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Grooming is an important aspect in the life of a pug. It not only makes them look good- it is vital for their good health and well-being.
Should I groom my pug at home?
There are pros and cons either way you decide. One advantage to having a professional groomer groom your dog is the experience they have when handling pets. They can provide different types of treatments for your dog, if they need a specific treatment, like expressing anal glands or trimming your dogs nails. Professional groomers also have all the necessary tools needed to groom your dog.
The advantage to grooming your dog in your own home is that you will learn with experience. Also, your dog will probably be more comfortable in his own home than at the groomers.
Brushing stimulates your pug’s skin
Brushing your dog’s hair is just one aspect of grooming your dog, but brushing the hair is important. It gets rid of dead hair that is loose and distributes the oils in your dog’s coat so they will come to the surface and moisturize your dog’s skin and coat. Brushing also stimulates the surface of your dog’s skin and lets you become familiar with your dog’s body. No matter what type of dog you have and no matter how short his hair is, you should still brush him every couple of days.
Brushing prevents fleas, mites and ticks
Brushing your dog every couple of days allows you to watch for and notice any critters that might make their home in your dog’s fur. In the summer, it’s hard to avoid fleas, mites and ticks, but brushing your dog’s coat can discourage these pests from staying there. Brushing will not only get these pests out of your dog’s fur- it will also dislodge any eggs that have been left there too.
How often should I do a complete grooming?
We’ve said that you should brush your pug’s coat every couple of days. You should do a complete grooming session with your pug about every four to six weeks (whether at home or at a professional groomer).
What should my complete grooming session consists of?
Start by bathing your pug. If you are trying to get rid of pests, Dawn dish soap will kill any pests, but it is tough on your pug’s skin. So, use it if you need too, but then use a dog shampoo (like a Oatmeal shampoo) to moisturize.
Clean your pug’s ears and teeth while in the tub. You can use a damp soft wash cloth for your pug’s ears or dog wipes work great too. You should also look down inside your pug’s ears and smell each ear canal. If the ear is red, swelled, has excess debris or discharge, or it smells “yeasty,” you should contact your vet. It’s a good idea to check your pug’s ears good after they get wet (like after your pug has been swimming).
Either brush your pug’s teeth with a toothbrush and dog toothpaste or just wrap a baby washcloth around your finger and brush his teeth with your fingers.
A complete grooming session should also include trimming your pug’s nails, but since pug’s don’t like their feet messed with, you may have to take them to a professional for the nail trim. It is important to do this about every four to six weeks so your pug doesn’t get dirt and grime build-up in his feet.
Check your pug’s pads
Check your pug’s pads regularly, but thoroughly when grooming. Be sure they are not dry, cracked or injured in any way. If the hair in between your pug’s toes gets long, it should be cut so it is even with the paw pads or just a bit shorter. You have to be careful so you don’t cut your pug. You should use small scissors or a small, narrow clipper. It’s a good idea to have your vet show you how.
Check for abnormalties
Always check for any abnormalities while grooming your pug. If you find any knots, scabs, or skin abnormalities, be sure to call your vet and have them checked.
Until next time,
Hugs and Pug Kisses,
Candy
