Grooming and Health Care

Grooming and Health Care http://www.tinyshihtzu.com/grooming.htm http://www.majestyshihtzu.com/ms_vphogal.php?nolang&PGCatID=10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiiSio90tx4 http://stfsc.bizland.com/grooming.htm <<

These five steps are the fundamentals of Shih Tzu and any dog breed grooming procedure are:

1. Brushing and Combing 2. Bathing 3. Blow Drying 4. Ear Cleaning 5. Nail Trimming

Brushing and combing techniques: The approach to your Shih Tzu consists of starting each step from the hindquarters. The theory behind this approach is if the Shih Tzu cannot see what you are doing, he will be less likely to object. Staring from the hindquarters proceed to groom the Shih Tzu systematically, part by part, step by step.

The actual technique of correct Shih Tzu coat brushing and combing is to first grasp the left rear leg of your Shih Tzu and while holding part of the hair in one hand brush the other part. To get to the undersides of your Shih Tzu's leg, lift the leg of your Shih Tzu up and while holding firmly with one hand, brush the undersides.

Lay down your brush and pick up your comb. The main function of the comb is to find and remove tangles, mats or knots left in the Shih Tzu coat after brushing. Run the comb through the leg coat you just brushed out. If you find a knot in the Shih Tzu's leg coat, hold the bottom part of the knot firmly with one hand and comb or tease out the knot with the other.

When you are finished brushing and combing both hind legs of your Shih Tzu, do exactly the same with the two front legs of your Shih Tzu. When all four legs of your Shih Tzu are done, go back to the hindquarters of your Shih Tzu. This time, you will concentrate on the tail of your Shih Tzu. Proceed to do the entire body coat of your Shih Tzu, first left side, then right side, then underside, then the front or chest areas of your Shih Tzu. The most systematic way of brushing out the body coat of your Shih Tzu is from rear to front, layer by layer, lifting up with one hand a layer of Shih Tzu coat and brushing down to the skin with the brush hand.

The final step is the head, including the ears. The heavy furnishings on the head of your Shih Tzu are part of their beauty. No effort should be spared in thoroughly brushing and combing this area of your Shih Tzu. You now have the face of your Shih Tzu to do. Once you have mastered the technique of the brushing and combing melody, no area of your Shih Tzu should present a problem. Combing your Shih Tzu is always the final, finishing touch.

Bathe at least every other week. The short muzzle of a Shih Tzu causes them to place their face very close to things in order to smell them causing their face to frequently get dirty. The short muzzle can also cause more tearing than in the long muzzle breeds. Their face will need cleaning at least twice a week. Use a soft toothbrush to wash under the eye area and rinse well. If your Shih Tzu gets their feet dirty outside everyday, just wash the feet. Bathing too often will remove the natural oils necessary for a shiny, healthy coat.

Brush them before AND after you bathe them. Brushing before makes the brushing afterward part much easier. Place some cotton balls in their ears before the bath. Water in the ears is one of the most common causes of ear infections. Also a Drop of mineral Oil in Each Eye will protect them from the Harmful Shampoo should it get into their eyes. Please remember to remove the Cotton balls and use a drop of Eye drops once you are done with the bath!

Express the anal gland during bathing. This is a small sac right inside the anus that fills with a brownish fluid. Consult your vet or groomer if you need help.

Ear Cleaning: Cleaning the ears of your Shih Tzu is a simple chore. With the Shih Tzu being a long-haired breed, problems can arise if ears nor cleaned regularly. The hair in the ears of a Shih Tzu will grow long, knot up, mat and eventually interfere with proper functioning of the Shih Tzu's ear canal. Infection of your Shih Tzu's ears can result.

You will need a bottle or can of ear powder easily obtained through pet supply manufacturers. Squirt a SMALL amount of the powder directly into the ears of your Shih Tzu. The hair will become dry and brittle and is easily plucked out with your fingers. Pluck the hair out of your Shih Tzu's ears with a quick, firm motion until the ears of your Shih Tzu look clean. You can also use a hemostat to pluck the hair out of your Shih Tzu's ears, but careful not to pinch their skin.

. Also a bottle of Ear Cleaner Solution, lay your shih tzu on its side and apply a small amount of the cleaner, now message the ear gently , then. Let the shih tzu shake their head a moment and Swab your Shih Tzu's ears gently with a cotton ball after flushing it with the ear cleaner to remove all the wax and cleaner. Be sure to purchase ear canker powder as it has the additional benefit of helping to control canker and ear mites in your Shih Tzu , follow the directions.

Nail trimming: Keeping your Shih Tzu's nail trimmed is important. Without regular trimming, your Shih Tzu's nails may grow so long that they actually throw the Shih Tzu off his natural balance and act as a source of irritation. Neglecting to trim your Shih Tzu's nails also detracts from the look of an otherwise well-groomed Shih Tzu.

Nail trimmers and techniques: Guillotine type nail trimmers are the best to use on your Shih Tzu. Hold the trimmers vertically. Grasp the foot of the Shih Tzu firmly, hold the leg up towards you, carefully trim each nail of your Shih Tzu. It may sometimes be unnecessary to trim the nails on the hind feet of your Shih Tzu as they seem to grow much slower than the fore feet. If dewclaws are present on your Shih Tzu, trim the dewclaws as well. The shorter you keep your Shih Tzu's nail, the better, and frequent trimming will help tighten the feet and improve the dog's balance. Be careful about the "quick." The "quick" is a vein that can be easily observed in most white and light-colored Shih Tzu when the toenails are "white." The "quick" is more difficult to identify in toenails of darker colored Shih Tzu. More often that not, these are black rather than white in the darker colored Shih Tzu. Nail bleeding: If the nails of your Shih Tzu bleed after trimming, or if you trim them to close to the "quick," there is no need for alarm. Always have on hand one of the antiseptic coagulants which you can purchase through any pet supply manufacturer or Farm supply store for your Shih Tzu. These substances will stop quickly any bleeding. Using a cotton swab dab a little of the powder on the bleeding toenail of your Shih Tzu and hold it with a little pressure for a few seconds. The bleeding should stop quickly.

The best time to trim the nails or clean the ears is before you bath your Shih Tzu so that all traces of blood or powder will be washed away. However, the nails of your Shih Tzu will be softer right after bathing.