Giving your dog a bath is important, but not as critical as most people seem to believe. If your dog is healthy, he really doesn't need to be bathed more that once every few months, but most of us put them in the tub or under the hose more often to get rid of that doggie smell and look shinier. Although most dogs do not enjoy getting a bath, it is a good bonding experience. They will appreciate the contact and attention they get from their owner.
This is also an excellent time to do some other required "maintenance" tasks that we often forget about, such as ear cleaning, brushing their teeth, and checking for fleas and ticks. It is much easier to do all these things at once since most dogs don't enjoy sitting through these activities for very long.
Let's go into further detail about these maintenance tasks to make sure your dog stays healthy and happy for a long time.
To clean your dog's ears, check your local pet store for special solutions designed specifically for this purpose. It is common for dogs to attract ear mites, which are small insects that live in the waxy secretions. As time goes by, the mite gets larger and you will start to notice a dirty black substance in your dog's ear. Take a q-tip, dip it in the ear cleaning solution, and gently swab the entire ear. Your dog might squirm, but hold him down, because it won't take long. And when you're done, he'll have clean ears and be much less likely to get earaches or infections.
One of the most overlooked maintenance tasks is brushing your dog's teeth. Many dog owners only do this once or twice per year. Can you imagine how gross your mouth would feel if you didn't brush for six months? Your dog feels the same way. It's never too late to start doing this. You will need a special toothbrush and toothpaste designed for dogs. These are easily found in any pet store for under ten dollars. Be certain to brush the back teeth, and use small circular motions like your dentist used to tell you to do. This task will be easier than the ear cleaning, because the dog toothpaste is made to taste good. Your dog should enjoy the treat.
The last thing to check for is fleas and ticks. Ticks are nasty little bugs that dig themselves into your dog's skin and live by sucking their blood. Be especially careful if you live near wooded areas where ticks are most common. However, no matter where you live, check for ticks often, because they carry several harmful diseases. Ticks are the transport method of Lyme Disease, which will slowly destroy your dog's joints and suck out all his energy. Many dogs with Lyme Disease are in such pain that they need to be put down. So check often! Pay special attention to the most common hiding areas, which are under the collar or along the underbelly. If you find one, simply pull it off with tweezers.
Fleas aren't as potentially harmful as ticks, but they are much more of a nuisance. If you don't catch them quickly enough, your other pets can catch them, your kids can catch them, and you might have to get your home fumigated. You can find them under the fur, in the same places where ticks hang out. If you see little things that look like specks of pepper, those are flea droppings. The actual flea will be dark in color and about the size of a grain of rice. If you do find one, call your local vet's office and ask about flea treatments.
Eric Shannon is a freelance author who also publishes the Dog Lovers Report, which is a biweekly newsletter with a very large readership. He also runs Beds For Doggies, which carries a large selection of Dog Beds, Dog Couches, and Dog Furniture.
Dog training can provide a tremendous amount of satisfaction. Every... Read More
Still remember that very moment when you first laid your... Read More
You are ready to bring your Boxer home? First, you... Read More
Any person, whether a minor or adult, having been bitten... Read More
Dog arthritis is one of the most common diseases that... Read More
Glassily transparent, the lemon tetra (hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) could appear to... Read More
In compiling some information on achieving a proper fit to... Read More
There are headstrong dogs that know too well that a... Read More
Are you concerned when your dog or cat eats grass,... Read More
Have you ever dreamed of living with a bobcat or... Read More
The shutting and opening door trick can be taught to... Read More
Beaks, Bills, Face Knives, Beakers - whatever we want to... Read More
When I carried him home, he was this tiny little... Read More
Meow! Meow! Meow! I bury my head underneath my pillow.... Read More
There are a number of reasons for choosing natural pet... Read More
You know that cats should always have a supply of... Read More
So you're getting a Rottweiler puppy? Here are some general... Read More
Animal Communication, or telepathy with animals, is as common an... Read More
The greatest fear of most pet owners is that there... Read More
It's beginning to get cooler and as such it is... Read More
I'd like to talk to you about pet vaccinations. I... Read More
Reading a pet food label, how difficult can it be?... Read More
Congratulations on your choice to bring home a West Highland... Read More
Part 2: Protecting your petIf you own a cat, then... Read More
Arthritis refers to inflammation or swelling in a joint. The... Read More
Pet's, any kind of pet can be a welcome addition... Read More
Even if you haven't had a run-in involving your pet... Read More
Dog's come in all shapes and sizes ? out of... Read More
Adopting a dog is a lot of fun, but it... Read More
Maintaining your fish bowl can be difficult sometimes. However, your... Read More
Puppies need to go to the bathroom after they play,... Read More
If you have a hard time in summer imagine how... Read More
DogtraWhen looking for a dog training collar or containment system,... Read More
When you take into account that there are over 68,000,000... Read More
Top five dog breeds for homes with children* Beagle *... Read More
It's important to understand your dog's sleeping habits and how... Read More
An easier and more pleasant journey with your chosen Boxer... Read More
I have a business card burning a hole in my... Read More
Vitamins Can Increase Your Dog's Life Span!There is evidence to... Read More
Having a pet is an experiance that I think everyone... Read More
Because it is intelligent and energetic, a Westie terrier is... Read More
Now that you're dog has shown you so much love... Read More
When Lucky was starting to show signs of aging, we... Read More
It is Winter time again, a time of the year... Read More
* Lock things up that could cause harm* Keep the... Read More
"Hamsters?!" I hear you say. "Who cares about some fury... Read More
Cats have a reputation for being finicky eaters, but that... Read More
Dogs and children are a perfect fit. They are what... Read More
Did you know that there are key health benefits that... Read More
Training one dog can be hard enough, but two, now... Read More
Rabbits are one of the most popular pets, apart from... Read More
The idea of picking up a horse's hooves can intimidate... Read More
It was November and I had spent 3 months searching... Read More
The 4th Of 6 Keys To Building A Life Long... Read More
Chihuahua Training is Easy! You may be wondering if Chihuahua... Read More
Are you thinking about dog obedience school? Do you know... Read More
Parrots are becoming more popular as pets with each passing... Read More
Pets are people, too. At least, that's the way they... Read More
Sometimes puppies are born that can't suckle properly, and it's... Read More
Maintaining your fish bowl can be difficult sometimes. However, your... Read More
If you are considering opening a dog day care, then... Read More
The best thing to do is to start training your... Read More
Hamster breeding can sometimes be confusing for a hamster owner.... Read More
Everyday someone asks me, "How do you start a pet-sitting... Read More
Many people think cats are asocial, but in fact they... Read More
Many people don't realize that their dogs, just like human... Read More
Pet |