Why Routine Care Is Important for Your Dog’s Happiness and Health

Your dogs can’t verbally tell you when they’ve got a problem, but there are key things you can watch for to help catch issues early. Here’s what to know.

Key takeaways:

• Routine dog care and grooming offer benefits beyond bathing and brushing.

• Regular visits for basic hygiene and grooming include a bath, teeth brushing, nail clip, and ear cleaning.

• Regular basic hygiene and grooming care can save you a ton of time and money (and pain for your pup!) by identifying small issues before they become larger problems.

How does your dog react when you first get home from work or running errands? If they’re like most, you are greeted by one excited pup! Dogs are bundles of energy, and your return is the highlight of their day. They get so excited to see their pet parents that it’s often difficult to tell when something is wrong.

Many dogs do their best to hide injuries or sickness. This goes back to their ancestors because weak or sick pack members were more likely to get picked off by predators. Some dogs have no problem letting their people know something is wrong, though. The challenge is figuring out what the issue is.

One way to keep your dog healthy and happy is with monthly basic hygiene care and grooming.

Why are basic hygiene and routine care important?

Regular basic dog care helps give you an overview of your dog’s external health. Because most dogs are covered head to toe in fur, a lot can happen between visits. Regular visits mean your pup is seen more frequently and that staff get to know your pup and can help identify small issues before they turn into larger problems.

The second is communication. Dogs can’t tell you when something is wrong, and they often try to hide their discomfort. The result is that a minor issue (like tangled fur, an ear infection, or another issue) may progress to a major problem without regular bathing and grooming appointments. And the longer dogs feel physical discomfort, the unhappier they get, just like you.

What happens at a Scenthound routine care appointment?

With every basic hygiene and routine care appointment, we give your pup a bath, ear cleaning, nail clip, and teeth brushing. We also do a 6-point S.C.E.N.T. Check ™ that details our assessment of your pup’s overall external health.

The services all dogs need on a regular basis include:

Bathing – Many pet parents aren’t sure how often their dogs should get baths. You need a schedule: Bathing too often removes necessary natural skin oils. Not bathing enough means your dog is susceptible to disease and pests.

Nails – A dog’s nails need regular trims to avoid becoming overgrown and painful. Severely overgrown nails can puncture the pads and cause infection. If your pup doesn’t like their paws touched, a professional care appointment is just the thing to make nail cutting safer and easier.

Ears – Your dog’s ears are a source of infection. Regular ear cleaning will make sure your dog’s ears look and smell (yes, smell) healthy. Any sign of redness, swelling, or infestations from fleas, ticks, and other pests can be detected, preventing long-term hearing damage.

Teeth – Regular teeth brushing is important for a clean and healthy mouth. Your pup’s breath is important, too. Bad breath can be an indication of dental problems. Your SCENT Tech will let you know if it’s merely regular dog breath or something more concerning.

These and other checks are part of a prevention-minded care schedule for dogs. They prevent small issues from becoming large ones, and that’s a win-win-win for your dog, you, and your wallet.

The benefits of monthly routine dog care visits

Setting up monthly routine care visits for your dog can save you time and money as it helps identify issues early before they turn into bigger problems. When your dog is on a regular schedule of bathing and grooming, health issues from shedding, fleas, ticks, or other skin problems can be identified which helps you prevent them from getting any worse.

Regular basic hygiene can lower your dog’s stress levels! Dogs like routine. A monthly routine dog care schedule lets them get used to the smells, surroundings, and procedure. They become familiar with the visits. The result is a healthy, clean dog.

Get your dog on a regular schedule of routine care

As a pet parent, you already understand the importance of proper care for your pup. At Scenthound, we provide routine care and basic hygiene to keep your dog clean and healthy.

To set up a monthly routine dog care schedule for your favorite pup, use our handy store locator to find the nearest Scenthound to you today.