September's Article: Fall Cleaning for
Your Dog
It was a rough &
tumble Summer. Your dog went everywhere with you & has the
matted hair & odor to prove it. Going into autumn, with
Winter creeping up, here's some tips to get your pooch cleaned
up & make it a healthy winter.
If your dog has
any matted hair, first try to gently work it out. If it's too
far gone, the only hope is taking out the scissors & carefully
cut out the offending lumps of hair. If your dog has burdocks,
those can usually be removed by breaking them apart first and
then removing them. Pay special attention to under your dog's
ears & his underbelly. Mats near the ears can come from
dogs play rough with each other.
Once you have the
mats out, spending a little time trimming those wild hairs.
Start under the ears to help keep them clean, work on the tail
feathers & if your dogs are anything like my "Furry
Paws", spend some time with the hair between the toes.
This is especially important in Northern climates where we tend
to get more snow. Excessive hair in the paws can cause painful
'snowballs' which can lead to frostbite if not taken care of.
Now that you have
the mats out & trimmed up the hair, spend some time brushing.
Here you're working to remove the loose hair that's coming out
in preparation for their winter coat. It's usually their under
coat that's coming out & in some dogs it's coming out in
clumps. A couple of days spent brushing will help with this
shedding process.
You're now ready
for a bath. Choosing a natural shampoo for your dog is important,
especially if they have sensitive skin. When washing, spend
some time lathering your dog up & then let the shampoo on
to let it work in. When you're rinsing, take the time to make
sure you have all the shampoo out. Work on all the nooks &
cranny's to ensure there's no shampoo left. Towel dry your dog...and
then try to keep them from running outside & rolling!
An added benefit
of spending this grooming time with your dog is to also look
him over for any lumps, bumps or deformities that are hidden
by his coat. When washing, run your hands over your dog's entire
body, checking for anything abnormal. If you spot something,
take note of it & call your vet.
