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Fur Maintenance
Dogs Require Regular Brushing
Your dog’s fur routine depends on its coat. Double-coated dogs require more frequent care—long coats should be brushed daily to avoid matting. Short fur is more forgiving and can be brushed at least once a week.
When brushing long-haired dogs, take care to get down to their skin to ensure you don’t neglect their undercoat. Using “rake” style brushes can really help this process.
However, these pointy rake brushes can scrape and irritate the skin of our short-haired companions. There are brushes with capped bristles and synthetic boar hair. They’re gentler on the skin but can still whisk away dirt, debris, and bugs.
Plan for Routine Bathing
Bathing schedules are dependent on your specific dog. Some dogs require additional baths if exposed to excessive particulates, such as pool chemicals, mud, sea salt, and pollens. A brisk rinse after a hike can wash away pesky ticks or fleas that might’ve hitched a ride. Generally, the best schedule is monthly.
Using pet-friendly shampoo is important in this step of grooming—proper formulations keep skin and fur soft and hydrated. Dogs with more allergies will likely need more sensitive shampoo… and conditioner!
That’s right. Dogs can have a whole fur-care routine. Shampoo to clean, conditioner to rehydrate and detangle, and post-bath leave-ins for things like good smells and sun protection.
Tip: You can find helpful shower accessories for your home. This creates a powerful spray that penetrates through the fur to the skin, ensuring you thoroughly rinse away the soap.
Trimming Your Dog’s Fur
If you watch dog grooming videos, you’ve likely heard about “sanitary trims.” This helps keep build-up from gathering in more sensitive areas, such as their genitals. We recommend getting this done with a licensed dog groomer who can take the necessary safety precautions while still doing a thorough job.
Should you attempt this trim at home, it’s better if their fur is left too long than risk catching their skin. Cuts in these areas are particularly harmful, with a high risk of infection if left without proper care.
Otherwise, the fur trimming is up to you. Double-coated and heavy shedders usually get a touch-up “trim” with a de-shedding brush weekly, especially when moving from winter to summer coats. These brushes are designed to remove loosened fur, helping your dog remain cool. Research first if a de-shedding brush is appropriate for your dog’s coat.
Paws & Nails
Trimming Fur on Your Dog’s Paw Pads
Continuing on the topic of trims—your dog’s paws could use some cleaning up!
Long fur between the toes can clump up with snow and mud. Dogs living in homes with hard flooring are likelier to lose traction with unruly paws, posing a risk of injury.
Thankfully, this trim is one of the easier to provide at home. Pull the wisps of fur out of their toes and down towards their paw pads, then use an electric razor with a guard to quickly remove the length safely. Keep the blade away from between their toes, though, as the skin there is thinner and delicate.
A professional groomer’s Youtube video can help guide you, but you can also call up your local groomer and ask for some assistance.
Cutting Your Dog’s Nails
Far too often, groomers see dogs with nails that are far, far too long. Long nails are not only uncomfortable on hard surfaces but, left unattended, can curl into your loyal companion’s paws. Even if they aren’t that long yet, certain lengths can catch or crack during athletic activities, such as running or jumping.
The quick—which is your dog’s cuticle—contains a blood vessel. Cutting too short and too close not only hurts your dog but leads to bleeding that’s fairly hard to stop without appropriate care. We recommend having a styptic powder on hand to quickly stop the flow until you can get ahold of your vet for follow-up.
However, regular cutting can push back your dog’s quick… letting you gradually reduce their nail length.
We use these for Spice:
- WAHL Professional Grinder Trimming Kit ($25.99)
- Dudi Pet Dog Nail Trimmers & File ($10.99)
Paw Pad Maintenance
Dry, cracked, and otherwise rough paw pads are not a comfortable baseline. Overly dry pads can crack and bleed, but regular moisturizing can mitigate that risk.
Paw pad balms not only provide that moisture but offer a layer of protection. Outdoor dogs, such as dogs traversing icy snow or scalding sands, benefit from the protection—especially those that may be working outdoors in those temperatures. The same could be said for city dogs and pavement; the balm helps protect them from road salt, searing asphalt, and other harmful climates.
That said, be sure to rinse off your dog’s paws after a walk or hike, then apply a fresh layer of balm.
Face & Head
Dog Dental Hygiene
Ideally, you should brush your dog’s teeth after every meal.
Many dogs won’t be a fan of such frequency, but brushing twice daily is recommended for humans, too! Be grateful you don’t have to floss them… A dental chew usually does that for you.
There are several ways to go about maintaining oral care. Dental additives for your dog’s diet (such as liquids added to water and powders to food) can supplement your dog’s routine and prevent build-up. These additives keep plaque at bay and improve oral health.
Depending on the size of your dog, you may choose from several methods of brushing. There are moistened wipes, finger brushes (think a small silicone cap with bristles that goes over your finger), and dog toothbrushes. Some dogs prefer toothbrushes and have larger mouths, making the process easier. Other dogs won’t like the scrubbing and prefer the finger brushes—especially useful for smaller mouths.
Moistened dental wipes can be wrapped around any finger or simply held as a rag for circular rubbing. All methods provide friction and, when coupled with dog toothpaste, eat away at bad bacteria. Wave goodbye to bad breath and weakened teeth.
Try different variations of mechanical brushing and flavors of toothpaste in case mint or peanut butter aren’t your dog’s favorite. All of these factors applied regularly and together should improve your dog’s overall oral health.
Here’s what we use for Spice as of 09/24/2023 (they’re all cat and dog friendly!):
- Petkin Cat & Dog Dental Wipes ($11.99 / 40 wipes) or TropiClean Fresh Breath Dental Wipes ($10.99 / 50 wipes)
- Oxyfresh Dental Care Water Additive ($17.95 / 16oz) or Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Water Additive ($10.59 / 16oz)
If you have a particularly feisty dog, you may need to schedule regular vet appointments for cleaning instead. You can never be too cautious, especially with your hands (and likely your face, too) so close to a dog’s teeth.
Eyes
White dogs have a reputation for teary eyes—but any dog can have tear stains, it’s just easier to spot on bright white pelts. Some breeds tend to produce more tears, at times excessively. This could be due to allergies or genetic predisposition.
While the stains aren’t necessarily harmful in and of themselves (the staining itself is purely cosmetic), the cause of the stains needs attending. Tears dry and capture dust, dead skin, and other gunk. Your dog could be suffering from foreign bodies or, as mentioned, allergies that need some attending!
Invest in eye-specific wet wipes from general pet stores and use them daily to clear the tears before they dry. A groomer can help in carefully removing hard, crusted areas that occur due to build-up.
✨ Dog Parent Tip: For those of you asking, “how do you wash your dog’s face?” Use a rag! Dogs don’t like water in their ears or choking on water. Dampen a rag and wipe over their face, scrubbing gently at tear stains.
Nose
Brachycephalic dogs (that’s short-snouted dogs) need additional care, especially when their skin bunches up above their nose. Wiping out the seams and folds of their face will help deter skin infections and irritation caused by grime, friction, or bacterial growth.
Nose balm can be applied to the nose to keep it moist and healthy. For dogs in harsher climates or dogs with drier noses, such a balm is a must.
Dog Grooming with a Busy Schedule
Phew. That’s a lot to keep up with, right?
Many pet owners are busy at a job, taking care of loved ones, or otherwise tending to responsibilities. That said, a dog still deserves and requires regular care to live a long, fulfilling life. Some pet stores offer grooming, housing, and veterinary services in one place so you can take care of the necessary appointments simultaneously.
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