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The Benefits of Grooming in Preventing Skin Issues in Working Dogs
Regularly grooming your dog can help prevent skin issues and improve their skin health. This is important for any pooch, but it's especially important for more active dogs, like working dogs. Working dogs often spend a lot of time outside, exposed to the elements. Regular grooming helps keep their skin and coat healthy while giving you the chance to detect any health issues early.
Here at Guard Dog Training, we don't just help your working dogs become the best version of themselves. Our professional grooming team helps keep your dogs happy and healthy, so they can perform at their best. Here's how regular grooming can help make your dog more comfortable, whether you're looking to groom them yourself or leave it to the experts.
Why Grooming Is Essential for Working Dogs' Skin Health
So, what exactly are the benefits of grooming your dog? Well, working dogs face a lot of challenges while performing their duties. They're often exposed to dirt, debris, and harsh environments, which can cause skin issues. Hot and humid conditions can cause bacterial or fungal infections, while dry and cold weather can cause flaky and itchy skin.
Regular grooming helps remove built-up dirt, sweat and loose fur that accumulates while they're working, preventing skin irritation and infections. Grooming also stimulates natural oils that protect their skin and coat, improving skin barrier health.
Common Skin Issues in Working Dogs and How Grooming Helps Prevent Them
Working dogs can pick up a range of skin issues while performing their daily duties. These include:
-Hot spots, which are areas of bacterial infection and skin inflammation
-Dermatitis, otherwise known as skin inflammation
-Fungal infections, including yeast infections
-Parasites, including fleas and ticks
-Dry skin
The benefits of regularly grooming your dog include detecting the early signs of these issues before they get worse. These can all be easily treated if detected early on, but they can get worse if left untreated. Regular grooming also removes mats and tangles from your dog's coat, preventing skin irritation and bacterial build-up, both of which can cause more serious issues if allowed to fester.
Key Grooming Practices to Maintain Healthy Skin
Brushing
Brushing your working dog's coat regularly helps prevent matting and tangling, while also removing any loose hair. Choosing the right brush for your dog's coat is important: use a rubber/soft-bristle brush on a short-haired dog, a slicker brush, comb, or rake for a long-haired dog, and an undercoat rake in combination with a brush for double-coated dogs. You should brush your dog at least once a week, while breeds that shed should be brushed daily/every other day.
Bathing
Bathing your working dog helps remove any dirt and debris that they may pick up while performing their duties, which can irritate their skin if left unwashed. To further protect their skin, use a dog-safe shampoo and conditioner. Bathe your dog every few weeks to keep their coat and skin clean, but beware of washing them too often. Excessively frequent washing can remove their natural oils and cause skin irritation/dryness.
Drying
Whether your dog has been out in rainy weather or they've just had a bath, drying them thoroughly helps prevent any skin infections. You can either dry your dog using a towel, or a dog-specific dryer. Avoid using a human hairdryer, as these can be too hot for your dog and may dry out their skin.
Nail care
Working dogs grind their nails down during their time outside, but their nails still need regular care to prevent any joint issues or pain. Using dog-specific nail clippers or a grinder, trim their nails, avoiding the quick (which contains the blood vessels). Nail care makes walking/running more comfortable for dogs, which working dogs do a lot!
How Grooming Supports Parasite Prevention
As part of regularly grooming your dog, you'll also be able to spot ticks, fleas, and other parasites early. While tick and flea prevention should be part of your dog's routine, whether it's an oral chew or a topical treatment, having flea and tick shampoo on hand can help you stop any parasites in their tracks, if you do spot them on your dog.
Working dogs are more susceptible to parasites than your standard couch potato, as a lot of these parasites thrive in outside environments. Parasites can also hide in ears and paws, so these should be regularly cleaned. You can use pet-safe wipes to clean both ears and paws. This is especially important after a long day outside.
Signs That Your Working Dog Needs Grooming or Veterinary Attention
So you've been grooming your working dog, but you've noticed something's wrong. Regular grooming and monitoring can help you spot issues early, but sometimes, we need to call in the experts.
If you notice:
-Skin redness
-Inflammation
-Scabs or sores
-Rashes
-Flaky or dry skin
-Changes in odour
Then it's time to take your dog to the vet for professional care.
Vets can diagnose any skin issues that may be occurring, and provide more specialised treatment, like topical corticosteroids, antibiotics, antihistamines, and other medication. With proper care and proper treatment, your dog can get back to doing what they do best sooner.
Grooming Tips for Different Types of Working Dogs
We've given you some tips on how to groom your working dog, but some types of working dogs require specific grooming. Depending on their working environment and their coat type, you'll want to change how you care for them.
Herding Dogs
Herding dogs like Australian Cattle Dogs and German Shepherds tend to shed, so regular brushing can help maintain their skin and coat health. Regular brushing also helps you spot any skin issues. These dogs can have double-layered coats, so brushing out both their undercoat and topcoat will keep your herding dog happy and healthy.
Hunting Dogs
Hunting dogs, like beagles and pointers, tend to spend more time in long grasses than other dogs, which means they can pick up parasites and burrs that embed themselves in their coat or paws. Regular brushing, and ear/paw inspections, can help keep your hunting dog in the best shape possible.
Service Dogs
Service dogs, like Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers, require frequent brushing as they tend to shed a lot. If they're out and about with you, especially in places like the city, then there are lots of sights and smells, and potential sources of infection. Daily brushing, and regular wipedowns with pet-safe wipes, can help keep them clean between more thorough washes.
Your environment also changes how you should care for your working dog's skin. In colder weather, a dog's skin can dry out, so moisturising shampoos and conditioners are a must. For hotter weather, consider using pet-safe sunscreen and paw wax for their paws. The better care you can take of your pooch, the more they'll trust you and the more they'll excel out and about.
Why You Need a Professional Dog Groomer?
If you're finding your dog's skin issues hard to manage, or grooming them becomes overwhelming, then our professional groomers specialise in taking care of your working dog and managing their specific needs. Medicated baths, deep cleaning, and expert coat care can improve your working dog's well-being, so they can perform at their best, day after day. Regular professional grooming can help take the stress out of caring for your working dog's skin health, so you can focus on being their best friend!
Maintain Your Working Dog's Skin Health with Regular Grooming
When you regularly groom your dog, you're investing in their health, including their skin health. A healthy dog is a happy dog, and a healthy and happy working dog is one that's able to be their best self. If you haven't previously spent time grooming your dog, then now's a great time to start.
It's also worth speaking to your vet about your dog's needs, as they can help provide personalised skin care advice for your dog. If you're looking to learn more about the benefits of dog grooming or you're looking to have your dog professionally groomed, then we're here to help. Visit our Dog Grooming page to learn more about our team of professional groomers!
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