Eye Care & Ears

Daily hygiene

There are several very simple ways to check and maintain the integrity of the various external organs.

The truffle
It should be moist and fresh at all times of the day. However, it may dry out while the dog sleeps; it should then be moistened again when the dog wakes up.

No special care is needed: any presence of scabs, cracks or significant or mucopurulent discharge is a sign of conditions that the veterinarian should inspect.

The oral cavity
The lips should be clean and relatively tight-fitting. Depending on the breed, they may or may not hang down. If so, it's important to watch for the appearance of cracks or redness (especially in German Shepherds, which have sensitive skin).

The teeth should be white and have minimal tartar. Dogs are rarely cooperative when it comes to having their mouths handled; it would be good to get the puppy used to it.

The gums should be pink: any red line on the edge of the teeth is pathological and reveals a painful inflammation which can cause a decrease in the dog's appetite, as it can no longer grasp or chew food.

Regular dental cleaning is therefore necessary. This can be done in several ways. The most effective is using a toothbrush and toothpaste specifically designed for dogs; brushing should be done several times a week. There are also palatable tablets that release active ingredients when the dog chews: these are useful for dogs that don't tolerate brushing. Finally, it's always possible to give the dog rawhide or cartilage toys: this natural "chewing gum" slows down tartar buildup through its mechanical action on the teeth as the dog chews.

However, beyond a certain point, these methods will no longer be effective: only scaling and the implementation of antibiotic treatment by the veterinarian will be able to control the nascent infection and the discomfort caused by abundant tartar.

The eyes
The eye should be bright, moist, and the mucous membranes pink. No discharge should be visible in the inner corner of the eye.

It is perfectly possible to clean your dog's eyes daily with an eye solution. To do this, lift your dog's head, open the upper eyelid, and gently squirt the solution into the eye. Any excess should be collected with a cotton pad. Two precautions should be taken: to avoid frightening the dog, the bottle should be approached from behind. Pay close attention to the expiration date and shelf life of the solution, as these solutions can easily become contaminated and lose their effectiveness.

The ears
There are two types of ear carriage in dogs: floppy or erect. Floppy ears should be inspected more frequently because the closure of the external ear canal by the pinna prevents proper ventilation. The type of hair on the ear (long, curly, short, etc.) is also important.

The external auditory canal must therefore be clean, and there must be no presence of hair.

Ear cleaning should be done regularly. For floppy ears, it can be done once or twice a week, and once every two weeks for upright ears. Use a solution specifically formulated for dogs' ears.The procedure is as follows: the nozzle is inserted into the canal (there is no risk of perforation of the eardrum due to the L-shape of the canal), then a jet of the product is instilled, the nozzle is removed, the base of the ear is massaged for 30 seconds and finally the canal is wiped with a piece of cotton or a compress without pushing them in.

Long-haired dogs often have hair in their ears. This makes earwax difficult to remove, so plucking the hair from their ears is necessary.

The genitals and the anus
Regular monitoring of male and female genital organs helps to check their cleanliness: any presence of discharge should be checked by a veterinarian.

The anus must be clean and show no signs of diarrhea.

The claws
Dogs have two types of claws: dewclaws and toe claws. Growth is continuous, and a dog's normal activity should be sufficient to wear down the toe claws. If this isn't the case (the claws will make noise when the dog walks), they should be trimmed with nail clippers. However, it's essential to preserve the integrity of the blood vessels at their base: light-colored claws will reveal a pink triangle through the nail. These vessels can be identified by the marks they leave beneath the black claws. In both cases, the clippers should be trimmed below these marks.

The dog may bleed: if so, apply hydrogen peroxide or a hemostatic pen. A small bandage can protect the wound for an hour.

The technique is the same for the dewclaws. These are often covered with hair: they should not be forgotten because, if they become ingrown, they become painful and cause sores.