Guides

1. There is no single number for how often. It depends on the coat, the lifestyle and the skin. If a vet has set a schedule, it takes priority. Guidance by coat type is in How often to bathe your dog.
2. If only a small area is dirty, clean that area. Do not start a full bath out of habit.
3. Dog shampoo only. Human shampoo, even baby shampoo, damages the protective layer of the skin. Why, in a separate article.
4. Brush the dry coat before the bath. Water tightens knots. For mats, a detangling spray helps.
5. Read the label of the exact shampoo: purpose, dilution and limits. The products in the shop are concentrates and are diluted before use.
6. A non-slip surface, towels within reach, lukewarm water. Wet the coat down to the skin, dilute the shampoo in your hand and massage in the direction of the hair. Avoid the eyes and the inside of the ears.
7. Rinse until the water runs completely clear, then a little longer. Shampoo residue is the most common cause of itching after a bath.
8. On a long or dense coat, apply conditioner after the shampoo. It seals the hair and the brush passes without pulling.
9. Blot with a towel, do not rub. A dryer only on the cool setting and from a distance. Brush while the coat is still slightly damp.
10. If the dog is afraid, stop calmly. If there is already shampoo in the coat, rinse it out safely and stop there.

1. Show the brush from a distance at which the dog stays calm. Pair this easy step with a reward.
2. When the dog takes part calmly, add a brief touch on an easy area. Increase gradually.
3. If the dog pulls away, freezes or tenses, stop. The next attempt starts from an easier step.
4. A long coat is not brushed completely dry. A light mist of water or detangling spray protects the hair from breaking.
5. Brush in layers, from the skin outwards. Knots from the tip to the root, with the hair held between your fingers above the knot so you do not pull the skin.
6. Short and often. Five minutes every day beat an hour on Sunday. Stop before the dog gets tired.

Which brush for which coat and the trouble spots: Brushing without pulling: brushes and technique. How to make grooming bearable: How to make grooming bearable for your dog.

1. If the paws are clean and the dog moves normally, do not add a wash out of habit.
2. After mud or contact with salt, clean with lukewarm water or a damp cloth, including between the toes.
3. Dry well. Look without painful spreading or pressure.
4. If something changes, note which paw is affected, when it started and what has already been used.
5. If you decide to use a balm: a thin layer on clean, dry pads before a walk, or in the evening on pads that have already hardened.

Salt, ice and snowballs between the toes: Paws in winter: salt, ice and cracked pads. What to watch for with licking: Your dog keeps licking its paws.

Immediately: difficulty breathing, collapse, loss of consciousness, uncontrollable bleeding, severe injury, suspected poisoning or overheating. Call, say where you are and what happened, and follow the instructions for transport. Do not give human medicines and do not induce vomiting without veterinary instruction.

With an appointment: recurring itching or licking, a new smell, redness, discharge, limping. Call and describe what you see. Do not start a cosmetic trial instead of a check.

1. Gather the passport and any existing prescriptions and results.
2. Write down the main question and when the change started.
3. Prepare the exact names of the food, medicines and products in use.
4. Ask for a clear next step, a date for a follow-up and the signs that should make you call earlier.

On a quiet day, check the practice's opening hours and whether it takes emergencies. What a yearly check includes: The autumn vet check: what we test and why.