Dos and Donts for Maintaining Your Dog’s Hygiene Between Groomings

Getting your dog groomed regularly is important, and leaving it to the experts is crucial. It’s unrealistic to take your dog in daily for a professional grooming, but it’s good to know the dos and donts for maintaining your dog’s hygiene between groomings.

DOs

• DO gently brush your dog’s coat every other day to prevent knotting and matting, and to help control shedding.
• DO wipe any outdoor detritus from your canine’s coat with a damp towel as soon as you notice it.
• DO survey your dog’s body for ticks regularly, especially in warmer months.
• DO check your dog’s paws often to ensure rocks, thorns, or other irritants aren’t embedded in them.
• DO keep your dog’s nails trimmed so they don’t get caught on anything resulting in an injury.
• DO carefully trim hair that covers your dog’s eyes if they’re a breed prone to this characteristic.
• DO wipe the inside of your dog’s ears weekly with a moist cotton ball.
• DO wrap gauze around your finger and swipe your dog’s teeth several times a week to keep food buildup at a minimum.
• DO take advantage of Rio’s weekly Self-Serve Dog Wash, every Saturday from 10:00 am–2:00 pm. You wash your pet and we clean up the mess! For only $20 you’ll be provided with everything you need to wash and dry your dog.

DONTs

• DON’T try to treat any injuries you notice yourself. Call your veterinarian for guidance.
• DON’T try to clip your dog’s fur yourself. A professional knows how long a dog’s fur should be and has special techniques for trimming around sensitive areas.
• DON’T attempt to clip your dog’s nails if you’re not comfortable and educated about doing so. Clipping them too short can cause extreme pain.
• DON’T cut matted fur out of your dog’s coat yourself. Have a professional groomer do so.
• DON’T use “human” beauty and hygiene products on your canine unless approved by your vet, or groomer.
• DON’T bathe your dog in a bathtub, or shower, if s/he panics around water. Your dog could injure you and/or her/himself.
• DON’T bathe your dog outdoors in cool, or cold, weather. His or her body temperature can drop rapidly in these conditions.
• DON’T attempt to remove foreign objects from your dog’s eyes, ears, nose, or mouth yourself. Consult your veterinarian.
• DON’T spray a smelly canine with perfumes, or fragranced products. A dog’s sense of smell is extremely sensitive and this can cause him or her distress and discomfort.

Keeping your dog’s fur, teeth, nails, skin, ears, eyes, and paws clean is good for him or her as well as for your sense of smell! Regular professional grooming is very important, but you can keep Fido in good shape at home as well.

A clean and fragrant canine is a joy to all!