CARE:
I will focus on Pomeranians, they have a soft and silky coat without overwhelming grooming needs. For your convenience I will display some products to give you an idea what to look for. I do not endorse any of the products.
General grooming:
Brushing:
Daily brushing with a slickerbrush is recommended. Daily might sound like a lot of work and very time consuming. When you sit down you simply use a slickerbrush on your dog to prevent mats and tangles. Brushing only takes a few minutes. I prefer slickerbrushes. Some people like combs.
Nail Clipping:
Once a week you should check the nails – don’t forget the dewclaws – and make sure they are short and not too sharp. Too long nails can ingrow and cause a lot of pain and discomfort. Long nails can get stuck in your carpet or damage your clothing. Dogs have a habit of scratching themselves and long nails can cause injuries to skin and eyes. Clipping nails can be a little scary as you have to make sure you don’t clip nails too short. You can always walk into Petsmart and let their groomers clip the nails.They only charge you a few dollars. The older your dog is the slower the nails grow. I prefer nail clippers made for small pets. The guillotine style clippers are too big for my tiny puppies. It is a personl preference what you use. I never had any luck with the rotating nailgrinder – as seen on TV. If you clip you pet’s nails make sure you have some styptic powder on hand in case you cut the nail too short. It will stop bleeding in a second. I always have some in my medical cabinet for small scrapes, cuts and wounds.
Ear Cleaning:
Once a week ( if you see your dog shaking his head unusual often or scratch is ears often) check his ears. Erect ear breeds ( Pomeranians) are not very prone to ear infection. Some breeds like Cocker Spaniels, Shih Tzus, Poodles are prone to build up, ear infections and yeast. Make sure the ears are clean, pink and have no foul odor. If you see irritation, or a lot of debris or a very foul smell please consult your veterinarian. I do not give medical advise.
I clean my dogs’ ears every other week. I use some special ear cleaner and I add 1ml. of Ivermec to the bottle, and it will get rid of ear mites quick. I fill the ear canal with the liquid earcleaner rub it in and rub it dry with cotton balls. Don’t use Q-Tips. They only push dirt deeper into ear and can cause damage. Do not poke what you cannot see. Do not let water get into your dog’s ears. They can get an ear infection. If your dog has hair in his ears it is a good idea to plug it. If you don’t do it yourself your groomer will do it. Luckily Pomeranians don’t have any annoying hair in their ears.
Teeth Cleaning:
This is a topic where there are many mixed emotions. To brush or not to brush that’s the question here. I brush my own teeth 2 times a day, floss and once a year I have a dental exam with professional cleaning.
Now back to your dog. You put a little plastic thingy on your finger with some swallowable liverflavored toothpaste. You go up and down once. Also, you should have you dogs teetch checked at least once a year. Under anesthesia your vet will remove all tartar and plaque. Dental hygiene is important!!! Teeth will start to rot in tiny toy dogs early. With good dental hygiene you can add years to your dog’s life. Also, I use a lot of chew toys – preferably nylabones and dentabones. Please be aware that the highy recommended Greenies have a warning on their manufacturer’s page that they are not recommended for any dog under 6 months of age or under 5 pounds. Most people are not aware of this.
Bathing
I put bathing last as you do it least often. You should bathe your dog not more than every other week. If he gets into something or gets close to a skunk you have to wash him immediately. I use very gentle moisturizing shampoos. Just like they have thousands of human shampoos they have as many dog shampoos. Shampoos are a personal preference. Read the labels for warning signs – many medicated shampoos have warnings on them not to use they on puppies under age 12 weeks or on small dogs.
I like conditioners to make the coat easy to manage and comb. Doggie perfume is great for inbetween bath. If you or somebody in your family is allergic dog dog dander they have some special shampoo called Allerpet. They also make no-water shampoo for in between bath.
Only use a fleadip if you have no other option. Every product with a warning that you have to wear gloves is too harsh on your puppy. IF I have to give a dog a fleadip ( never to puppies) I coat the belly and weenie with vaseline. If your veterinarian recommends a medicated shampoo due to a skin condition – dry skin – eczema – hot spots etc. listen to your veterinarian.
I wash my dogs either in my kitchen sink or in my utility sink. Use a spray attachment to wet your dog completely. Squeeze some shampoo on your dog and lather it in. Rinse well until all shampoo runs out. Use conditioner if desired. I use microfiber pet towels to dry my dogs. I also blow dry my puppies on low setting. Don’t let your dog run around wet in cold weather or in your cold house. If you wouldn’t feel comfortable to run around wet and naked your dogs won’t either. As always use common sense. I would only give a bath outside if it is very warm. Once you give your dog a bath outside and you let him loose he will roll around in grass. Makes him look worse after the bath than before.
General Grooming Tools:
It is best to always groom at the same spot. You need a well lit area. If you only have 1 dog with minimal grooming needs you don’t really have to invest into some more professional equipment. If you have multiple dogs it is good to have some grooming tools.
A non slip table – I couldn’t live without a grooming table. They have many choices from table top grooming table to hydraulic tables. A slip proof sturdy surface which is easy to clean and disinfect is important. A grooming arm holds your pet in place. NEVER leave your dog unuspervised on your table. He can fall and possibly hang himself. Get some stainless steel scissors, a fleacomb and a clipper set. Prices range from just $ 200 to hundreds of dollars. An inexpensive set is all you need for just one dog. A clipper is great to cut out mats and tangles and keeps the hair on his behind short. Always make sure you clean your grooming tools and oil your clippers.
