Bathing and brushing your dog: grooming at home

Looking after your dog's coat and skin isn't a luxury. Brushing removes dead hair and dust, prevents mats, and helps you spot ticks and wounds early, which matters in Egypt's heat.

Brushing by coat type

• Short, smooth coats (Boxer, baladi dogs): once a week.
• Short, dense coats (Golden Retriever, German Shepherd): once or twice a week, more when shedding.
• Long coats (Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier): every day, to stop mats.
• As you brush, feel the skin. Any tick, lump, wound or sore spot is worth showing your vet.

Bathing

• Most dogs don't need frequent baths. The ASPCA suggests at least once every three months, more if your dog spends a lot of time outside or gets dirty. Your vet will advise if there's a skin problem.
• Use a dog shampoo. Human shampoo can irritate a dog's skin.
• Brush out tangles before the bath, because water tightens mats.
• Use lukewarm water, keep water and shampoo out of the eyes and ears, and wipe the face with a damp cloth.
• Rinse very well. Leftover shampoo causes itching.
• Dry thoroughly, especially thick coats, because damp skin can get infected.

Clipping in summer

Double-coated dogs (Husky, German Shepherd) are insulated from the sun by their coat. Good brushing to remove dead undercoat is usually better; ask your vet or groomer before shaving right down. For walking in the heat, see walking your dog in Egypt.

Nails

• Trim them when you hear them clicking on the tiles.
• Cut a little at a time, and stop when you see a pale circle in the middle of the cut nail. Black nails need extra care.
• If it bleeds, press with clean gauze. If it doesn't stop within a few minutes, call your vet.
• If you're unsure, ask your vet or groomer to show you the first time.

Ears

• Look in the ears every week. Clean only the outer part with cotton wool and a dog ear cleaner.
• Never push anything into the ear canal.
• A bad smell, discharge, redness or lots of head shaking needs a vet.

Teeth

Teeth are part of grooming too. Ask your vet about a dog toothbrush and toothpaste, and never use human toothpaste.