How to Clean a Dog : Dog Hygiene

Part of good dog grooming is knowing how to clean all of a dog's body parts. Although it is true that a dogs coat needs to be well taken care of, what good will this do if we do not attend and take care of everything else as far as our dog's hygiene is concerned? Here are some tips on what a good owner should always check to ensure the well being of his or her dog.

Clean Dog Ears: The characteristics of dog's ears vary depending on the breed. The dog's ears must be periodically checked to make sure there are not irritations, which is a sign of infection or inflammation.

Clean Dog Eyes: A dog's eyes must be cleaned periodically and checked for any signs of conjunctivitis or redness. Sometimes foreign objects get stuck in a dog's eyes and it is extremely uncomfortable.

Clean Dog Teeth: Make sure to brush your dog's teeth by using a dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste. (Never use human toothpaste.)

Cutting & Cleaning Dog Nails: Many dog owners are afraid of cutting their dog's nails themselves because of fear of cutting their dog. If you have not learned how to do this, you must take your dog to the veterinarian to get them trimmed. Nails that are not trimmed can be very painful for a dog.

Clean Dog Anal glands: These are situated in the anus and they sometimes secrete a dark, pasty substance. Smaller dogs have a tendency to have problems with their anal glands as they become obstructed and must be expressed otherwise they can get swollen and cause problems.

Dogs with curly hair: Dogs with this type of hair have little or no undercoats and the outer coats consist of curls that constantly grow. This type of hair needs to get shaves or cut with scissors. Dogs with this type of hair are poodles, Bichon Frise's, Irish water spaniels, and curly coated retrievers.
These types of coat consist of fine hair the wrap around the straight smooth hair and together it forms into a tight tangled rope.