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Paws, teeth, eyes, ears, nose — body parts that should be checked at regular intervals. The coat is just as much a factor as the overall physical condition the dog is in. Their general state should give a healthy overall impression.
Every dog is different. Martina's Galgo boys, Atlas and Tiago, are low-maintenance when it comes to grooming. Che and Murphy are a little more involved, but even that stays within reason. We'd like to share a bit about our recurring grooming "Dog To-Do's" with you.
Where Does Grooming Begin?
Paws
16 paws need care and attention, as they carry our beloved ones through daily life day in, day out. They really are a marvel of nature, aren't they? In summer they insulate against surfaces that are too hot, and in winter they "neutralise" the cold ground. Dogs navigate all kinds of terrain, and paws cope with everything, compensating for all sorts of uneven surfaces.
Pads
We check the paws every few days for cracks, splinters, thorns or anything similar — and of course immediately if we notice any limping. When the pads are really dry, we rub them with udder cream or Vaseline and then dab them dry afterwards. This reduces the risk of slipping on smooth floors and curbs our furry friends' urge to lick them.
Claws
Murphy, the little rascal, is quite the daredevil when it comes to his dew claws. In his first year of life he'd already torn them partially or completely off three times. That's probably also because they're still quite thin.
Our vet trims Murphy's claws with the claw scissors, and I file them down at home as needed to avoid such "accidents" in the future.
Teeth
Next on the grooming list are the teeth of Atlas and Tiago. Their teeth are cleaned once a day, as both of them tend to build up tartar. After dinner, we brush with water and a standard toothbrush.
Since there's always a special treat afterwards, they come running so eagerly for Martina's "tooth brushing" that more than one mum might feel envious ;) See in this video how Atlas & Tiago even queue up to keep their fresh breath.
Eyes, Nose and Ears
A year and a half ago, Che had vestibular syndrome due to a severe ear infection. Since then his left eye has been producing too little tear fluid, and we put drops in it several times a day. By now we're a well-practised team. Of course we also keep an eye on the other three boys — Atlas, Tiago & Murphy. Any changes from their normal state are noticed and acted on when necessary.
Normal state of the eye:
- slightly moist
- not too dry
- not watering
I apply Vaseline to Che's nose as needed. Especially during the dry winter months, our "soon-to-be senior" has had very dry skin since last year.
Since Che's infection we've kept an ear-cleaning solution at home. Our vet says you can clean the ears every 4–6 weeks. We regularly check our dogs' ears by eye and nose and decide from there whether to use the solution.
Where Does Grooming End?
Coat
In our case, we've got very easy-care specimens, since all of them have smooth short coats. Murphy, our golden boy, does leave quite a bit of fur behind, though, as he has the most undercoat of the bunch. That's why I got myself the Ezzy Groom and use it every 2 days to comb out Murphy's dead fur.
As you can see in this video, the comb works really well and I'm amazed at how easily the loose hairs come out.
Overall Impression
The physical condition should be appropriate for the breed or mix of the dog, and the ratio of muscle to fat should be at a sensible level. The dog's overall appearance should convey a healthy picture.
