Taking care of your dog’s health involves regular maintenance of his coat. Thus, in order to avoid certain health problems, more or less frequent grooming is required. Do not hesitate to ask your veterinarian for advice, who will be able to guide you.

A dog’s coat is a good indicator of his health. Indeed, a healthy dog ​​will have a beautiful shiny and uniform coat. Several parameters are taken into account in the quality of the hair such as a diet adapted to the dog and balanced, a good state of health or even good hygiene. As soon as the coat is dull, dry, brittle, oily or any other abnormality, it is advisable to consult your veterinarian to verify that your dog does not have a potential health problem.

Just like our hair, dog hair falls out regularly to renew itself. But taking care of your dog’s coat isn’t just about removing dead hair, dust and stimulating blood circulation. Regular maintenance adapted to your dog is necessary to prevent the appearance of certain disorders which can sometimes be serious.

Remove dirt

Some dogs love to roll in mud, sometimes even in other substances, or even rub against a carcass (mouse, bird, etc.). This is believed to be an ancestral behavior the dog retained from the wolf who rolled over carcasses to mask its own scent from other animals, among other theories. In any case, a dog can roll around in many substances which then need to be washed not only to maintain good hygiene but also because certain substances (such as gasoline) can be harmful to his skin and to him. – even, especially if he licks himself and ingests these substances. In addition, it is necessary to wash a dog after a time spent at the beach in order to remove the salt and the sand which can be irritating to its skin.

Avoid the formation of knots

Depending on the type of hair of the dog, especially in dogs with long, curly or even curly hair, regular or even daily brushing in certain breeds is necessary to avoid the formation of knots. Indeed, with knots present in the coat, skin problems can occur such as irritation, the presence of parasites, infections or even injuries.

Avoid spikelets

Spikelets are small, dry ears that can be found in spring and in particular during summer. With their perforating end, they manage to lodge anywhere on the body (in particular the spaces between the fingers, the ears, or the nose) by clinging to the hairs. They can then pass through the skin and migrate into the body. In addition to being painful, they can cause serious damage. Thus, summer grooming is recommended for predisposed dogs, especially with long and curly hair, to prevent them from capturing these herbs. In addition, a careful check after each walk is recommended, especially at the level of the ears and legs, in order to detect the possible presence of a spikelet.

Avoid heat stroke

Summer grooming may also be considered in some dogs depending on the type of coat as an act of preventing heatstroke, which is an emergency in dogs.

For treatment

Certain dermatological treatments require you to wash your dog with specific shampoos.

For a competition / exhibition

Washing and grooming a dog may be necessary in particular when participating in a competition or a dog show.

Depending on the nature of the dog’s hair, more or less frequent maintenance is necessary. Thus, some breeds require daily brushing while for others grooming will be much less frequent. It is necessary to educate yourself on the frequency of grooming your dog according to his breed and coat.

The frequency of brushing can also be accentuated, especially during the moulting period when the hairs fall in greater quantities. The moult takes place twice a year, in autumn and in spring, which are therefore periods when the grooming must be more important. In addition, it is recommended to get your dog used to being used to and brushed with accessories from an early age so that it is easier for you and for him afterwards.

To groom your dog, it is necessary to use only products and accessories specially designed for dogs. Indeed, shampoos for human use are not good for them. Not only do they not respect the pH of the dog’s skin, they could also be irritating. The choice of dog shampoo should also be based on the type of skin. For the maintenance of the coat, the accessories must be chosen according to the type of hair of the dog.

In addition, you should be particularly careful if you have a dog with white hair, which has areas of white hair or areas where the skin is exposed (short hair, hairless dog breeds or weak presence of hair). Indeed, when the skin is exposed to the sun, it can be attacked by the rays, just like with us. Health problems can then arise. Therefore, it is advisable to take precautions in summer and limit the exposure of these dogs to the sun. In addition, sunscreens for dogs are now commercially available. It is also very important here not to use your own sunscreen for your dog, as this could cause skin problems. Do not hesitate to seek advice from your veterinarian.

However, if grooming your dog is too complicated or dangerous, do not hesitate to call your veterinarian or a groomer.

Anyway, for any question relating to the grooming of your dog or the use of a product, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian who will be able to guide you.