Grooming Your Labrador: All You Really Need is Patience
As
you consider a grooming routine in your Labrador care plan there are certain things
you may want to do differently with a Labrador versus another breed of dog. Keep
in mind that Labradors often have dry and itchy skin and over bathing can make
this uncomfortable condition even worse.
Basic Grooming
While Labrador
care may be different in some ways, there are other basics that are standard in
most pet care. Brush your Labrador often and well, taking the time to check for
fleas, ticks, burrs and skin irritations. Taking the time to brush your Labrador
at least once a week can not only make your Labrador’s coat look nice but you
are also assured to find any areas of concern in their skin such as inflammation
or hot spots.
Labrador grooming is also a good time to spend some quality
time with your pet. Labradors love attention and affection, spending a little
time brushing your Labrador will keep him healthy but also happy to have your
time and attention. While brushing your dog this might also be a good time to
go through a few extra steps of your Labradors care and check his ears for mites
or any other irritation they may have picked up along the way. If the ear canal
is inflamed or you notice excessive or discolored ear wax it is likely that your
Labrador has ear mites and you should contact your vet as soon as possible to
get a prescription to take care of this problem.
Bathing
Where Labrador
care varies from many other breeds of dogs is in the bathing process. Shampoo
tends to dry out the skin and for that reason many vets recommend only bathing
your Labrador when he stinks. Labradors love water and they love to swim which
can often cause some pretty strong smells coming from your Labrador, if it’s possible
just rinse them off with the hose and apply a pet conditioner to his skin and
let it sit as long as your Labrador will allow before rinsing.
A good grooming
tip for your Labrador is to make sure the conditioner gets down to the skin is
by massaging it directly to the skin of your pet. Most Labradors will take this
kind of contact as affection therefore they will let you massage as long as your
are willing. Even just a few minutes of this will help keep their skin from drying
out too badly. Double check any products your buy for your Labrador and be sure
it doesn’t include astringents or alcohol as these ingredients will likely irritate
your Labradors skin.
Additional things to in your Labradors care and grooming
would include dental care and checking the nails to see if they need clipping.
If you don’t know how to clip your Labradors nails do not attempt to do so without
having a groomer or your vet show you exactly how to do so. You can easily clip
too far and hurt your Labrador and leave them susceptible to infection.
