Grooming your small dog regularly will not only make your little pooch look and feel its best, but it can help prevent diseases from occurring, too! Here, we'll teach you a few tricks to help make grooming your small dog a fun and rewarding experience. Lorem ipsum

Bathing and brushing

Bathing
• Always begin by washing your small dog's body. Be sure to wash its head last so as to avoid getting shampoo in its eyes.
• Don't use dish soap, bar soap or any disinfecting detergents - only use shampoos that have been prepared for dogs and follow the steps carefully.
• To help prevent your little friend from getting a chill while bathing, be sure to have a couple of rinsing jugs filled with warm water.
• Start rinsing at the back of your little friend's neck and continue along, all the way down to its tail.
• Now you're ready for your little friend's face. Dampen a face cloth with warm water and gently begin to wipe your precious pooch's face.
• Towel-dry your small dog while using a hair-dryer on low-setting - be sure not to get too close with the dryer as it may be too hot for its skin.
• Don't forget to wash and air-out your little friend's bedding whenever you give it a bath.

Brushing • Brushing is a good habit to get into, particularly for getting a close-up look at your small dog's coat and skin, to look out for any abnormalities like fleas, ticks and other parasites, along with any wounds, rashes, bumps or inflammation. Call your vet if you spot any of these conditions.
• Choose an appropriate brush or comb that suits your little friend's coat. If you need guidance on this, speak with your vet or someone at your local pet or dog grooming supply store.
• A comb or pinhead brush work well for all-purpose brushing
• A flea comb can be useful for combing your little friend's face and a pair of blunt-tipped scissors will help to trim and loosen any tangles. Be sure not to use sharp objects when grooming your precious pooch.

To learn why bathing and brushing your small dog is important click here.

Eye care
• Examine your small dog's eyes for any unwanted mucous or leaky discharge. Try using a flea comb to remove any grime that gets stuck in the hair surrounding its eyes.
• If an unusual amount of discharge exists, start using a warm, moist face cloth and sweep anyextraneous dirt or hair away from your little friend's eyes.
• Now it's time for precision. Carefully clean around your "baby's" eyes with dampened cotton swabs. Be sure to use a new cotton swab for each eye, so as not to spread any possible infection from one eye to another.
• If you are not sure if your small dog has an eye infection, make an appointment with your veterinarian.
• Stay on top of grooming your little friend, ensuring to trim the brow and facial hair, in order to prevent it from getting into its eyes, as this can cause an infection.
To learn more about eye care, infections and why grooming is important click here.

Ear care
• It's good practice to check your small dog's ears every week. If you notice a foul smell, some discharge and/or swelling or redness, set up an appointment with your veterinarian, as an infection may be present.
• Be gentle when inspecting your precious pooch's ears - avoid using sharp objects.
• Only touch the part of your little friend's ear that you can see. Do not explore any deeper, as you may do harm.
• When you give your little friend a bath, clean its ears. If your dog has chronic ear problems speak with your vet for an appropriate cleaning plan.
• To begin, use a moistened cotton swab and clean your small dog's outer ear.
• You'll need to use an ear-cleaning solution to take out any wax. For a gentle touch, warm-up the bottle by holding it in your hands or hold it under a tap of warm water. Then follow the instructions, by squeezing drops into your little friend's ear canal. Then pull up the wax onto a dry cotton ball. If you have any questions on this procedure, speak with your veterinarian.
To learn more about ear care, infections and why grooming is important click here.

Dental hygiene
• To help stop plaque and tartar build-up brush your little friend's teeth each day.
• Inspect your small dog's gums often to ensure that they are healthy and pink. To learn more about oral care, hygiene and why brushing is important click here.

Choosing a professional groomer
A well-groomed pooch makes cuddling extra special! In addition to grooming your small dog at home, you can take it to a professional groomer to help it maintain even healthier hygiene! But, the amount of times you take your small dog to see a professional groomer depends on your small dog's breed, length of hair, and your preference. Ask your veterinarian for a guideline for your little companion.

When you look for a groomer, look for someone that is patient and can make your small dog feel at ease. As a starting point, we've outlined a few things to consider:

• Word-of-mouth is the best way to start. Ask a fellow dog owner for the name of a professional groomer whom he or she prefers
• Visit the grooming premises to see if it's a good "fit." Be sure to notice whether it's hygienic and well-ventilated. • Speak with the owner and ask about their services including prices, what's involved, how long the sessions are and whether they allow for last-minute bookings.
• Also ask if your little friend needs any specific vaccinations and whether you need to show paperwork as proof.
• If you have the time, try to compare a few shops.

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.