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Grooming & Regular Care (Part 4)
Teeth
Keeping your collies’ teeth and gums clean and healthy is an important part of the weekly maintenance programme. It’s important for two reasons – firstly it will avoid expensive vet bills in later life and secondly it will avoid unpleasant breath!
Human toothpaste is not suitable for dogs as it should not be swallowed – they cannot rinse and spit! Fortunately, there are many dog friendly versions of toothpaste on the market.
As far as toothbrushes go, we prefer the type that fit over the finger.
Ears and Nose
The final two tasks in the weekly routine are to check the ears and if necessary clean them, and to check the condition of the nose.
Cleaning and Inspecting the Ears.
Firstly, fold the ear open and check the cleanliness of the inside of the ear ‘flap’. This can be cleaned with a piece of cotton wool (or make-up removal pad) moistened with surgical spirit.
Secondly, check the cleanliness of the crevices around the outer ear. These may be cleaned with cotton buds, again moistened with surgical spirit. Be gentle as you do this. Never put the cotton but into the ear canal.
Excessive wax and a strong smell from the ear indicate that the vet should be consulted.
The Nose.
The collie nose can become dry in the corners, so regularly inspect it and, if necessary, smear on some Vaseline.
Treat a dry nose with a dab of Vaseline.
The Eyes.
It is not uncommon for a small amount of mucus to collect in the inside corner of the eyes. This should be gently wiped away. A trick for doing this gently and effectively is to use the corner of a clean handkerchief!
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