A lot of black/brown ear wax in the ear canal.
Look also for fleas and ticks. The top of, inside, and under the ears, these are their favorite places to be among others that we'll review later on. When fleas infest your dog's ears they may cause them to look dirty, like a sprinkling of black pepper flakes in and around your dog's ears.
Grab the head of the tick with the tweezers to remove it. Do not grab it by the body because it will break off and leave the head stuck in your dog's skin causing irritation and infections.
Place the tick in a jar. Make sure that the tick is submerged in the alcohol and can't get out of the jar.
Put the lid on the jar and leave them there for a day or so.
When you are sure they are all dead, you can throw them in an outdoor trash can.
Mating around the eyes, if they have long hair.
The pupils are not equal in size.
There are tearing, discharge or any crust in the corners.
Finally, gently roll down your pet's lower eyelid with your thumb and look at the lining. It should be pink, not red or white.
Snout. Meaning nose, gums, and teeth.
1) Nose- If your dog's nose runs, the mucus should be clear. If your dog's nose has bubbly, thick, yellow, green or even black mucus, see your veterinarian ASAP.
Also, if it's cracked, has scabs or sores, they may have a skin disorder.
2) Gums- Problem gums can produce powerful odors. Lift the mouth flaps and look at gums. Red, swollen gums may be infected.
DO NOT use regular human toothpaste for your dog. They include fluoride which is extremely poisonous for them. You can find toothpaste formulated for dogs at pet stores.
Coat and skin. A healthy coat should be shiny and smooth, not brittle, matted, or coarse, and healthy skin should be supple and clear, not greasy, flaky or bumpy.
Also, check the body for fleas and ticks. Other favorite body parts of this parasites are under his legs (armpits), belly, chest, tail, between his toes and pads of his feet and the front of the neck and chin.
That should take you a while. Use a comb to help you out but nothing will compare to your hands when trying to find these creatures. You might end up finding none or an infestation. Either way you have to bath your pet with flea and tick shampoo, either for prevention or before removing the parasites (it would be easier this way).
Nails. Make sure to leave a space between the quick (vein and nerve that feed their toes). Usually, you don't have to clip the nails on the rear legs but some genetics will add extra toes called dewclaws to them. They tend to have little bone or muscle structure in most breeds. It is normal, although not biologically necessary.
There is an Italian study that says this extra toe is due to a mix between a wolf and a dog, you can read more about it here.
If this nail doesn't have a contact with the floor, you have to clip it constantly to prevent to grow and start curling between the toe and the leg (no funny business). A vet can remove this if it doesn't have a bone connection and if the dog is not older than approximately 5 years old.
You are a smart and loving owner who wants what it's best for your pooch so I hope these tips expanded your vision on proper dog grooming at home. Let other owners into this secret technique and share this content with the world.
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