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Grooming
Your French Bulldog
Grooming your pets
doesn't mean that they have to be made-up and untouchable; it simply
means that you're taking good care of their health by keeping a watchful
eye on their hygiene. Pets, like humans, are more likely to remain
healthy when they are clean and well groomed. Contrary to popular
belief, dogs are not wild animals; they require regular grooming
attention to keep them healthy in their domestic environments. One of
the major benefits of a regular grooming regimen is that you will become
familiar with your pet's body. This allows you to quickly recognize
problems with his health, so you can bring them to your veterinarian's
attention sooner.
Basic Brushing
Brushing your Frenchie removes dead hair and skin, spreads out natural
oils in their coat, and helps keep them from developing an odor. It is
one of the simplest things you can do for your dog, but it is also one
of the most necessary. A variety of brushes and combs are available-make
sure that you use one appropriate for your pet's coat. Since
French Bulldogs have short hair, a weekly brushing may be enough to keep
their coat in good order.
During Tick and Flea
season, apply Advantage or Frontline for the best flea and tick
protection.
Allpet's Weekly Specials 
The
Ears
Ears are a prime place for infection-keeping your little buddy's ears
clean is a great way to prevent illness. Regularly look into the ear and
examine the inside. Make sure that they are a healthy pink color. If
everything looks good, wipe the inner the ear with a cotton ball, or
Q-tips being careful not to touch any part of the ear that you cannot
easily see or deep into the ear canal. If you notice any symptoms (sensitivity to touch; brown,
black, or yellow discharge; foul odor; shaking or continuously tilting
head; or circling in one direction) take your pet to the veterinarian to
have his ears examined. Another option for cleaning the ears is to use a
liquid ear cleanser. But never use an ear cleanser on your pet if you
have noticed there could be a problem. The cleansers could cause severe
damage if your pet has an inner ear infection or if something has
damaged his ear drum.
The
Teeth
Routine dental care is essential to your pet's overall good health.
Approximately 80 percent of all three-year-old dogs show some sign of
periodontal disease, characterized by a build-up of plaque and tarter on
their teeth above and below the gum line. This disease can lead to gum
infection and tooth loss. Your pet's poor dental hygiene is much more
serious than his embarrassingly bad breath-infected gums and dirty teeth
have been linked to kidney and secondary heart disease in pets. For
information on cleaning your pet's teeth, click
HERE In addition to your home care, your veterinarian should
perform yearly dental check-ups on your pal; she will let you know when
you need to have your Frenchies teeth professionally cleaned.
The
Feet
Many French
Bulldogs prefer NOT to have their paws handled,
making nail trimming especially traumatic for them. Like it or not, it
still must be done. Try touching his ears or paws when you praise him,
and before you know it, your little toad will love to be handled in
those sensitive spots. Your dog's claws should not ever extend so
far that his nails come in contact with the ground when he's standing
normally on a flat surface. Nails this long place unneeded stress on
your pooch's paws, which in turn can lead to foot problems. Be careful
not to trim your Frenchies nails too far down; you could cut into the
quick (the part of their nail which contains the blood). If you should
cut their nails too close, apply pressure or use clotting powder to stop
the bleeding. Make sure you use nail clippers designed especially for
animals. Here's an excellent strategy for those who hate the
clippers: only cut a nail or two in one sitting. Who said you have to do
it all at once? Spread it out over a few days and you'll lower the
stress level immensely. Many breeders use a dremel tool to trim their
dogs nails. This is a quick and effective way to trim and smooth
sharp edges of the nails.
The
Eyes
Examine your pet's baby blues often to make sure that everything looks
good. You want to ensure that any abnormal conditions are noticed as
soon as possible so that your veterinarian can begin treatment
immediately. Be extremely careful with your pet's eyes during all parts
of the grooming process. You might consider applying protection, like
sterile ophthalmic ointment or drops, to the eyes before bathing. Dogs
have very sensitive eyes, and soap-even "tearless" soap-can damage
their corneas. If tear staining is a problem, you might consider looking
at some of the products available commercially to help you care for your
pet, or ask your veterinarian or groomer for advice. 
Serious Suds
The ever-popular "B" word-few animals feel that bath time is something
to celebrate. In fact, the majority of our pets probably dread a bath
more than anything else. Nevertheless, sometimes it is a necessary evil.
On the bright side, the more often you brush your dog, the less often
you will have to subject them to the dreaded bath-time experience. Here
are some basics to cover before putting your pet in the water.
First, protect your Frenchies ears by placing cotton inside them and
fold the ear down while rinsing the facial area making sure not to get water in the ear
canal.
This will avoid getting soap in the ears which could be painful. Make
sure you have everything you need where you can reach it. After your Frenchie is wet, it will be much more difficult to leave to retrieve the
shampoo. And finally, close off all escape routes. This will help you
avoid chasing a wet pet around the couch. You may consider putting a
towel or screen on the bottom of the tub or sink-if your dog has a
secured footing he will not be so upset.
Now you're ready to
let the fun begin! Always use shampoo and conditioner designed especially for your
animal. Human shampoo is not made for dogs; it can be harmful to their
skin, drying it out and destroying their natural oils. Lather
thoroughly, leaving the face until the end. After you have washed well,
make sure that you rinse just as well, as leaving soap in the coat can
irritate the skin. After shampooing, apply conditioner and rinse. Towel your little frog off and rub him down. If he'll
accept it, you can blow dry him.
Though it might
sometimes be a struggle to keep your Frenchie in clean condition, it's well
worth it. Not only are you improving his health, you're bonding with him
in the process. Good grooming
habits are a must for any happy household.
You can
purchase all of your Frenchie products online! Here are a few
great web sites we
recommend.
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