A Guide to DIY Dog Grooming in Lebanon

The importance of keeping our companion animals clean cannot be understated. 

A Guide to DIY Dog Grooming in Lebanon

Both for their sakes and ours, it is imperative that their surroundings and their bodies be kept hygienic. 

Maintaining a certain standard of cleanliness protects pets from bacteria and parasites that may cause diseases, keeps your home cleaner, and makes the experience of cuddling them all the more pleasurable! 

 In this article, we will cover the essentials of dog grooming in Lebanon. So, as a dog parent, how can you keep your dog clean without taking him or her to a groomer? Keep reading to find out.

 

DOGS NEED TO BE BATHED MORE OFTEN THAN CATS

 

Bathing frequency differs according to breed, your dog’s coat, and whether he or she is mostly indoors or an indoor/outdoor dog. 

 With that being said, all dogs should be bathed regularly. Some dogs need to be bathed as often as once a week, while others can get by with a bath only a few times a year. Dogs also tend to need more baths when the weather is warmer.

Washing dogs should eliminate dead skin, dirt, and oil build-up, but shouldn’t dry out their skin or adversely affect their fur. A proper dog shampoo also shouldn’t cause any allergic reactions. For these reasons, choosing the right dog shampoo and conditioner is extremely important.

At Charity Shop, we sell high quality locally made AND imported dog shampoos and conditioners:

  • Check out our Blue Pet Brand products, which are 100% hand-made in Lebanon, organic, vegan, pH friendly, and vet and groomer approved. Browse through our Blue Pet Brand products (including dog shampoos and conditioners) here. Learn more about this amazing Lebanese brand at the Blue Pet Care website.
  • Natura Shiny Black Shampoo is another excellent option that we sell at CS. Made in Turkey, it is especially formulated for dogs with dark coats. Since darker colors tend to absorb more UV, while lighter colors tend to deflect it, this means that dogs with darker fur will experience more side-effects from the Sun’s harmful rays. According to the Natura website, this shampoo has a UV filter in its composition to protect your best friend. It is also pH friendly (this means it won’t upset your dog’s skin) and combats bad odors. 

Always check which shampoo you should use with your vet when grooming a dog in Lebanon, especially if he or she has a pre-existing skin condition or allergy.

A DAILY BRUSHING AND DETANGLING IS A MUST FOR MOST DOGS

 

Shedding is a huge problem for many dogs and their parents. 

 Even dogs with shorter coats can shed profusely! Some dogs even have undercoats that can shed underneath their top coat! Dogs with longer fur can also get their fur knotted and tangled, which if left this way, can lead to an assortment of health problems.

So, how is one supposed to manage this chaos? 

Well, the solution to reducing shedding, detangling, and distributing the natural oils in your dogs’ coat evenly is a daily brushing for medium or long-haired dogs/ dogs with thick undercoats OR a weekly brushing for short-haired dogs. Of course this might vary according to your individual dog’s needs, but this is a general guideline for dog grooming in Lebanon.

At Charity Shop, we sell an assortment of brushes, each with different functions. Here, we will explain what each dog is brush is best suited for :

  • If your main concern is shedding (and NOT detangling) then the furminator is your best choice! This brush has very short and close together teeth, so it is very effective at removing loose hairs from both the dog’s top coat and their undercoat. If you have a short-haired dog you can choose the furminator deshedding brush for short fur (which comes in four different sizes according to your dog’s). If you have a dog with longer fur you can choose the furminator deshedding brush for long fur (which also comes in four sizes).
  • If you are mainly concerned with detangling your dog’s fur (i.e. you have a medium/ longhaired dog with a thinner undercoat or no undercoat), we recommend our Duvo Detangling Comb. 
  • Our M- Pets Rake Comb is excellent for dogs with very long and thick fur. Its widely spaced and longer teeth allow it to reach their undercoats and detangle their whole coat effectively.
  • If you would like the best of both worlds, then you can try our Duvo Slicker Brush! This brush is especially good for dematting dogs with medium/ long and curly fur, but it is also great at removing loose fur and minimizing shedding.
  • The Duvo Coat Care Glove 2 In 1 is a great tool for massaging your short-haired dog’s fur, distributing oils, and getting any surface debris or loose hairs off, according to the Duvo website. Be warned that this tool will not work for longer furred dogs or those that shed excessively. This is best-suited for a low-maintenance dog coat.
  • Finally, it is also worth checking out our Blue Pet Brand Coconut Detangling Spray. This spray soothes, hydrates, and calms your dog’s coat so that it is easier to groom and detangle. This spray is especially useful if your dog’s fur tends to get extremely knotted.

 If your dog is long-haired AND high-shedding, you might need to purchase two different types of brushes (a detangling brush and a shedding brush) and/ or a spray.

YOUR DOG’S SKIN AND PAW PADS DESERVE SOME LOVE TOO!

 

Your dog’s exposed areas of skin such as their paw pads and their nose can easily get cracked in the cold, and blistered or sunburned in the heat. This is not only uncomfortable for your dog, but can lead to hygiene and health issues such as flaky or patchy skin, infections, frostbite, and burns.

 The same can be said about the skin on your dog’s body. While it is more protected thanks to your dog’s fur, it can easily become irritated and dry due to many external factors.

At Charity Shop, we have a few products designed to cleanse, moisturize, and  protect your dog’s sensitive skin for dog grooming in Lebanon:

  • Blue Pet Brand’s Paw Foam Cleaner will keep your dog’s paw pads clean (especially after long adventures), whilst maintaining the integrity of the skin on his or her pads. Cleansing your dog’s paw pads regularly after walks also helps to keep your home cleaner and prevents infections in the case of cracked paw pads.
  • Wipes can also be a great way to keep your dog’s skin and fur clean on the go, or as a quick touch-up. Certain brands can also contain hydrating and soothing ingredients. Check out the wipes we carry here.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT ORAL AND DENTAL HYGIENE!

 

Did you know that your dog’s teeth require regular brushing just like yours?

  • At Charity Shop, we sell the Pawise Finger Brush, which is ideal for gently brushing your dog’s teeth and gums.

EYES AND EARS ARE IMPORTANT

 

By keeping your dog’s eyes and ears in tip-top shape, you can ensure that  two of your dog’s most important senses (sight and hearing) are working as they should!

Tear Stains

Just like us, dog’s eyes produce tears. However, unlike us, these tears do not run down a dog’s face when he or she is upset, but instead are strictly responsible for keeping their eyes free of dirt and debris. If you have a dog (especially with a lighter colored coat), you might have noticed that this process causes “tear stains”. 

 These occur due to a certain chemical in your dog’s tears oxidizing and turning the fur along the path of your dog’s “tear tracks” red, light brown, or pink. Sometimes tear stains can signify certain health problems. Even if they don’t, they can lead to infections if they aren’t cleaned properly. 

KEEP THEIR NAILS IN CHECK

Yet another thing we have in common with our best friends is that we both need our nails trimmed to maintain cleanliness, prevent accidents, and ensure proper movement and functionality of our hands, feet, and paws. 

 Did you know that you can trim your dog’s nails yourself as well? 

Remember to Stop Before the Quick!

 The critical thing here is to remember to never trim beyond the quick! The quick is equivalent to the pink part of your nails, and it also appears as a non-white color on dogs’ nails (usually pink or purple, but can be more difficult to see in dogs with darker nails). It contains sensitive tissue and will hurt the dog if cut. So, remember to stop trimming before you reach it!

  • Try our Duvo Nail Clipper and keep your dog’s paws healthy as a necessary part of the regimen of grooming your dog in Lebanon. 

DOGGY BAGS

An often neglected part of maintaining dog hygiene and dog grooming in Lebanon is keeping the dog’s surroundings clean! 

 When you take your dog on walks, don’t forget to pick up after them!

This way, you are keeping your neighborhood clean and ensuring public safety and health for other people and pets as well. Be a responsible pet parent and choose from our selection of dog poop bags.

KEEPING YOUR DOG CLEAN IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

 

It is a fact that many of us look after dogs with special needs. Keeping a special needs dog clean and healthy doesn’t have to be complicated! At Charity Shop, we sell products to make life easier for you and better for your dog, regardless of their circumstances or conditions.

  • Dog pants can keep surfaces clean in case of incontinence or other special needs (e.g. a female dog in heat). They can also help protect wounds or infections in that area.  Our Duvo Dog Pants come in extra-small, small, medium, large, and extra-large. So, no matter the size of your dog; he or she can live their life uninhibited!

Of course, if your dog has certain skin conditions or parasites, a regular shampoo and grooming routine just won’t cut it.

  • Virbac’s Effitix is a spot-on solution for all types of external parasites (including fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, lice, biting flies, and mites). This solution comes in four different concentrations according to the size of your dog, so be sure to read the label and get the right dosage for your furry friend.
  •  NexGard is a bestselling oral “chewable” medication that not only tastes wonderful to dogs but also offers full protection from external, and in the case of NexGard Spectra, internal parasites. The flavor is a huge bonus because pet parents do not have to struggle to get the pill in their dogs’ systems.

Once again, only use these after you have obtained the approval of your vet and have had your dog thoroughly examined.

 

Since we have covered the basics of dog grooming in Lebanon in this article, we hope that you will find how easy and wonderful it is to keep your pal squeaky clean! Regardless of size, condition, or special needs, Charity Shop has got your dog quite literally covered from head to toe! Start on your quest to cleanliness and help to keep shelter dogs clean and happy at the same time by purchasing some of our dog grooming or health and wellness products.

Best regards,
The Charity Shop Team

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By Ruqayya