All The Frugal Ladies Personal finance with a feminine touch
About a month ago I wrote a post on DIY home remedies to make for your dog when he’s suffering from dry skin, kennel cough, diarrhea, constipation, and other unfortunate conditions. We’ve gotten some good feedback on it, so this time I decided to share with you my best tips and DIY home remedies for dog grooming. These are all tips that have worked well on my dogs, and that I learned about from a number of trusted sources – my parents, books on dogs, and other high authority websites. I do however advice you to speak with your vet before trying them out, just to be on the safe side and to make sure your dog isn’t allergic to any of the ingredients.
Coat Treatment
There are three stages to coat treatment; getting out greasy stains and dirt, bathing your dog, and massaging his coat with ingredients that help make his coat shiny and soft. Cornmeal or cornstarch is an excellent everyday ingredient that helps remove any dirt or grease from your dog’s coat. Sprinkle about one tbsp cornmeal or cornstarch on those dirty and/or greasy stains when your dog’s fur is dry. Wait around 20 minutes and then brush the dirt out with a dog comb easily. Next, give your dog a good shower without using shampoo (if you’ve bathed him recently), till he’s all wet. When his coat is damp, rub honey in it and massage it thoroughly. Rinse afterwards. This will leave your dog’s fur shiny and soft.
Cleaning your dog’s ears
It’s very important to clean your dog’s ears on a regular basis. If your dog’s ears are swollen, red, or showing other signs of a possible infection, this treatment will not work and can actually do harm to your dog, so again, check with your vet first!
Before making a solution to clean your dogs ears, check to see if there is any wax that needs to be cleaned out. If so, pour a few tiny drops of regular olive oil into the visible part of your dog’s inner ears (be very careful not to pour too deep inside or straight down the ear canal), and after a few minutes, the wax will soften and crumble and you will be able to clean it out with a clean cloth. Next, apply the following solution: mix 1/3 cup of apple cider with 2/3 cup of lukewarm water, and use a cotton ball or a clean soft cloth to apply the solution to your dogs ears. Apply only to the visible inner part of your dogs ears, and then wipe it off with a damp cloth.
Treating your dog’s bad breath
My number one tip that works great for me is giving my dog fresh bones that I get from my butcher. She loves to chew on them and they really help clean out her teeth and are great for taking care of that infamous “doggy breath”. Lemon is another ingredient that works well – squeeze one fresh lemon in your dog’s water and after drinking it your dog’s breath will instantly smell better. Homemade doggy treats that are made from mint and parsley also work wonders.
Be sure to brush your dog’s coat on a daily (or almost daily) basis; this keeps your dog’s coat shiny and soft and also helps prevent shedding. Wash your dog once every three months or so, and make sure not to use too much shampoo so as not to dry out his skin. Give him a thorough inspection every day; check for bruises, scars, fleas, infections, ect. If you see something that is concerning, don’t hesitate to call the vet and ask for his advice. A good vet will advise you over the phone and let you know if you can treat the dog yourself or if you need to come to the clinic.
Above all, remember that grooming your dog is a great way to bond with him and should be a fun and relaxing pastime for both of you. It establishes your authority in your dog’s eyes and also builds his trust and faith in you, so remember to keep calm and have fun with it!
