A dog’s hygiene doesn’t stop at the groomer's door. As a pet owner, you must continue cleaning the dog and maintaining its comfort even between appointments. Fortunately, this isn’t a long and tiring process. At-home care only requires a few simple tasks to keep your dog healthy, happy, and fresh until their next grooming session.
So, while waiting for the next appointment, start cleaning your dog with these easy and effective tips.
Ways to Clean the Dog Between Appointments
Owners typically take their dogs to professional groomers at least 5 times a year. However, they must also take the necessary steps to clean the dog in between sessions. Some of these include:
Brush Your Dog Regularly
Your dog could certainly use a good brush to freshen its coat and prevent excessive shedding. However, the key is to brush your dog regularly enough to detangle knots, remove loose hair, and prevent matting.
For longer or curly coats, it’s recommended to brush your dog daily. On the other hand, short-haired dogs only require a weekly brushing.
Maintain a Nutritious Diet
What you feed your dog also affects its coat's health. For instance, foods with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids can help hydrate your dog's coat and promote shiny, silky hair. These fatty acids are found in various dog-friendly foods, including salmon, mackerel, flaxseed, and fish oil.
Similarly, protein is considered the building block of dog hair and skin. So, your dog can greatly benefit from protein-rich foods like meat and eggs.
Carry Out Light-grooming Sessions
While bathing your dog between appointments isn’t necessary, it still helps keep them clean. You can carry out some easy and light grooming efforts, which will help keep your dog comfortable and looking refreshed. A few things you can do to clean the dog include:
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Cleaning out dirt and muck from their paws, especially after walks
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Using a waterless shampoo to keep their coat clean
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Cleaning out their ears with a cotton ball or dog ear cleaner
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Scrubbing their eyes with a soft, wet cloth or sponge
Use Washable Dog Beds or Covers
Maintaining your dog between appointments extends to their sleeping arrangements as well. Since dogs frequently use their beds, they’ll likely collect dirt or dandruff, eventually giving off unwanted odors.
So, when choosing a dog bed, look for one you can easily wash. If you already have a dog bed that isn’t washable, place a towel or blanket on it that can be cleaned regularly.
Take Their Collar Off at Home
While your dog is at home, try to keep his collar off as much as possible. They tend to irritate the dog's skin or mat the fur underneath it when kept on for too long.
Keeping the collar off shouldn’t be an issue as long as your house is secure and your dogs can’t wander off outside alone. At the very least, take it off while they’re asleep.
Conclusion
It doesn’t take much to clean the dog besides washing their bed, small grooming sessions, maintaining a nutritious diet, etc. However, this shouldn’t be an alternative to professional grooming sessions, which are much more thorough.
If you’re interested in professionally grooming your dog, contact us at Scoopy Doo’s. Our groomers provide a cage-free and stress-free experience that your dog is sure to enjoy.