Puppies are like babies that like to have fun and frolic without understanding the consequences. While that muddy puddle may seem to be quite alluring, the result is a dirt-covered nose and messy paws. This could also attract pests and diseases that will suck the life out of your vivacious little pup. The last thing you want is a sick puppy who needs visits to the vet. Keeping your pet well groomed is a necessity just like you would maintain your own personal hygiene.

Here are tips on how keep your pet well groomed while at the same time not incurring a lot of expenses.

 

Since this might be the first time that your pup is going through the whole “cleaning process”, he or she might be a little terrified of the whole experience. Do not directly dunk it in, as it would be quite traumatizing. The best thing that can be done is to slowly but surely introduce them to the bath with calm body language. Do not leave the water too hot or cold. Maybe you could add some of your puppy’s favorite chew toys so you leave it distracted. If your pup’s too terrified of water, then just rubbing it with a damp cloth would also be fine.

 

Grooming doesn’t only involve bathing. You need to keep their oral hygiene in check as well. These days, vets recommend toothpastes specially designed for puppies and full-grown dogs. If your canine is teething, then bone chew toys will help strengthen gums and teeth. Regularly check for other discolorations and items stuck because they always seem to have an object jammed in their jaws.

 

This is really important: When it comes to your puppy’s growing talons, you need to trim them quite often. If you keep them wild, there might be some bacteria that will start to grow under there and would spread to other parts of his paws as well. This is the part of its body that touches the floor, so you may never know what it might pick up. Trim nails at least 2-3 times a month. Another very important point to note: your puppy has nerve endings in the nails that can bleed if trimmed without care. So be careful and if you’re unsure, go to a professional groomer.

 

Ticks are a major source of pain and these parasites are just waiting to get all fuzzy in your puppy’s fur. The first place you need to check for ticks is inside the ears. Just lift the ear up and check inside and that will help you identify if your pup has those critters or not. To clean out ticks, regularly apply tick powder to the entire body surface. Ticks can be attracted in a number of ways, so another alternative is to bind your pup with a tick allusive collar.

 

It is actually an old wives’ tale that brushing hair several times makes it shiny and soft. The same holds true for puppies – brush their hair with a wide toothed comb almost daily for a few minutes. A much better alternative is to pet your pup as much as you can. It really works wonders.

Do not take hygiene lightly. Depending on the breed and personal tolerance level of your puppy, you can come up with a good cleanliness plan or even visit your vet for the best solution to keep your pup healthy and clean.

Do you have any other tips on easy ways to groom your puppy that you would like to share? Comment below!