Grooming
POODLE HAIR/GROOMING:
Dogs with poodle hair need to be brushed out right down to skin on a regular basis or clipped really short.
A Master Groomer will teach your pup to behave on table. Pups need to learn this while young as they will have a whole lifetime of grooming ahead of them.
Puppy fluff hair lasts till around 10 to 14 months old and as their adult type courser hair is growing in it has a stronger twists and curls and gets all matted into puppy fluff. This is a very awkward ‘bad hair' time for owners and groomers. It requires extra time and work to keep brushed out or just have it all cut off.
Poodles need to be kept clean and most love their bath.
Always brush their hair through before bathing as wetting the un-brushed hair only causes more tangles. Using tepid water (barely even warm) and very little diluted dog shampoo (oatmeal base) is how they have their bath.
Rinsing is the most important part of the bath...rinse, rinse and then rinse again.
Do not use conditioners as this just clogs skin pores and dog just gets dirtier faster as oil on hair makes dirt stick more.
You will need:
- a mat splitter
- a slicker brush (soft)
- a strong medium toothed metal comb for basic at home grooming...for in-between trips to groomers.
Make sure you go to a master groomer with a lot of poodle experience. If you go to a groomer that is not as experienced bad habits can form and your dog can start to hate grooming. If your dog does not want to go into the door of the salon that it has been to before then it means it is time to find a better groomer.
Do not leave bad hair mats on your dog....they can pull on skin, cut off blood supply to skin and cause serious hematomas (big blood blisters or skin that is rotting under the mat) that can cause need for surgery.
Places that can cause serious trouble are around the neck, under the collar, behind and under ear flaps, inner leg pits, groin, inner thighs and around back leg hocks.
Keep hair clipped short in front of ear opening for air circulation, keep hair out of the dogs eyes as can cause serious infections.
Keeping hair short around genitals and anus can avoid urinary tract infections and messy clean up jobs.
Keeping hair on feet and between the pads clipped shaved short is important as this is how you will discover any problems with feet (sliver, thorn etc.) plus it keeps your house much cleaner.
Keeping hair on face short will avoid smelly faces from food bacteria growing on face and keep eyes clear for better vision and no infections.
LUMPS and BUMPS:
Adult dogs often get small cysts under skin. They should be observed and if growing or changing shape you may want to get your Vet to do a needle biopsy. Do not have surgically removed unless test reveal they are cancerous or if they in some way impede dogs ability to move freely. You are trying to avoid anesthetic. Just keep an eye on them; they will likely be nothing to worry about.
TEETH CLEANING:
Raw bones are safe bones and the best way to clean a dog’s teeth. Do not use cooked or baked bones as they can splinter. Be home to supervise when your dog has a bone. To keep teeth clean they must have on a regular basis.
SPLIT antler horns are also good [but only the ones that are split in half lengthwise....not the fully round ones as they are so hard that they can wear down a dogs teeth. The split antler lets the dog get at the marrow and minerals on the inside of the antler and the two long edges are what clean the teeth without harming the teeth.
Also great are 2" pieces of beef shank marrow bones (specialty cut at a butchers)....dogs love them and when all cleaned off (polished by dog) they can be filled with peanut butter and re-used many times.
Bones are an inside crate or outdoors treat as they are messy. Bones will keep dog’s teeth clean and gums healthy.
Try to avoid any cleaning if it is done under anesthetic as anesthetic is very bad for dogs. Should never be an annual occurrence.
General Ear Cleaner:
- 1/3 cup Witch Hazel
- 3 Tbsp Hydrogen Peroxide
- 1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
Place cotton pads or balls into a container. Pour solution into the container over cotton pads or balls. Soak them. Store in a cool dry place. Use as many cotton pads as needed to clean the dogs ears.
This ear cleaner recipe is taken from Dr. Becker's (vet) Facebook page.
She has more recipes to add to this to help with ear infection, yeast, ear mites, or irritated ears.
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