Daily Dog Care Routine

1 Nails

Nails keep growing and only wear down with lots of exercise, which most house dogs lack, so regular trimming matters. Untrimmed nails cause sore paws, chewing at the feet, and lameness.

On white nails you can see the pink quick (the blood vessel) at the base; trim when the nail clicks on the floor. On black nails the quick is hidden and easy to cut, so just snip the curved tip to stay safe, since the nail is full of vessels and nerves.

2 Ears

Built-up wax makes ears smell, especially in droopy-eared breeds with poor airflow. Wax breeds bacteria, so wipe the outer ear with a cotton swab regularly, but never go deep inside; most dogs are sensitive there, so cleaning the flap is enough.

3 Mouth

Beyond daily tooth care, after meals lift the lips to check for trapped food and wipe it with tissue or gauze. Leftover food makes the mouth badly odoriferous.

4 Face

Wipe the face daily for a quick clean; dogs prone to tear stains especially need it, since un-wiped stains smell. Use a damp tissue or swab, keep the eyes clean, and trim stray hair around the eyes on long-coated dogs.