Grooming

Brushing

• Groom for short periods, at least once a week.
• Include all parts of the body: ears, neck, chest, belly, legs and tail.
• Brush in the direction of the hair.
• While brushing, keep an eye out for things like lick/chew sores, hot spots, cuts, matted hair, or other irritation, especially in and around their ears, between toes, or on their underside.

Nail Trimming

• Keep puppy nails short enough that they aren’t touching the floor when the puppy is standing and relaxed. Long nails can be painful and stress the puppy’s feet and wrists.
• Dog nails have a “quick” or blood supply, similar to a person’s nail bed. Be careful not to cut the quick; it will hurt and the nail will bleed.
• There are many dog nail trimming tutorials available online! If you need a demo, reach out to your support team member.

Ear Cleaning
To avoid unnecessary veterinary treatment and discomfort to our puppies, clean the puppy’s ears once a week with the ear cleansing/drying solution (Epi Otic) provided in your puppy packet.

Technique

• Apply ear cleaning solution to a cotton ball or pad until it is slightly moist (not soaked and dripping) with solution.
• A dog’s ear canal is “L” shaped, which means that you will not touch your dog’s eardrum with your finger. Insert the moistened cotton ball into the ear canal and rotate it as you clean.
• Dogs will generally shake their head after you remove your finger. This will help the accumulated debris at the bottom of the canal rise to the top.
• Use a clean dry cotton ball and wipe any excess cleaning solution residue and debris from the ear canal and pinna.
• Repeat for second ear using a fresh cotton ball or cotton pad.

When is it time to seek veterinary attention?

• The puppy constantly shakes their head or scratches at the ears.
• Odor is noticeable – A change to a foul odor is generally an indication of an ear infection. A strong sour smell usually signifies a bacterial infection: an excessively sweet smell usually signifies a yeast infection.
• Ear feels waxy, or you see black/brown discharge or an inflamed / red ear.

Never self-diagnose: The ear is a very sensitive organ. What may appear to be similar symptoms to previous ear issue may not require similar treatments this time.

Eye Cleaning

• Wipe the face, dabbing at the corners of the eyes, with a water moistened cotton ball.
• Some discharge is normal, but watch for excessive discharge.
• Do not touch the eye itself.

Teeth Brushing
Dogs can accumulate plaque on their teeth. Plaque is made of proteins (from saliva) and bacteria. If the plaque is not removed every day, the bacteria will multiply rapidly and invade the gums around the teeth. Gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums, will result. Fortunately, gingivitis is reversible and periodontal disease is preventable. When plaque is removed by tooth brushing, the gums and bone around the teeth will stay healthy. If plaque is not removed, calculus or "tartar" will form when minerals from saliva cause the plaque to harden. Once calculus is present, a professional cleaning is needed to remove it. Calculus can be prevented from forming by removing plaque every day with tooth brushing. 

If you have never cleaned the puppy’s teeth, start by spending a few minutes each day gently handling the puppy’s mouth. Lift their lips and touch the outside of the puppy’s teeth and gums to get them used to this new experience. After several days of doing this, introduce the puppy to the oral cleansing gel following the instructions below. Never use human toothpaste - it can be harmful and can upset the puppy’s stomach.

Technique:

• Put a small amount of oral cleansing gel on the soft-bristled toothbrush (use the one given in the puppy’s packet) or on a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger.
• Holding the brush head at a 45-degree angle to the gum line, gently brush in circular strokes from the gum line to the tip of each tooth.
• Only clean the outside surfaces of the puppy’s teeth and gums.
• Day by day, slowly work towards the back of the mouth, until the puppy is comfortable and will allow you to lift their lips and hold their head steady for several minutes.
• Please be careful to not let the puppy bite your finger or toothbrush while brushing their teeth.
• Clean the puppy’s teeth at least once weekly (and as frequently as once daily).

Bathing

• Bathing too frequently can harm the puppy's coat and skin. Pups should be bathed when the coat becomes smelly or greasy – every two to six weeks depending on the individual puppy. A damp towel can remove dirt and debris between baths.
• Introduce bathing slowly to avoid frightening the puppy.
• Put a towel or rubber mat in the bottom of the tub to prevent slipping and negative associations with the tub.
• The temperature of the water should be warm not hot.
• Cotton balls can be used to keep water out of ears, remember to remove promptly.
• Use a pH balanced shampoo made for dogs. A wet wash cloth may be used to wash the face to avoid shampoo from getting in the puppy’s eyes.
• Rinse thoroughly to avoid skin irritation from residual shampoo.
• Water can be “squeezed” out of the puppy’s coat. While it is still in the tub, let the puppy shake off most of the water and then towel dry.
• A blow dryer may be used if introduced carefully.
  • NEVER aim a blow dryer at the puppy's face. It is very uncomfortable and may cause anxiety about blow dryers.
  • Hold the hair dryer no closer to the dog than 12-18 inches.