If There’s One Thing We Want With Our Dog, It Is That They Stay Immaculately Clean
Unfortunately, they are not like cats. Their feline counterpart is known pretty well to be effective in self-grooming, while dogs may need extra help in this department.
With this in mind, it is not difficult to see why you need to give your dog a bath every once in a while. However, you may not discount the fact that they do can groom themselves to some extent. That’s why it is important to know how you can be sure that your dog is grooming his self properly.
Thankfully, this post will help you know more about your dog’s grooming abilities. Read on to know some of the things you can see in a well-groomed dog.
Check Their Coat
Thankfully, dogs can still be considered as generally clean animals. They are able to clean themselves through licking. They even groom the genital area after doing their business.
You know your dog is grooming his self well when you see his fur healthy and clean, with no obvious dirt. Upon initial inspection, you can certainly get an idea of whether he is clean or not. If your dog’s fur does not have dirt and tangled fur, then he is good to go.
Your dog’s tongue is the key to his cleanliness. With licking, he can remove loose and dead fur. They can even remove the unpleasant smell from their body, get rid of fleas and other parasites, improve circulation, and eliminate dirt.
Now, there are things that your dog can’t get rid of fast and easy. It could include a stubborn smell that your dog may get from fighting a skunk, playing with certain household chemicals, and getting into the trash bin. Sometimes, your dog may have gone through some muddy or dusty areas. In this instance, you certainly need to give him a bath.
Check The Ears
No matter how flexible your dog may be, there are certain areas in his body that he won’t be able to reach. One of these would be his ears. While they can scratch their ears with their paw, they are not enough to do a good cleaning.
You need to pay special attention to his ears. In some instances, your dog may be successful in getting rid of some dirt and parasites, but not always.
Your dog is grooming himself properly if you see his ears to be healthy and free from foul-smelling odor, dirt, debris, sores, bleeding, discharge, scaling, lesions, and inflammation.
Check The Paws
Since your dog is walking and standing, it is inevitable that his paws would get dirty. However, dogs are effective in cleaning their paws too. They can simply lick away all unnecessary dirt and debris from their paws. But that doesn’t mean you just ignore the paw. You also need to check them yourself.
There are parasites that are so good at hiding. They can go to the inner creases and folds of your dog’s paws where they can hide and silently feed on your furry friend. Check your pooch’s paws and check the in-between of their claws.
While you’re at it, check your dog’s claws as well. They should be short and intact. Dogs scratch surfaces to keep their claws clean and trim. However, if you see they are already too long, frayed or broken, it’s time for you to step in and trim the claw using the right dog nail clipper.
Final Words
There you have it; the signs your dog is doing a good job in grooming himself. If you have other questions or clarifications, you may also speak to your vet. Ask for any advice. You can also do your own research to learn more.