Grooming your dog on a regular basis helps to remove dirt from his fur and prevent matting and as such should be seen as a vital part of his weekly pet care routine. Brushing removes dirt, dead skin and dead hair and it also offers the owner an opportunity to bond with the dog and check for any visible health problems including dry skin, fleas, bumps, bruises and potentially serious lumps.
When thinking of your dog’s grooming routine, don’t simply think of brushing. Grooming includes:
- Brushing
- Bathing
- Drying
- Combing
- Trimming fur
- Cleaning teeth
- Cleaning ears
Usually, it is the type of coat that will dictate how often your dog needs to be groomed. Long haired dogs will require more of a wash/dry/brush than a short haired dog, particularly after a muddy walk. Use a quality, specialist shampoo and bear in mind that different breeds require a different formulation of shampoo. The wrong type can strip the oils from the fur, leaving it dry, dull and brittle.
Maisey, sent to us by Deb Roberts
The same rule applies for the type of brush you use. There is no “one size fits all” solution so you will need to use a brush appropriate for your dog’s fur.
Speak to the staff in your local pet store to determine which type of brush is right for your dog and ask them to guide you to suitable products which will help you to keep your dog’s nails trim and his ears clean. With nails, teeth and ears if your dog will not let you tend to them, or if you don’t feel confident enough to do these jobs it may be appropriate to book the services of a professional dog grooming company who will be more skilled and will have professional equipment on hand.
A dog can hear the rustle of a crisp packet or the snap of a biscuit from a very, very long way away – and they’ll be at your feet in seconds looking at you with those big brown eyes.
They love to eat but they are no good at all at deciding what’s best for them and absolutely useless at knowing when to stop – so that’s your job. There’s no need to restrict their diet to dull, tasteless food. But you do need to choose carefully to make sure the tasty diet you give them has all the balanced nutrition they need.
Harry the Basset, sent in by Sarah Simpkins
Like humans, dogs are omnivores, which means they can eat a variety of foods – including meat, fish, vegetables, cereals and egg. However, dogs don’t need the constant variety in their diet that we prefer. In fact, chopping and changing foods can upset a dog’s stomach – but that doesn’t mean they aren’t choosy.
Dogs have over 200 million scent receptors in their noses (we only have 5 million) so it is important that their food smells and tastes good.
If you wish to change to a new dog food, mix it with the old food first, gradually increasing the quantity of the new food over seven days.
Dogs have a short digestive system, so food must be easily and quickly digestible in order for them to absorb essential nutrients – if they produce a large amount of poo, which could mean a poor diet.
A balanced diet
Dogs need a diet with the correct nutritional balance. It must have the right quantities of:
- Water – essential for life
- Protein – to build and maintain muscle condition
- Carbohydrates – to provide energy. They also contain fibre which helps the passage of food.
- Fats – to provide energy in a concentrated form. Omega 3 and Omega 6 are essential fatty acids which are beneficial for heart, brain, joints, skin and coat condition.
- Vitamins and Minerals – required to help develop and maintain a healthy immune system as well as ensure good development of bones and teeth.