Dear Aneesha,

I have a 5-year old English Cocker Spaniel. How many times should I bathe him in a month?

Neetu Bordoi
Kolkata

Hi Neetu,

There is no straight answer for this. It is a combination of your dog’s coat type, activity levels and the climate that should help you decide. Normally, double or undercoat dogs like Cocker Spaniels, require a bath once in 4-6 weeks. If your dog loves to roll in the garden then you may need to give him a bath every time he does so. Usually, small amounts of dirt can just be brushed out when dry.

You can also use a waterless shampoo in between baths to keep him clean, which is a good option, as it will not strip him off his natural oils. All dogs require more baths during the summer and monsoons. Since you stay in a costal region, more frequent baths, once in 2 -3 weeks, may be required. If you feel your dog needs a bath every 10 days that is perfectly fine but do remember to get a good mild shampoo for the same. Finally, don’t forget to dry him off properly as a damp undercoat can lead to skin problems. Happy Splashing Around!

Dear Aneesha,

A friend of mine cleans her Pekingese’s behind with a water spray and cotton balls every time he poops. Is that really necessary in order to maintain a respectable level of doggy hygiene?

Kala Reddy
Chennai

Hi Kala,

It is not necessary to clean a dog’s hind end every time he poops unless there is something stuck in that region. This problem is normally seen in long coated dogs. In such cases, you can ask your groomer to clean the hair off the dog’s behind so that this situation can be avoided.

Dear Aneesha,

How do I take care of my 2-year old Daschund’s long talons? Getting a lot of tough love lately.

Ashmit Negi
Noida

Hi Ashmit,

Knowing not only how, but also when to cut a dog's nails is important. Your dog's nails grow constantly and how often they need to be clipped depends on your dog's lifestyle. If your dog walks a lot on hard surfaces, he may very well need little or no extra help in keeping his nails short as his nails will be naturally worn away through friction. However, if he/she mainly stays on grass and is not too fond of long walks, clipping dog nails becomes essential. It is very important that you know how to clip dog nails before attempting it as failure in clipping dog nails correctly can lead to crippling pain for your dog. In some cases it may also lead to permanent damage and malformation.

A dog's nail is constructed of a hard outer cover, which protects the quick—the inner soft part containing blood vessels and tender nerve endings. In dogs with light coloured nails, the quick is often faintly pink in colour and is thus easy to avoid cutting into. In the more common black nailed variety, the quick it totally invisible. Therefore, knowing exactly how to cut a dog's nails in this case is imperative. In these cases, trimming off little nibbles instead of large slices is more advisable. Keep checking the clipped part of your dog's nail and look out for a dark spot in the middle of the newly clipped area. This shows the start of the quick. Do not cut too far into this. Stop there, or else you are likely to hurt your dog.

Also, don't forget your dog's dew claws. Do keep styptic powder handy in case you cut too close and the nail starts bleeding. If the bleeding doesn’t stop on applying the styptic powder, take your pet to the vet immediately. However, try not to risk causing your dog pain and leave it to the professionals—go to a vet or a groomer instead.

Dear Aneesha,

Our black Labrador, Max, is just about 5 months old now. Last week, he started shedding more than ever before. What could be causing this? More importantly, how do we get this to stop?

Nicholas Keller
United Kingdom

Hi Nicholas,

Dog hair shedding is one of those little ‘add ons’ that come with owning most breeds of dogs. Dogs and cats do not grow hair continuously, but in cycles. There is a growth phase, transition phase and a resting phase. These cycles are controlled by factors such as nutrition, state of health, hormones, changes in temperature and amount of light the dog is exposed to. A normal amount of shedding can vary but consider it abnormal if bald patches of skin start to show up.

Regular grooming such as brushing your dog daily goes a long way in removing the loose coat, which you would have otherwise found floating around your house. Deshedding tools and deshedding treatments are very helpful too. That being said, if you find the amount of shedding to be abnormal then visit your vet and have him examined thoroughly.

Dear Aneesha,

My Pug hates it when I put an ear bud in his ears to clean the insides. The result is his filthy ears, blotted with soot and wax. How do I get through to him so that he’s a dirty PUG?

Mithva Chaturvedi
Kanpur

Hi Mithva,

Cleaning a dog’s ears is very important, as most of them have floppy ears. This causes them to sometimes remain damp and moist, rendering them prone to ear infections. A healthy ear is usually very light pink in colour. It is a good grooming practice to clean the ear regularly but some precautions should be followed:

Step1: Use an ear wash formulated for dog ear cleaning;

Step 2: Soak a cotton ball thoroughly with the ear wash;

Step 3: Place the cotton ball in your dog’s ear and gently clean by rubbing in an up-down motion. It is always better to start with the outer tip of the ear as it gives the dog time to get used to the sensation of the ear wash and cotton;

Step 4: Allow your dog to shake off excess moisture. This is important for preventing ear infections;

Step 5: Soak the tip of an ear bud and clean along the nooks and crannies your dog’s ears;

Step 6: Avoid putting the ear bud down your dog’s ear canal. Leave this kind of cleaning for your vet.

Dear Aneesha,

Are long fringes annoying for long-haired dogs? Do they irritate their eyes?

Kavi Thakur
Darjeeling

Hi Kavi,

Dogs such as the Shih Tzu have hair that grows continuously and needs to be trimmed regularly. The hair falling on their faces, as well as their beards usually gets food and water stuck in them, making them unhygienic and stinky. Also, most such breeds have protruding ‘bug’ eyes, making them even more susceptible to irritation. It is thus a standard practice to keep their hair short and out of their eyes. If you want your dog to have long, flowing hair then a top knot is the way to go.

Dear Aneesha,

I have an Indian Spitz that is 4 years old. He tears a lot and his tear lines look very bad, giving him the appearance of an unkempt dog. I have tried to get rid of the tear lines by wiping with cotton, tissue, etc, but it seems to have taken on a permanent avatar. Should I give up?

Renu Yadav
Jaipur

Hi Renu,

Tear stains don’t affect your dog’s health but are unsightly. You can start by keeping the tear duct clean and clog free. The more clogged they get, the more frequent the tearing. Try to get all the discharge clean by using a small thin flea comb. If they’ve become severe, wipe his eyes with eye wipes for dogs twice a day. There are some stain removers also available in the market that can help. All in all, it is a slow process but you might be surprised at the results if you are patient and persistent.

Dear Aneesha,

I have a Basset Hound with very sensitive skin, that I take to the groomer at least once a month for a flea dip or a medicated shampoo treatment. My question is, why is his skin still very itchy and pink? What can I do for him that will free him of his skin ailment for good?

Shailja Rana
Mumbai

Hi Shailja,

Dogs with sensitive skin need extra care. Since you have mentioned that he goes for a flea dip/medicated shampoo treatment on a monthly basis I am assuming he has a regular flea/tick problem. Ticks and fleas cause rashes and, that’s why he has itching and inflamed skin. Oils rich in Omega essential acids will support a dogs immune system and provide a natural defence against allergies and inflammation. You can ask your vet for a good supplement to feed him. Use Evening Primrose Oil to strengthen his immunity and better his skin and coat. Steer clear of perfumed shampoos until his immunity is strong again. Use a hypoallergenic shampoo. Medicated shampoos and dips are very harsh sometimes. Use a spot on instead. They are milder on the skin and yet are powerful tools against pests. Ask your vet to recommend a local application crème for hot spots that he your dog may have developed.