Paws 'n' Claws
DOG WALKING SERVICES
Ears
No animal in the wild has floppy, furry ears. This trait in dogs has been selectively bred over centuries and requires maintenance.
Fur on the inner ear traps dirt and moisture, and floppy ears don't let air circulate, allowing bacterial build-up.
Ear infections are painful and can lead to complications, including deafness.
Some breeds have hair that constantly grows in the ear canal. This can cause problems due to the lack of air flow to the ear canal, or by preventing the natural escape of wax.
The trimming of this hair improves the air flow and helps to control moisture, which combined with the warmth is the ideal breeding ground for ear mites.
Suspect an ear infection if the dog shakes his head, scratches his ears or holds his head cocked to one side. Debris in the ear resembling coffee grains are ear mites and can be extremely irritating.
The dog's ears need to be thoroughly cleaned and medicated until the mites are destroyed. Some dogs develop bacterial or yeast infections that require additional treatment with other medications.
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Cleaning recommended every two months.
Nail Care
Paying attention to the nails is a very important part of the grooming process for the comfort of your pet. Left unchecked, nails can grow to uncomfortable, painful and dangerous length, making them easily caught, damaged and even ripped out.
Not all dogs need the same amount of regular attention to the nails. It all depends on the shape of the foot and the amount of exercise the dog gets and whether it is on soft ground or hard.
It is better to be safer and take a little off the nail on a regular basis rather than a lot in one go. This is because, as the length of the nail grows, so does the quick running through it.
Pay attention to the dew claw (the little nail just up from the pads). Dogs can have these on both front feet and occasionally on their back feet, as these don't reach the ground to be worn away, they can often grow right round and painfully back into the pad causing infection.
Nails should not be touching the ground as the dog walks. If left unattended for a long time uncut nails can deform the dog's feet.
Trimming a white nail is fairly easy, for the pink of the quick (blood supply) can be seen easily. Black nails are more challenging because the quick is not obvious.
It pays to trim nails regularly because the more the nail is trimmed, the further back the quick recedes. So, as time goes by, the risk of inadvertently cutting the quick and hurting the dog is reduced.
Trimming recommended once a month.