Good hygiene is important to your dog's health and overall well-being. Like humans, dogs need to be groomed regularly, have their teeth cared for, and maintain hygiene to avoid infections, skin disease, and odor. Whether you are a novice pet parent or seasoned pro, knowing the basics of dog hygiene keeps your pet healthy and content.

In this guide, we will discuss all the basic things about pet hygiene basics such as bathing, grooming, dental care, ear cleaning, and so on. We will also mention some of the top hygiene products one can find on Supertails to ensure that your dog is clean with minimal effort.

Daily brushing is essential to maintaining your dog's coat in perfect condition. Not only does it shed loose hair, but it also spreads natural oils that contribute to healthy skin. Brushing keeps matting at bay, minimizes shedding, and provides an opportunity to inspect for skin problems such as lumps, bumps, or parasites.

How to Keep Your Dog's Coat Healthy

1. Choose the Right Brush:

• Short coats: Rubber brush or soft bristle brush.

• Long coats: Slicker brush or de-matting comb is ideal.

2. Brush Frequently:

• Every day for heavy shedders (like Huskies, Golden Retrievers).

• Once or twice weekly for short coats (like Beagles, Dalmatians).

3. Watch for Tangles and Mats: Target areas where mats tend to form, i.e., behind the ears, under the legs, around the tail.

4. Use a Detangling Spray: If your dog's coat tends to knot, a leave-in conditioner or detangling spray can facilitate brushing.

Recommended products:

•  Skatrs Self Clean Deshedding Brush  (for reducing excess shedding)

•  WildWash Detangling Spray  (for silky soft fur)

Untrimmed nails may lead to pain, discomfort, and mobility complications. Long-nailed dogs can have a difficult time walking, a changed gait, or even joint pain due to poor posture. In severe situations, long nails might curl towards the paw pads, causing infections.

Trimming Your Dog's Nails Properly

1. Select the Best Tool

• Dog nail clippers – Ideal for rapid, clean cuts.

• Nail grinders – These are perfect for edge smoothing and gradual cutting.

2. Identify the Quick: The quick is the fleshy area under the nail containing nerves and capillaries. Cutting it makes it bleed and hurt. On dark nails, cut little portions at a time so as not to cut too deeply.

3. Trim Small Amounts at a Time: If your dog's nails are too long, trim a bit at a time each week until they get to a good size.

4. Reward Your Dog: Reward your dog with treats and compliments to make nail trimming a pleasant experience.

5. Inspect for Ingrown Nails: Some breeds, such as Dachshunds and Bulldogs, are susceptible to ingrown nails that need special attention.

Recommended products:

• Hank Electric Nail Grinder

Your dog's paws walk over different surfaces on a daily basis, ranging from scorching pavement to ice, rough lands. Without some care, they can crack, get infected, or irritated and become painful for your dog to walk or even play. Frequent paw grooming keeps their feet healthy, lubricated, and injury-free.

How to Maintain Healthy Paws

1. Paw Cleaning After Walking: After being outdoors, your dog's paws may pick up dirt, bacteria, and toxic substances such as road salt or pesticides. Cleaning them with a wet cloth or pet-friendly wipes takes away debris and keeps irritation or infection from happening. Keeping their paws clean also prevents your dog from licking away toxic chemicals on their paws.

2. Moisturizing and Stopping Cracks Dry or cracked paw pads can be painful and uncomfortable, making it hard for your dog to walk. A paw balm or dog-safe moisturizer keeps their pads soft and crack-free. Never use human lotions, as they contain toxic chemicals for dogs.

3. Trimming Fur Around Paw Pads: Long fur between the paw pads can clog with dirt, snow, and debris, causing infections. Trimming off the excess fur on a regular basis keeps it clean and free from matting, allowing your dog to move around freely.

4. Inspection for Cuts and Injuries: Check your dog's paws once a week for cuts, splinters, or redness. Minor cuts can become infected if not treated. Treat small wounds with veterinarian-approved antiseptics and watch for swelling or pus, which might necessitate a trip to the veterinarian.

Recommended products:

• Trixie Paw Care Spray 

• Trixie Paw Care Lotion

Dogs are inherently inquisitive, and their eyes are subject to dust, allergens, and debris every day. Without treatment, they develop tear stains, eye infections, or environmental allergies. Certain breeds, particularly ones with prominent or bulging eyes (such as Pugs, Shih Tzus, and Bulldogs), are more likely to develop discharge and dryness in their eyes and need more attention. Consistent eye maintenance keeps your dog's eyes healthy and clear.

How to Keep Your Dog's Eyes Healthy

1. Cleaning Away Tear Stains: Certain breeds of dogs, particularly those with light coats, get reddish-brown tear stains from excessive tearing. The stains are conducive to bacterial growth and, hence, infections. Clean around your dog's eyes with a damp cotton pad or a pet-safe tear stain remover to prevent infections.

2. Trimming Fur Around the Eyes: Matted fur can scratch into your dog's eyes, leading to irritation and discomfort. Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, and Poodles need regular trimming around the eyes to maintain clear vision and avoid eye infections. Trim with rounded-tip scissors for safety.

3. Redness or Discharge: Eye infections may occur if bacteria, allergens, or debris get into the eyes. Be aware of tearing, redness, swelling, or yellow/green discharge, as these could be signs of an infection. If they last, have your veterinarian treat them properly.

4. Eye Protection from Irritants: Dust, chemicals, and wind can bother your dog's eyes. Keep the soap and shampoo out of the way during bath time and do not expose them to strong wind or debris during car travel or outdoor excursions. For additional protection, some dogs find benefits in wearing dog goggles on high-exposure events such as motorcycle rides or hikes.

Recommended products:

• Pawpaya Eye Wipes

• M Pets Eye Care

Proper hygiene for your dog is not merely for keeping them tidy; it plays an important role in their well-being and general health. Healthy hygiene habits help avoid diseases, infections, and discomfort, allowing your pet to remain healthy and cheerful. Following are some essential reasons why your dog's hygiene is important:

1. Averts Skin and Coat Problems

Bathing, brushing, and grooming your dog daily maintain your dog's coat clean of dirt, allergens, and parasites like ticks and fleas. The failure to maintain hygiene will cause your dog's skin to become dry, mat, dandruffy, and develop bacterial infections, leading to discomfort and irritation.

2. Decreases the Chances of Infections

Dogs are subjected to a number of environmental factors, such as mud, bacteria, and contaminants, that may cause infections if not washed well. The ears, paws, eyes, and under-tail area are some of the areas that need special attention to avoid bacterial or yeast infections.

3. Maintains Good Dental Health

Dental care is something that tends to get ignored, but it's absolutely necessary to prevent halitosis, gum disease, and tooth decay. Brushing and dental chews or water additives will keep your dog's teeth in top condition and prevent periodontal disease.

4. Repels Parasites

Fleas, ticks, and mites love dirty or unkept fur. By maintaining your dog's cleanliness and applying vet-approved parasite prevention treatments, you minimize the risk of infestations that lead to itching, hair loss, and infection.

5. Enhances Paw and Nail Health

Unclean, overgrown nails may lead to posture issues, pain, and discomfort when walking. Trimming of the nails on a regular basis prevents them from cracking, splitting, or growing inward to cause infections. In the same way, paw cleaning after walking removes dangerous substances such as pesticides or road salt.

Keeping your dog clean is not only about their appearance—it has a significant part to play in their total health, comfort, and happiness. Ongoing bathing, brushing, dental treatment, ear cleaning, nail cutting, and foot care can prevent infection, minimize shedding, and maintain the condition of their skin and coat. Keeping an eye on sensitive areas, and allergies, and cleaning their accessories and toys also makes sure that your pet remains comfortable and free of parasites or bacteria. A neatly groomed dog is healthier, happier, and more energetic, with a superior quality of life. Additionally, hygiene habits mean a cleaner home environment for you and your household. By adding these hygiene basics to your routine, you not only improve the health of your dog but also your relationship with them.

Prioritize dog cleanliness, and your dog will repay you with wagging tails, wet noses kisses, and constant devotion! 

1. Can I Use Human Shampoo on My Dog?

No, human shampoo is too harsh on a dog's skin and can *upset their natural pH balance, resulting in dryness, irritation, and allergies. It might also include fragrances and chemicals that can lead to itching or skin infections. Always use a dog-specific shampoo that is mild, pH-balanced, and appropriate for their coat type to ensure healthy skin and fur.

2. How Often Should I Bathe My Dog?

The frequency of bathing varies based on your dog's breed, coat type, and lifestyle. Most dogs require a bath every 4-6 weeks, but oily-coated dogs can be bathed more often. Overbathing will strip natural oils from the coat, resulting in dry skin and irritation, so use a gentle, dog-safe shampoo and brush regularly to maintain their coat's cleanliness.