Pet Insurance

22 Aug 2024

How to groom my dog at home

Grooming helps your canine friend look their best, but more importantly, feel their best. Grooming removes pollens, dead skin, loose hairs, grass seeds, and tangles from your dog's coat. It prevents painful matting of the coat and avoidable skin issues, and ensures their coat is clean and healthy.

Establishing a Grooming Routine: Regular grooming is not just about aesthetics; it's crucial for your dog's overall health and well-being, especially for long-haired breeds. Start grooming your dog early in their life, using positive reinforcement techniques to make it an enjoyable bonding activity and part of their routine. This will help your dog associate grooming with positive experiences.

Help your dog to love grooming time and to be comfortable with all parts of the body that are required to be groomed.

Step-by-Step Guide to Grooming Your Dog at Home:

1. Brushing

Regular brushing helps remove loose fur, prevents mats and tangles, and stimulates your dog's skin and coat health. Use a brush suitable for your dog's coat type.

2. Bathing

Generally, dogs do not need frequent baths. Excessive bathing can strip their skin of natural oils. Bathing every 2-3 months or when your dog becomes dirty or smelly is often all that is required. However, some skin issues may require more frequent, medicated baths as prescribed by a veterinarian. Use a dog-specific shampoo and lukewarm water to bathe your pup. Be sure to rinse thoroughly to avoid skin irritation from residues, and dry your dog completely to prevent dampness that can also lead to skin issues.

3. Trimming Hair

Depending on your dog's breed and coat type, you may need to trim excess hair around their eyes, ears, paws, and bottom areas. Use grooming scissors or clippers with caution to avoid accidental cuts - or, simply leave this to the professionals!

4. Ear Check

Check your dog's ears regularly for signs of dirt, discharge, redness, or odour that would require a vet check. Following a bath, consider using a gentle dog-specific ear cleaner and cotton balls to gently wipe the outer ear, avoiding inserting anything into the ear canal.

5. Nail Care

Regularly checking and trimming your dog's nails is an essential part of grooming. Overgrown nails can cause pain, infection and make it difficult for your dog to walk. Use clippers designed for dogs and trim the nails gradually, avoiding the quick (the blood vessel inside the nail).If you're unsure about trimming your dog's nails, consult your veterinarian or a professional groomer for help.

6. Dental Care

Did you know that by age 3, 80% of dogs will experience gum or dental disease?¹Just like people, dogs need daily attention to keep their mouths clean and free of odour producing bacteria and tartar.

Incorporate daily dental care into your pet's routine by brushing their teeth regularly with a dog-specific toothbrush and toothpaste to maintain healthy teeth and gums and prevent dental disease. If you start when they are puppies, they can easily be trained to be comfortable with it, and to enjoy it! It’s so important to get them used to having their mouth touched and examined.

VetAssist note: Tooth brushing is for healthy mouths only, and a way to help prevent a problem, not to treat one. It won’t help an already sore and unhealthy mouth, where it would only serve to cause pain and a negative association with tooth brushing. If your pet's mouth appears sore or inflamed, it's important to consult your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment before starting or continuing any oral hygiene routines.

7. Regular Check-ups

Use grooming sessions as an opportunity to check your dog's skin, coat, ears, eyes, and teeth for any signs of health issues or abnormalities. Early detection is key to addressing potential concerns promptly.

Written by Dr Claire Jenkins

Dr. Claire Jenkins, a proud graduate of a Queensland veterinary school, brings over 15 years of hands-on experience as a beloved neighborhood veterinarian to VetAssist.

Her career has spanned both Australia and the UK, fostering a deep understanding of the unique challenges and joys that pet ownership brings. A lifelong animal lover, Dr. Jenkins founded VetAssist out of a burning passion to ensure that pet carers everywhere have access to reliable and trusted advice exactly when they need it.

Her vision is a world where earlier intervention leads to healthier, happier pets and more confident pet owners. When she's not championing the well-being of animals, Dr. Jenkins cherishes her role as a devoted carer to her own furry companion, a beautiful Red-dog.

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¹https://sydneyanimalhospitals.com.au/80-of-dogs-have-dental-disease-by-3yrs/

text: ^†Offer available to new Everyday Pet Insurance policyholders, and is limited to 1 membership per eligible policy. The free membership offer (valued at $199p.a) is from the date of your policy commencement, provided your Everyday Pet Insurance policy remains active. You are not eligible to redeem the free membership subscription for cash or credit. VetAssist is a separate subscription based service to the Everyday Pet Insurance product, and is provided independently by Everyday Insurance third party service provider, VetChat Services Pty Ltd (VetChat). Click here for full VetAssist Service terms and conditions. Everyday Insurance reserves the right to withdraw or extend this offer at anytime, without notice.

text: Everyday Pet Insurance policies entered into for the first time prior to 17 July 2023 and subsequent renewals of those policies are issued by The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd ABN 78 090 584 473, AFSL 241436 (Hollard), arranged and administered by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 95 075 949 923, AFSL 420183 (PetSure) and promoted and distributed by Hollard’s Authorised Representative (AR) Woolworths Group Limited ABN 88 000 014 675, AR 245476 (Woolworths). Everyday Pet Insurance policies entered into for the first time on or after 17 July 2023 and subsequent renewals of those policies are issued by PetSure and promoted and distributed by PetSure’s AR, Woolworths. Any advice provided is general only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Please consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to ensure this product meets your needs before purchasing, or choosing to continue with the product. PDS and Target Market Determination available at insurance.everyday.com.au/pet-insurance.

How to groom my dog at home

Pet Insurance

22 Aug 2024

How to groom my dog at home