The saying is true… actions speak louder than words. Grooming your small dog regularly is a wonderful way to spend quality time together and enhance that special bond you have. Even though your small companion looks as goofy as ever when its fur is wet and wacky, it's times like that, that make you realize how lucky you are to have such a precious pooch around.

To help you give your small dog the best care possible, we've outlined why grooming is important and general things you can look for. This way, you can ensure that your small dog stays happy and healthy from day one. For tips on how to groom your small dog, click here.

Have your small dog look and feel its best!
You know those days when you look great, you feel great too? The same goes for your small dog! They feel more confident and get more affectionate when they look, smell and feel good!
Grooming is just one way you can help your favourite friend look and feel its best. Besides looking beautiful, you're actually helping it stay healthy. By doing simple things, like checking its skin, coat, eyes, teeth and ears regularly, you'll help prevent diseases from occurring. You can tell a lot about the health of your small dog by the appearance of its coat. If its fur lacks lustre, breaks easily and hangs flat, it's probably not getting the proper vitamins or nutrients it needs. Feeding your small dog a well-balanced diet containing essential Omega oils will help maintain its healthy skin and shiny coat. Look for Cesar® dry food for small dogs. It contains balanced nutrients for the life stage of your dog, plus omega oils to help ensure that your special friend is getting the nutritional requirements it needs for a beautiful coat.

Regular grooming, bathing and daily brushing can also help revitalize your small dog's coat. It releases the natural oils in your small dog's coat and conditions its skin. It also removes dead hair, encouraging room for growth. Daily grooming also helps to avoid skin problems and it creates an inhospitable environment for parasites.

It's best to be proactive and habitually inspect your small dog's coat for any fleas, or dandruff. While doing this, take a closer look for any irregularities like broken skin, jaundice or other skin tone changes and inflammation. Smaller dogs are known to suffer from a wide range of skin and coat disorders. So, if you see anything unusual, take your small dog to a veterinarian to be thoroughly checked.

If you'd like a professional groomer to help you maintain a healthy grooming routine, ask another dog owner to recommend one. Or, get quick tips on choosing a professional groomer here.

Face, eye and ear care
It's important to clean your little companion's face, eyes and ears every time you groom it. By clearing dirt and dust from these three areas, you'll help reduce its risk of infection.

Small dogs are especially prone to eye-related problems, like cataracts or leakage, so be sure to wipe your small dog's eyes often. Be very gentle when bathing your small dog and avoid getting shampoo or hair in its eyes, as this can cause irritation. If your small dog's eyes look infected with any redness or a leaky discharge, call your veterinarian.

Get grooming tips on eye care.

It's good practice to clean your small dog's ears once every three to four weeks, unless you suspect that your little friend's ears might be infected. Common signs of infection include frequent scratching, head shaking, lethargy and foul ear odour.

Take special care of small dog breeds with long ears, since they are more susceptible to infection. When cleaning your little friend's ears, watch for excessive amounts of dark wax or other discharge, as this could be a result of infection or ear mites. If this occurs, bring your small dog to your vet for an examination and discuss the best treatment options.

Get grooming tips on ear care.

Dental hygiene also plays a very crucial role in preventing disease. Learn more about the benefits of proper oral care and daily brushing. Overall, if you groom your precious pooch regularly, you'll notice a huge difference in its overall appearance and wellbeing. Since it'll smell fresh and clean when you shower each other with kisses, cuddling up and sharing special moments together will be even more rewarding!

The information above is of a general nature, and may be used as a handy guide to help you monitor your pet's well being and development. It should not be used as a substitute for professional advice. All decisions regarding your pet are your responsibility.