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Eye, Ear & Nail Care
Care of the Ears
Check your dog’s ears regularly. If the inside of the ear flap
looks dirty, it can be cleaned gently with a small piece of
cotton wrapped around a fingertip and moistened with mineral
oil. Look for dirt, cuts, scratches, swelling parasites,
discharge and an unpleasant odor. Clean off wax deposits
carefully with a cotton-tipped swab dipped in mineral or baby
oil. To avoid possible injury, never probe deep into the ear. If
you discover dried blood, scabs or a thick discharge, consult
your veterinarian.
Dogs with long hair or long ears sometimes get a heavy growth of
hair on the undersides of their ears or at the opening of the
inner ear which can collect dirt and eventually impair hearing.
This excess hair should be removed by a professional.
Care of the Eyes
Any dried matter in the corners of the dog’s eyes should be
gently cleaned away with a wash cloth or cotton swab moistened
with warm water. Be careful not to rub over the eye with cotton
as the fibers can cause irritation.
During grooming sessions, check your dog’s eyes for any signs of
irritation or other problems. His eyes should be clear and
bright, and the area around the eyeball should be white. Any red
spots or apparent damage should receive immediate attention.
Discharge from the corners of the eyes should be considered
serious if a mild solution of boric acid does not correct the
situation. Excessive discharge, other abnormal conditions or
injury to the eye require prompt treatment by a veterinarian.
Nail Care
Keeping your dog’s nails clipped to the proper length is
essential for good feet. Because dogs do not wear down their
nails, it is your responsibility to trim them regularly. Or, if
you find this difficult, ask your veterinarian or a professional
groomer to do the trimming. Excessively long nails can damage
the feet, making walking and running painful. In extreme cases,
the dog becomes lame. How often the nails should be trimmed
depends upon how fast your dog's nails grow.
Puppies have needle-sharp nails and clipping the points off is
not only good practice for future clipping, but it also
accustoms the puppy to this procedure. Nail clippers, available
at pet supply stores, should be among the first items to buy and
use on a new puppy. If necessary, ask your veterinarian to show
you how to do it.
In clipping nails, cut the tips only and do not cut too far back
where you may hit a vein, causing it to bleed. If this should
happen, a moistened styptic pencil usually stops the bleeding.
Or you can press a cotton ball against the end of the nail with
a dab of petroleum jelly. If the bleeding continues or is
excessive, consult your veterinarian.
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