth is normal with aged dogs, and can only be treated by a vet.

(Also read: Dental disease in dogs)

Cleaning your dog’s genitals and anus is a very important part of their grooming, and should not be skipped. This can be done whenever your dog has a bath. Make sure you are gentle while cleaning the genitals, and wipe from front to back to avoid the spread of bacteria. 

Since dogs sit on the floor or the ground during their walks, their genitals and anus come into contact with many surfaces. This is why you should wipe your dog’s genitals and backside with a damp cloth whenever he or she comes back from a walk. If you see any signs of infection, redness or discharge then you should contact the vet immediately.

A dog’s anal sacs are located on the sides of the anus, and they should be emptied from time to time to avoid infections and foul odours. This, however, is best done by a veterinarian. So do remember to ask your vet to do so during your visits. If you see your dog licking, scratching or rubbing his or her anus you should take your dog to the vet immediately because these are signs of impacted anal sacs.

(Also read: Diarrhea in dogs)

Maintaining your dog’s hygiene is very important for his or her health. Bathing, brushing the coat, clipping the nails, cleaning the eyes, ears, teeth, genitals and anus - these all should be done regularly. While you can take your dog to the local pet parlour to get groomed, it’s always best to know the grooming basics because not everyone can afford a professional groomer, and some things - like brushing the coat, cleaning the eyes, teeth and genitals - need to be done frequently to ensure your dog’s health. The above mentioned tips should help you bathe and groom your pet. It’s important to get the right equipment for grooming, and you should be especially careful while clipping your dog’s nails and ears. Following these guidelines properly should keep your dog happy, healthy and active, but if you see any severe infestations of ticks and fleas, or if there’s discharge, mucus, rashes, etc then you should take your dog to the vet immediately.