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August 12th
Baths are one of the best ways of keeping your dog clean and odor free. But they’re not always convenient, and too much bathing can have a negative impact on your dog’s coat.
Dogs should not be given baths after they have surgery or when they are pregnant. Many dogs also hate the bathing process, and will do everything they can do avoid it. If you have a large dog, it can be dangerous if your dog tries to run away during a bath.
Fortunately, there are some easy ways to keep your dog clean without giving them a bath. Here are some of the best methods for cleaning your dog’s coat without soaking their fur.
Pet wipes are one of the best ways to keep your dog’s coat clean without any odor. They’re easy to find, affordable, and only take a few minutes to use. They’ll also keep your dog from licking their fur.
When using pet wipes, make sure to clean off your dog’s belly and rear end. The wipes can sting if they get near your dog’s eyes, so take caution when cleaning their face.
If you don’t have any pet wipes around, you can use baby wipes instead. They’re safe and effective, although they may not work quite as well for getting odor out of fur.
Spray cleaning is one of the best ways of giving your dog’s coat a deep clean without having to get it soaking wet. All you’ll need is a spray bottle and vinegar, or a dry shampoo from a store.
Use the spray on the dirtiest parts of your dog’s coat, rubbing it in with a damp towel. You shouldn’t have to rinse out the shampoo, so you can just let it air dry.
Although dry shampoo is usually safe for a dog’s coat, try not to use it too frequently. It can cause your dog’s fur to dry out, and it may start to irritate your dog’s skin.
Although unusual, this method is an effective way of getting heavy stains out of your dog’s coat. All you have to do is cook oatmeal on the stove until it begins to thicken. Once it’s cool, apply it to the dirtiest part of your dog’s coat.
Let the oatmeal dry, and keep your dog’s tongue away from it. Once the oatmeal is fully dried out, use a brush to get it out of their fur.
Although often effective, this method is not a good choice for dog’s who have long, curly fur, as the oatmeal can cause tangles.
This is one of the most effective ways of keeping your dog’s coat clean and odor free. Regular brushing can prevent dirt from building up, as well as get rid of any tangles or mattes. It can also help you find any ticks that may be stuck to their body.
Invest in a high quality brush designed for your dog’s coat type. Try to brush a few times per week, slowly working your way through your dog’s coat.
You can also get a matte splitters and heavy combs that will help you bust serious tangles in your dog’s fur. This can prevent objects from getting caught in your dog’s fur and irritating their skin.
When you brush your dog’s fur, also keep an eye out for any pests, such as fleas or ticks. These can be quite a nuisance for your dog, leading to scratching and chewing.
To keep your dog clean, you’ll need to make sure their environment isn’t dirty. There’s no reason to clean your dog off, only to have them roll around in a blanket caked with mud.
Regularly clean your dog’s bedding to prevent dust, dirt, and allergens from building up. You should also make sure that they’re crate is clean.
Check to see if the detergent you use to clean your dog’s bedding is safe for humans and dogs, as some might irritate their skin.
Ear infections are a serious health problem for many dog breeds, especially those with big, floppy ears. Regular ear cleaning should be a staple of your dog’s grooming routine.
You can find a number of ear cleaning products that are designed to get wax and dirt out of your dog’s ears. Follow the instructions for the best results, and always take caution when putting any objects into their ear canal.
You can also use baby wipes to clean the outside surface of the ear. However, you should not try to use the wipes to reach into their ear canal, as this could cause further irritation.
If you notice that your dog is scratching their ears often or is having trouble hearing, they may have a serious ear infection. Take them to the vet, as they might need medical care to prevent permanent hearing damage.
Not all breeds should have their fur shaved, especially those with natural shedding cycles. However, if you regularly cut your dog’s fur, shaving it even shorter is a great way of preventing their coat from getting dirty.
Long fur is better able to hold onto dirt and odor causing molecules. By cutting it short, you can remove any serious odor and make it easier to keep their coat clean.
If your dog spends a lot of time outside during the summer, cutting their fur is a great way of preventing mud and dirt from building up, and can also help keep them cool.
Don’t forget about your dog’s oral health. Just like humans, dogs need to look after their teeth. If you don’t regularly brush out your dog’s mouth, plaque can build up, leading to gum disease and tooth decay.
You can find a range of toothpastes that are designed for dogs. You won’t need to brush every night, but try to clean their teeth every few weeks to prevent plaque build up.
There are also a number of treats that freshen up your dog’s mouth and help clean these teeth. Although not a substitute for regular brushing, these treats are a great way of keeping your dog’s mouth clean.
If you notice a bad smell coming from your dog’s mouth that doesn’t go away after brushing, that could be a sign that they have rotting teeth. This is common in older dogs, and it can make eating quite painful.
Speak to your vet, as they will likely need to have the teeth removed so that your so can eat pain free.
If your dog has some serious dirt buildup on their coat, you can still get their fur clean without resorting to a bath. Spot cleaning is a great way of getting mud or odors out of your dog’s coat quickly without having to drench it completely.
Get two buckets, filling one with warm, soapy water and the other with just warm water. You should also have a few clean towels on hand.
Choose a gentle soap that has been designed to be used on dog fur. If you don’t have any around, you can use a mild soap designed for humans. Just make sure that it doesn’t have a strong scent, as this can irritate your dog.
Take a cloth, dip it in the soapy water, and apply it to the dirty spots on your dog’s coat. Rub in the soap until the stain starts to come out, and then take another towel with clean water to rinse out the soap.
Make sure that you let your dog’s coat dry off before you let them run around outside. Dog’s will often try to dry off their fur by rolling around in the grass, which can undo all of your hard work.
If your dog’s coat has some serious dirt and odor, you might want to consider hiring a pro. Although professional groomers can be quite the expense, they can make cleaning your dog’s coat much less of a hassle.
There are a number of grooming services that come directly to you, so you don’t have to worry about getting your dog loaded into the car.
Groomers usually have access to tools that you don’t, which can make the experience much less stressful for your dog, as well give you better results.
You can also get more advice from your groomer on how to keep your dog’s coat clean between appointments, so that you don’t have to have them come as often.
Before you can start grooming your dog, you need to find one. If you’re still searching for the perfect dog, then head over to our puppy finder.
At Uptown Puppies, we connect you with some of the best breeders and companies around. We only work with people who follow strict ethical and breeding standards when raising their dogs. That means no puppy mills or backyard breeders.
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