Maintaining Your Dog’s Hygiene – A Monthly Checklist

Being a dog parent can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. However, it is not always fun. When you have a pet – whether it’s a dog or cat, or bird, for that matter – every pet parent has many responsibilities to take care of.

At times, these duties can overwhelm even the best of you. After all, you have a life in your hand to take care of. Hence, you mu ensure your little one is in good shape and health. With consistent routine care, you can ensure that they have a hygienic and healthy life.

To maintain dog hygiene, you must pay close attention to their well-being. These include their nails and ears. The bottom line is- However, since most dog parents are occupied with their fast-paced lives, it can get tough to maintain track.

Therefore, we will provide some vital information to take note of. We are confident these tips will help you streamline your dog’s hygiene and health and tackle all the common health issues in canines.

Monthly dog hygiene to-do Checklist

Getting them checked for fleas and ticks 

Even if your dog spends some time on the streets walking or in the garden playing, there is a high chance that they may catch fleas and ticks. They would be rolling around on those surfaces for a few minutes. Fleas and ticks are a nuisance for dogs. Therefore, when you take your little one to the vet, you must get it checked for pests.

Make sure during these visits to get the ticks removed as well!

Staying updated with their vaccination

It is essential to ensure that your dog gets all the vaccines it is supposed to receive at the right time. If you miss or delay, your pet can face long-term consequences and pain. You can always consult your vet and ask them about the vaccines for your dog.

Bathing your dog 

Since your dog is rolling around almost every day in all that dirt, you must keep cleaning them at frequent intervals. That can be done through bathing. However, you must remember that you must not bathe them more than the vet has suggested, as doing so can lead to issues such as loss of shine in fur and flaky skin.

Clipping their toenails 

If your dog has long nails, it can affect its posture, and in most cases, it would be dirty. Hence, clean their nails once every month. Clipping toenails should begin from the time they are pups.

Trimming their coats 

It is essential to groom your dog. If you trim the coat, it helps the skin breathe. Brushing the body coat promotes healthy blood circulation, and when your dog has short fur, it means they are cleaner than it would otherwise be. It also reduces their chances of being infected by ticks and fleas.

Cleaning their teeth 

Your dog eats so many things, and they do not enjoy the prospect of having dog’s teeth cleaned. It is another reason you must clean their teeth at least once each month.

Cleaning their toys and bed thoroughly 

When you think of the hygiene of the apple of your eye, you do not necessarily think of cleaning their bed and toys, do you? However, all these items are breeding grounds for germs, and this is why they need to be cleaned thoroughly once each month.

Cleaning their clothes, accessories, and shoes

As far as personal hygiene for any individual goes, it is necessary to clean one’s clothes, accessories, and shoes. There is no reason why it should be any different with your four-legged baby. Thus, you must remember to clean these items thoroughly at least once each month.

Keeping their kennels clean 

It is imperative to disinfect the kennel of your dog. Use the right medicines and detergents at least once a month.

Daily care for your dog 

The thing with taking care of your fur angel is that you have duties as long as they are physically there with you. It means caring for them daily, weekly, and yearly apart from doing so once each month. Perhaps, the most important of these is taking care of your babies each day of their lives. It includes but is not restricted to the following:

• giving them water and food
• allowing bathroom breaks
• brushing their coat
• checking their gums and teeth
• checking their paws
• checking their ears
• giving them the necessary amount of exercise
• showing them the love that you have for them

For starters, know that you are not giving them the entire day’s food all at once. It is much better if you break it up into two portions. It makes sure that you are supporting their metabolism and healthy digestion. You may not know this, but each time your dog goes for a toilet break, you can get a good idea of your pet’s health.

Weekly care for your dog 

When it comes to weekly care for your dog, it does not mean that you cannot perform these processes more than once a week. The most prominent among them may be enumerated below:

• brushing their teeth
• trimming their nails
• checking their coat and skin
• cleaning their stuff
• changing up their routine

For most dogs, brushing their teeth at home is always a good idea. Brushing three times a week would help fight the build-up of plaque. There is a good chance that even in seniority, they will have a healthy smile.

It is better if you can trim their nails at least once every couple of weeks. Observe their coat and skin to find out if anything has changed. If you find something that concerns you, you can always take a quick snap and talk about it with your vet. It is imperative to clean their water, food dishes, bed, favorite toys, and blanket. You can try to get them to play new or give them fresh toys to pass their time.

Yearly care for your dog

It involves the following procedures:

• wellness exams
• blood work
• vaccines and booster shots

Even if your dog is healthy and an adult, you must take them to the vet at least once a year. It will help you properly evaluate their overall cognitive and physical condition. You must also conduct routine tests to examine issues such as liver and kidney diseases at their earliest stages. You must also provide your vet with results from previous blood tests so that they can compare them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is considered to be good hygiene for dogs?

A: Regular baths are an ideal way to ensure your dog stays hygienic. However, experts say it should not be done over once as that can lead them to suffer skin irritations.

Q: What are some ways to keep your dog clean and healthy?

A: You must clean them quickly following an outdoor playing session. Make sure you maintain a routine when cleaning your dog. You must also avoid using shampoos that contain chemicals. Make sure that you do not wash them excessively when you bathe them.

Q: Who are the most hygienic pets?

A: According to pet experts, the following species of animals are the most hygienic:

• budgies
• cats
• hamsters
• dogs
• guinea pigs

Q: How often should you bathe your dog?

A: It depends on the nature of your baby’s coat. For example, if your dog has a smooth and short coat and does not suffer from skin issues, it would not have to be bathed frequently.

Q: How often should you rinse your dog?

A: Experts say that if your dog is healthy, you can rinse them – washing them without using the skin care products meant for them – once a day if you wish.

Conclusion

Our pets are special to us. We share a loving bond with them. Hence, as pet parents, we must be vigilant about their well-being. A bit of care goes a long way in improving their health. After all, a healthy pet is a happy pet.