The Grooming Needs of a Chihuahua
Chihuahuas, just like all other dog breeds, require proper grooming to keep them healthy and clean. However, many owners and people don't understand the grooming needs of a Chihuahua. This article will take you through the needed steps for grooming a Chihuahua.
Bath Time - These words are feared by many dogs, Chihuahuas included, but bathing is an important part of a Chihuahuas grooming routine. Bathing will help them stay dirt-free, and give them a clean and healthy looking coat.
Obviously some Chihuahuas get dirtier than others, but a general rule of thumb is to bathe your Chihuahua once per month. If you have a calender in your kitchen or hanging on the wall, just mark a day for every month to help remind you. Bathing your Chihuahua too much can cause their skin to dry out.
The steps of bathing a Chihuahua are pretty straight-forward. Take your Chihuahua to either the tub or the sink (some people prefer the sink because they can stand up to bathe them), and run very luke warm water over them. Next, use a dog-friendly shampoo and lather it on them. Now scrub them down thoroughly with a washcloth and be sure to clean around their ears, but be careful not to get any shampoo in their eyes. Now you can rinse your Chihuahua clean and dry them off. Thats all there is to it! Now you have clean and bathed Chihuahua.
- Clipping Nails - This is something commonly overlooked by many owners. Clipping your Chihuahuas nails is important because if they are left to grow out, they can become infected or get caught on objects and ripped off.
To clip your Chihuahuas nails, you will need special dog nail clippers found at most pet supply stores. These will work better and are much easier to use than regular nail clippers.
Clipping their nails is pretty simple, but you need to be sure not to clip the nails too short. It can be painful and cause heavy bleeding.
- Cleaning Ears - Cleaning your Chihuahuas ears is important to prevent wax buildup and infections. This can be done simply by getting a luke warm wash cloth and gently wiping around the ears. Be sure to dry the area completely after cleaning.
- Brushing Hair - Its a good idea to get into the routine of brushing your Chihuahuas hair to keep their coat clean and tangled free.
You will need to purchase a brush suitable for the delicate skin of a Chihuahua. Don't use one with the hard bristles, instead use one that is soft so it won't hurt them. Start by gently brush through your Chihuahuas hair, continue doing so until there are no tangles.
Depending on what type of coat your Chihuahua has, you may need to brush them more often than others. Long-haired Chihuahuas obviously have more hair than their counterpat, the short-haired.
- Professional Grooming - Even though most grooming can be done from the comfort of your home, taking your Chihuahua to get a professional grooming job done is still important. They will give your Chihuahua a proper cleaning, cut their hair, check for fleas and ear mites, and clean their anal glands.
Thats about it for grooming a Chihuahua. I hope this article helps you!