A clean dog is a fit dog! As it is rightly said, keeping your furry companion well-groomed plays a significant role in contributing to their overall health. Yes, grooming is not just limited to outer appearance, but it also contributes to your pet’s overall well-being; and while pet parents think of grooming as a tedious task that only involves bathing and brushing, it is actually much more than that. And a key question that traps many is, How to groom a dog at home? Fret not, we’ve got you covered!

Continue reading to explore 7 essential dog grooming tips to keep your furballs healthy and hygienic. But before moving forward, let’s first understand the importance of dog grooming.

Importance of grooming in dogs

A well-groomed dog not only looks elegant and charming from the outside but is healthy from the inside. Yes, grooming is an inevitable part of ensuring your dog’s vitality and longevity as it helps prevent various diseases, parasitic infections and keeps their skin, coat, ears, nails, etc., healthy. However, some dogs require frequent grooming compared to others, depending on their breed, size and coat type. Hence, make a grooming regime that fits seamlessly into your canine’s lifestyle and preferences to keep them in the pink.

There are various dog grooming tools available in the market that help keep your dog properly groomed. Pick the ones considering your dog’s needs and ensure their sound health along with attractive looks.

7 simple ways to keep a dog well-groomed

Let’s have a quick rundown on some simple yet effective ways to groom your dog at home:

Proper bathing:

Dog bathing and grooming are synonymous. Yes, dogs need regular bathing to keep their skin clean and coats shiny. However, bathing them too often can strip their skin’s natural oils and dry out their skin.

Hence, make sure you bathe them once or twice a month to prevent unpleasant odors and maintain hygiene. Always use a pet-friendly shampoo and conditioner, as human shampoos can disturb their body’s pH balance.

Regular brushing:

Every dog, irrespective of their breed, requires regular brushing to prevent matting, remove dirt, eliminate loose hair and ensure coat health. However, brushing depends on your dog’s coat type, length and texture.

For instance, long-haired breeds such as Golden Retrievers and Collies need more frequent brushing (once or twice a week) compared to short-haired breeds such as Greyhounds or Labradors (once every two weeks). You can consider using Dog Skin & Coat Supplements to maintain healthy skin and a lustrous coat.

Nail trimming:

Nail trimming is one of the most disliked yet essential grooming tasks for a dog. Overgrowth can cause pain, discomfort, broken nails and movement difficulty; hence, keeping their nails trimmed contributes to comfort, hygiene and overall well-being.

Use a dog nail clipper, make them comfortable, hold their paw firmly and gently cut each nail till the tip. Make sure you do not cut too close to the quick, as it may lead to bleeding and don’t forget to offer treats and praises to keep them motivated.

Oral hygiene:

Maintaining sound oral health goes a long way in ensuring your canine’s overall health and well-being.  Ignoring dental health can lead to various issues including tooth loss, bad breath, plaque and tartar buildup, bleeding gums, etc.

Therefore, focus on brushing your dog’s teeth at least 2-3 times a week with a pet-safe toothbrush and toothpaste to keep their teeth and gums healthy. Reward them with their favorite treat to make them accustomed to brushing easily.

Eye health:

Just like us, our dogs’ eyes also need proper care to prevent infections and potential eye diseases. A good amount of “goop” can accumulate in a dog’s eyes due to excess tearing or discharge. It may get crusty; hence degunking is essential.

Take a soft, damp cloth or a cotton ball and gently wipe the corner of your dog’s eyes to remove goop. If the goop is crusty, soak it for a minute with a wet cloth so that it gets soft and easy to remove.

Ear care:

Keeping your furball’s ears clean and healthy is one of the most important parts of a dog grooming routine to keep ear infections at bay. Regular ear cleaning helps prevent dirt and wax buildup and keeps the ears dry.

Insert a dampened cotton ball or a dog ear cleaning solution and gently clean the outside area while wiping away any dirt or wax from the inside. Make sure you do not penetrate deep inside the ear canal, as this may harm the ear. If your dog goes for frequent swimming, regular cleaning and drying their ears post swimming is advisable.

Skin health:

Skin diseases are quite common in dogs, making them scratch, lick and itch incessantly. These issues can be caused by multiple reasons, including allergens, parasites, bacterial infections, etc. Hence, focusing on proper skin care is paramount to keeping your canine protected from skin allergies and diseases.

Check for fleas and ticks regularly on your pet’s skin and use year-round parasite preventives to keep these pests at bay. Keep their skin dry, clean and healthy with dog skin care productsand keep an eye on the potential allergens and speak to the vet in case you notice any unusual symptoms such as redness, bumps, lumps, etc.

Final Words

Keeping your little bundle of joy well-groomed not only keeps them smelling fresh but also strengthens your bond with them while maintaining their beautiful looks. Although grooming is a challenging task, with a little effort and the right approach, it can become a cakewalk for you. So, provide your dog complete care from head to toe with timely and consistent grooming. Don’t hesitate to seek professional help if you find it difficult at home or if your dog requires specific care. Always speak to your veterinarian for tailored recommendations.

Happy Pet Parenting!