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Home > Knowledge & Fun > Grooming Information > Special Grooming Problems

Special Grooming Problems

Other Considerations

In addition to regular grooming, a dog owner should be aware that a dog’s environment or a management problem may be affecting the quality of a dog’s haircoat.

A dry, brittle haircoat and hair loss may result from low humidity. Indoor housing where humidity is always low is a good example. Too frequent bathing also dries out the skin and haircoat.

Dietary imbalance such as excessive feeding of table scraps or extended feeding of imbalanced pet foods (those recommended for intermittent feeding only) can result in poor haircoat. Feeding a nutritionally complete and balanced dog food helps ensure a healthy haircoat that is enhanced by regular grooming.

Special Grooming Problems

Summertime Cautions:

A dog’s haircoat serves as an insulator against the heat. For this reason, a longhaired dog should never be shaved or clipped during the summer.

After a day at the beach with your dog, rinse him with clean warm water. Salt water can irritate his skin.

When dogs are in fields or wooded areas, burrs may adhere to the dog’s haircoat and, if not removed, cause skin irritation. Burrs are easier to remove if they are first saturated with vaseline, mineral oil or olive oil and then carefully worked out by hand, using the thumb and forefinger.

Foreign Substances:

To remove chewing gum, rub an ice cube over the gum until the gum becomes brittle and easy to pull out. Or rub peanut butter into the area where the gum is imbedded and let it remain a few minutes. Then comb or work the gum out of the haircoat with your fingers.

To remove tar from the feet, rub butter, margarine or vegetable shortening into the affected areas and let it remain until the tar softens and can be pulled out. Or soften the tarred areas by soaking them in warm water, then in mineral oil. Repeat until the tar loosens and pulls out easily. Then wash and rinse the feet thoroughly.

To remove water-base paint, wash the dog repeatedly with warm water and a shampoo recommended for dogs as soon as possible. If the dog has brushed against oil-based paint, treat the paint-soaked hair as promptly as possible. Fresh paint should be wiped off with dry cloths and then washed with warm water and a shampoo for dogs. Dried paint should be cut off with blunt scissors and the remaining hair washed and rinsed several times.

Caution: Do not use paint removers, kerosene, turpen-tine or gasoline because they may severely irritate the skin.

The Importance of Early Training: Dogs who have been accustomed to grooming are more likely to cooperate when time-consuming procedures are needed to remove foreign substances. Praise your dog for his cooperation and reward him with a treat.