Dog Grooming & Hygiene: A Practical Care Guide

1. What Grooming & Hygiene Is and What It Covers

Dog^★ grooming and hygiene covers routine care of the coat, skin, ears, teeth and nails.

It also provides an opportunity to notice changes such as lumps, skin irritation, parasites, painful areas, unusual smells or changes in the coat.

Different dogs have different grooming requirements. Coat length, texture, breed characteristics, activity and individual health all affect the amount of care needed.

2. Key Facts and Specifications

Long or dense coats can require frequent brushing to prevent tangles and mats.

Short-coated dogs generally require less coat maintenance^★ but still benefit from regular checks and grooming.

Important grooming equipment can include:

• A suitable brush or comb.
• Dog-specific shampoo where bathing is needed.
• Dog nail clippers.
• Dog toothbrush and dog-safe toothpaste.
• Towels and suitable drying equipment.
• Grooming restraints only where appropriate and safely used.

Dogs' teeth also require routine attention. PDSA advises daily brushing where possible, using dog-specific toothpaste.

3. Practical Guidance

Introduce grooming gradually, particularly with puppies.

Use rewards and calm handling to make grooming a positive experience.

Brush according to the coat type rather than following a single schedule for every dog.

Dogs do not normally need frequent bathing unless there is a particular reason. If bathing is necessary, use a dog-specific shampoo rather than human shampoo.

Check ears regularly. If an ear is smelly, sore, swollen, itchy or producing discharge, veterinary advice is preferable to attempting to treat the problem yourself.

Check nails regularly. If they become too long, they may need trimming.

4. Suitability, Choices and Limitations

Some grooming can be safely performed at home once the owner knows what is required.

Long-coated, curly-coated or difficult-to-maintain dogs may benefit from professional grooming.

Nervous dogs may need a slower introduction and, in some cases, help from a professional groomer or veterinary team.

Do not attempt complicated clipping, severe mat removal or treatment of suspected skin or ear disease without appropriate professional advice.

5. UK-Specific Considerations

There is no single national grooming qualification that automatically guarantees a groomer's suitability for every dog, so owners should consider experience, reputation, facilities, handling methods and relevant professional membership.

PDSA recommends using a reputable groomer and notes that membership of an industry body such as the Pet Industry Federation can be a useful indication.

6. Safety, Risks and Cautions

Never use human toothpaste on a dog. Some human products can contain ingredients that are unsafe for dogs.

Use dog-specific nail clippers and avoid cutting into the quick, which contains blood vessels and nerves.

PDSA advises stopping if a dog becomes stressed during nail clipping.

The RSPCA has raised concerns about drying boxes because dogs may be unable to move away from the heat source if they become too hot.

Do not try to cut out severe mats yourself if this could injure the skin.

Changes to skin, coat, ears, mouth or nails may indicate a medical problem and should be discussed with a vet when appropriate.

7. Current Sources and Research

PDSA grooming guidance covers brushing, bathing, nail care, dental hygiene and choosing grooming equipment. PDSA veterinary guidance covers nail clipping and dental checks. RSPCA guidance covers choosing a dog groomer and grooming-equipment safety.