Eagle K9 Grooming Tips

While no home remedy can replace the look & feel your pet gets from a thorough professional grooming, there are things you can do at home to maintain healthy skin and a shiny coat in between your regular grooming appointments.

For long and curly coated breeds, weekly brushing will keep matts to a minimum. Areas of special attention should include: behind the ears, the “arm-pit” areas of the front legs, the inside of the rear legs, and the “rear” or tail feathers. These are the most common places for matts to gather. Try to avoid “putting off” a professional grooming appointment when your dog becomes matted. De-matting can be very stressful for your dog and undoubtedly affect the grooming charge. There have been cases where a dog is so severely matted that not even fleas can penetrate to the skin, in which case the dog may require a complete coat removal to eliminate the matts.

 
 


Before Grooming
After Grooming
 
 Grooming Tips:

  • If your long coated dog gets wet, brush out several times as they dry naturally especially in the places mentioned above to avoid matts.
     

  • Do you have a problem with tear stains? While there are several reasons this problem can occur, and a trip to the vet is always the first step in determining the cause, you can try a mixture of corn starch & water. After removing any excess matter with a soft damp cloth, mix a little corn starch & water in a shot glass and make a paste. Spread on the stained area, being careful not to get in dog’s eye’s and let dry. Wipe off with a damp cloth. This does not solve the problem, but may remove the stain for a short period.

  • Does your dog look like he has dandruff? It’s probably dry skin. Try a tablespoon of olive oil in their food and work on dry skin from the inside out. It might be an “old-wives” tale, but we swear by it!
     

  • Does your dog have fleas? Along with a trip to your vet for the latest in flea control products, and a trip to your groomer for a flea bath, you can try a dash of garlic powder in their food. It doesn’t do much for their breath, but fleas don’t particularly care to nest on skin that smells like garlic.
     

  • Do you have a “drop-eared” dog? (Lab’s, Hound’s, etc) Check their ears frequently for excess wax. This may be normal or excessive wax can be a sign of ear mites or yeast infection. Do not squirt water or any other liquid in your dogs ears. This is something you should bring to your veterinarian’s attention for a clear diagnosis.
     

  • Another area to pay attention to on your dog are their paws and pads. If the hair in between the pads grows very long, it can matt, gather debris, and during the winter months, ice balls can form, making walking painful. It can be compared to walking around with a pebble in your shoe. Not very comfortable. Also, during the winter months, caustic ice melting compounds can cause burns and break open their skin.
     

  • Check your dogs nails at least once a month.  They should not be so long that they curl at the end.  Most pet stores carry a variety of nail clippers.  Be very careful when attempting to clip your dogs nails not to cut the quick. They will bleed excessively and you will need a styptic powder to stop the bleeding.  If you are uncomfortable with clipping your dogs nails, a trip to your veterinarian or groomer is the best choice.  Get your dog used to having his paws handled at a young age by massaging them.  They will most likely love it and in the process, you'll have taught them to "give you their paw!"

 

 
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