The Boykin Spaniel is not a high maintenance breed but they do
need regular grooming. Grooming also helps an owner notice any
irregularities that might need veterinary attention. grooming
begins on the inside of the animal.Nails
All dogs need their nails trimmed on a regular basis. The
inside of a dog's toe nail is called the "quick". If trimming is
done at least once a month the quick will remain short and the
job is easier to perform. When nails are allowed to grow too
long the quick will also grow long, resulting in accidental
cutting of the quick which is painful to the dog and causes
excessive bleeding.
Trimming nails can be done with dog nail clippers or ground
with a Dremel tool or Oster Professional Nail Grinder. The nail clippers can quickly trim the bulk
of excess nail, but may leave very sharp edges. Dremel tools can
grind a nail to have dull edges, but be careful of heat build-up
from friction on the nail. Grinding can also take a longer time
if the nails are allowed to grow too long.
Trim hair away from the nails and pads with blunt-nosed
scissors will help you see what you are trimming. Trimming hair
away from pads will also help to keep your dog from sliding on
slick surfaces like wood flooring or finished concrete.
Ears
Ears on dogs, especially dogs who spend time in water, can
become infected (called Otitis externa) .
A healthy ear has normal amounts of yeast and bacteria. A number
of problems can cause the balance of nature in the ear to become
disrupted, causing the normal amounts to grow to infection
levels. Organisms and parasites may also cause infection,
sometime too deep or hidden for veterinarians to see without
taking a sample to view under a microscope. If your dog is
rubbing it's head excessively on the ground or with a paw, check
his ears for discharge or caked on material. If discharge is present or if discomfort
continues, take the dog to the vet. Attempting to cure an
infection on your own can often make it worse. A veterinarian
can diagnose the cause of the problem and issue a prescription
to treat it. Check normal, health ears weekly. Keep hair
clipped away from the ear canals so that they can stay clean and
dry. Check for ticks or burrs that can attach themselves around
the ears and ear leathers. Over the counter cleaners can be used
to remove any external dirt with gauze or cotton wipes. Q-tips
may be used with caution around the visible areas of the outer
ear, taking care not to stick it down the canal by accident. Be
extremely careful not to damage the
delicate ear canal linings and do not put anything into the ear
canal. Damaging the ear canal or ear drum is a serious
veterinary emergency as it is very painful and can lead to
worsening ear problems. Teeth
Teeth are often neglected in regular grooming. Once per year
cleanings at the vet are not enough to keep your dog's teeth in
good health. Ask your vet or groomer to show you how to properly
care for teeth and what chew toys or bones can help fight plaque
or build up.
The Coat
A Boykin needs to be brushed frequently to prevent mats,
remove burrs and remove loose fur. How frequently depends on how
much time they are outside, what terrain they run through and if
their coat has been clipped down. Occasional bathing and
frequent brushing will help
reduce fur shedding. Monthly flea, tick and mosquito treatments
can be affected by bathing your dog; read the instructions on
the treatment box if unsure. Many people choose to clip their
dog's coat for functional or aesthetic reasons. Any groomer can
give your dog a "spaniel cut" and many might offer a diagram or
picture for you to see what the finished product will look like.
Other owners may want the coat to be cut short all over their
body by the groomer which will reduce the brushing needed at
home between clips. Some people decide to purchase grooming
equipment themselves and learn to clip their dog at home from a
friend or video seminar. Whatever the decision know that there
are no "rules" to clipping your Boykin. If investigating whether
to add a new dog to your household you should ask a local
groomer how much they will be charging and how often the dog
will need to be clipped to stay in the cut you like to help
determine your cost of caring for a Boykin Spaniel. All owners will need to invest in grooming equipment
such as brushes to use between clippings. It is best to have a
grooming bag on hand with a few essentials such as a soft pin brush, a comb and ball-tipped scissors along with your
tools for trimming nails, cleaning ears and cleaning teeth.
Clipping the "whiskers" or vibrissae
Vibrissae or sensory organs (hairs) on the sides of the
muzzle often referred to as whiskers. It is a common practice
for groomers to clip around the muzzle to "tidy up the face".
However, you should be fully aware of the fact that canine
whiskers are not just funny looking hairs that ought to be
trimmed "to present a neat appearance." While trimming will not
incapacitate the dog's overall life, areas of training may be
hindered by the lack of vibrissae. You may want to instruct your
groomer to leave the muzzle unclipped if you intend to work with
your dog in hunt retrieves, tracking, obedience or other areas
when he may use his muzzle to locate and retrieve items. More
articles on vibrissae:
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