There are some things you should do just about every day with your dog, just to keep a close eye on their health and well being. Besides developing a great relationship between you and your dog, you'll also notice if something goes wrong almost immediately - and can start treating or helping your dog feel better that much sooner. Problems in any dog are always easier (and cheaper!) to handle if you take care of them early on - before complications set in.
A daily routine that you start early with your puppy is not only good for you and your puppy, but also good early basic training. So many things that we do with our dogs go hand in hand with other things that eventually you realize that everything you do is training or care of some sort for the future of your dog. A daily routine should be kept short so that it stays a happy time and not something your puppy learns to dread. Ten minutes daily is MUCH better than an hour once a week!
Some things that you can check daily on your puppy include:
Eyes:
Signs of eye problems are noticing your puppy winking or squinting in only one eye, or a grey or white cloudy spot on the eye, or extra "eye goobers" (as my kids like to call them) especially if they are yellow or greenish colored. You can use just plain saline solution to wash out your puppy's eyes if you think they just have sand, dirt or grit in them, but if the problems persist have your vet check them out immediately! Eye problems left to linger too long can lead to infections, ulcers and loss of eye sight in your puppy.
Skin:
Checking the skin on your puppy can be done in just a few minutes. You want to be sure there's no sign of moisture, crusts or sticky spots. Moisture trapped next to the skin can be a cause of "hot spots" - big open sores that are really ugly to look at and no fun to treat. Running a brush over your puppy every day gives you a chance to check the skin. Also just slide your hands over your puppy's body - that allows you to quickly find any lumps or bumps that might be suddenly growing. Early detection can prevent a small cancerous growth from spreading and save your puppy's life.
Face:
Some people are using baby wipes that are hypo allergenic with aloe vera in them to wash the face.
Frequent short grooming sessions will help your puppy learn to stand still and tolerate them much better than trying to force a single long one every once in a while. Some of the tools you may want to use include a grooming table, or any surface that raises the puppy up to a comfortable height for you to work at. A non-skid surface is helpful so your puppy becomes confident of the setting. Nail clippers or a nail grinder will help you keep those toenails in good shape. Probably one of the biggest complaints people have is that their puppy won't let them trim the toenails without a horrible fight. If you touch their feet weekly, pick them up and examine them, tap them with the clippers or grinder even if you don't actually USE it much, they get used to it and the problem is solved. A natural bristle brush works to give your dog a quick finish. Many puppy owners rely on a shedding tool or shedding comb as well to comb out the dead hairs BEFORE they end up on the floor or your clothing. A towel can be used to loosen dead hair as well as to smooth the coat when you're done and give the dog a finished appearance.
