Dog Hygiene Tips for New Pet Parents

From regular brushing and bathing to dental care and nail trimming, a comprehensive hygiene routine can prevent various health issues and ensure your pup stays happy and healthy. An added bonus: Good hygiene will help your dog look and smell good. 

In contrast to cats, who vigilantly clean themselves, dogs can use some help keeping themselves clean, especially if they have long hair or like to roll around outside in a park or your yard. With that in mind, below are some important hygiene tips for new dog parents that can make your life a little easier.

Pet hygiene basics for dogs

All dogs need basic hygiene care, so even if you adopt a short-haired, low-activity, low-maintenance breed, they will still need help here. Ear cleanings, nail trims, baths, and teeth and hair brushing are things all dogs will need regularly. And these tasks may be required more often for certain breeds. If you have a dog with long hair, they will likely also need regular full-body hair cuts or at the very least, hair trims around their eyes, hind end, or feet — so debris doesn’t accumulate and cause problems. 

Dental hygiene for dogs

While many pet parents don’t realize they need to care for their dog’s teeth, dental hygiene is a very important part of keeping your dog healthy. If your dog’s teeth are not kept clean, bacteria can enter the bloodstream through the gums and cause serious organ-function issues. So the following dog dental care tips should be taken seriously. Plus, no one likes bad breath from a dog with poor dental hygiene. 

Regular toothbrushing

Adult dogs have 42 teeth that can benefit from daily toothbrushing. Various sizes and types of pet toothbrushes are available so you can find the best fit for your dog’s mouth. You’ll also want to use a special dog toothpaste. Some dogs will prefer certain flavors of toothpaste over others, so finding one that your dog likes will make this task a little easier to complete.

Dental chews, foods, and powders

If you’re looking for dog dental hygiene tips that don’t involve toothpaste, consider giving your pup dental chews, toys designed to clean their teeth, special food for dental health, or powders created to clean teeth. These items will clean your dog’s teeth as they chew, and while they aren’t replacements for toothbrushing, they can help maintain healthy gums and teeth. Look for the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal of approval on edible items to ensure they have been clinically proven to support dental hygiene.

Annual dental cleanings

If you are unable to brush your dog’s teeth regularly, or your dog has an existing dental disease, they may need their teeth professionally cleaned. These cleanings must be done while your dog is under anesthesia and should ideally include dental X-rays, polishing, and a full examination of your dog’s dental health. 

Water additives, gels, and sprays

In addition to the other options, special solutions can be added to your dog’s drinking water, or wiped and sprayed onto your dog’s teeth, to help with dental hygiene. These products should be VOHC-approved to ensure their efficacy.

Dog grooming basics

Some dogs can be easily groomed by a pet parent, while others may require a professional. The level of grooming expertise required will depend on your dog’s specific needs and the type of haircut you desire your dog to have. (Dogs with long hair will typically require more grooming than those with short hair.) Hair cuts, baths, nail trims, and ear cleanings are all considered basic grooming for dogs and should be tailored to your new dog’s needs.

How often should I groom my dog?

A dog with long hair may need a haircut every eight to 12 weeks, while short-haired dogs may never need a haircut and only require a bath a few times a year. If your dog is dirty, a bath is of course necessary, but bathing too often can cause dry skin. In between baths and haircuts, brushing or combing your dog’s hair on a daily or weekly basis will help remove loose hair and knots. It will also help prevent matting and keep your dog more comfortable. Spot-cleaning your dog’s hind end, face, belly, and feet can also be helpful in between baths, using pet or baby wipes and waterless dog shampoo.

Dog paw care

Some pet parents like to trim the hair on their dog’s feet while others prefer to keep them shaggy. A good dog paw-care tip is to monitor the length of your dog’s foot fur and nails. As long as the fur doesn’t get matted and your dog doesn’t slip while they are walking, the way the fur looks isn’t necessarily important. But it should not trap moisture, debris, or ice balls. Nails should stay short and trimmed and not cause walking issues for your dog. Nails that are too long will curl, can cause an altered gait and pain, and may even get stuck in carpets and concrete cracks where they can break.

Sanitary trims

Pee and poop can easily build up on your dog’s fur if you don’t keep their genital areas clean and the nearby hair trimmed. Even if your dog doesn’t have long hair or need a full grooming, sanitary trims are occasionally necessary to keep pee and poop from accumulating on the fur.

Age-specific dog hygiene tips

Young and old dogs may require additional care to ensure they stay clean and hygienic. Because of their behaviors, lifestyles, or chronic diseases, it can be easy for their hygiene to suffer, so extra attention may be needed during these life stages.

Puppy hygiene essentials

Puppies are active, curious, and can take some time to potty train. They may make messes and get into things they shouldn’t, so keeping them clean can be challenging. Pet and baby wipes can be used in between baths to keep them clean and avoid drying out their skin, which can result from over-bathing.

Senior dog care tips

Urinary and fecal incontinence may occur as your dog ages, and these things can cause their hygiene to suffer. Diapers and pee pads can help wick pee away from your senior dog’s skin and fur if they are prone to dripping urine. Additionally, sanitary hair trims along with pet and baby wipes can help keep your dog free of poop on their fur. More frequent nail trims may also be required if your senior dog isn’t naturally wearing down their nails as they did when they were more active.

Dog ear and eye care

Ear and eye care will vary from dog to dog, but if you have a dog with floppy ears or long hair on their face, you should plan to spend a little extra time keeping these areas clean.

Cleaning and checking ears regularly

All dogs have ear canals that are shaped like the letter “L,” so dirt, debris, moisture, and even mites can build up in this curved canal. Regular cleaning using cotton balls, cotton-tipped applicators, and pet-safe ear cleaners can help remove things that shouldn’t be in your dog’s ears. You should be careful to never put anything into your dog’s ear canal past your first finger knuckle, because this could cause pain and permanent damage to your dog’s ear. If you notice a strange smell, redness, or large amounts of dry, black debris in your dog’s ears, contact your veterinarian — these could be signs of an infection.

Eye hygiene

Dogs who have long hair on their face may have eye drainage around their eyes. This drainage can build up, causing matting and infections. Use a fine-tooth comb to gently comb through the fur, and regularly wipe your dog’s under-eye areas with a damp cloth to prevent tear stains. If necessary, hair trims can remove excess fur and cut out accumulated debris.

Commonly asked questions

How to prepare food for your new dog?

All dogs should eat a complete, balanced diet that is specifically formulated for dogs. Dry kibble is the most common affordable dog food and will help keep your dog’s teeth clean, as well as help your dog avoid getting food in their fur. The food should be measured out to ensure the appropriate amount of calories is being fed. Freeze-dried, canned, raw, and other options also exist but can easily spoil if left in your dog’s bowl for too long. Discuss which food is best for your dog with your veterinarian.

What to expect from your first vet visit with your dog?

Your first vet visit will help set up your new dog for a healthy future. Vaccines, dewormings, various preventative medications, a physical examination, a discussion about your dog’s history, diet, behavior, general dog health-care tips, and more can be expected during this visit. If you have any concerns about your dog’s health or behavior, be sure to mention them to your veterinarian.

References

Guide for Taking Care of Pets

Preparing Your Puppy for a Lifetime of Good Hygiene

Proper Pet Hygiene