Tips for the care of Spanish Mastiff
Is it right or not to bathe the dog?
If it is right or not to bathe the dog with soap or shampoo, it is a very debated issue that divides dog lovers and veterinarians.
A school of thought supports the theory that it is harmful to wash the dog because the products used destroy the sebaceous substances essential for the balance of the epidermis and the protection against external agents.
Brushing your dog daily is considered sufficient, a duty in order to ensure a constant cleanliness. However in summer the bathe of the dog in lakes, sea or rivers, is considered harmless.
On the other hand, there is also who supports the benefit and efficacy of the bath to maintain the health itself of the animal as well as a better coexistence with humans.
If it is true that “the truth stays in the middle”; then, also in this case, the good sense has to prevail. An absolute rule cannot be established because the need to wash your dog will vary depending on the environment where it lives.
Obviously a dog that lives in a house and is not at direct and continuous contact with earth and dirt will not need to be washed too often, while for a dog living outdoors in the countryside, bathing the dog becomes a good habit, at least once a year.
These two opposing views, however, agree on one point regarding the prohibition of wetting the puppies under six months and, for some, up to one year of age. The Spanish Mastiff does not give off any unpleasant smell, usually just a good brushing is enough. For cleaning the puppy dry shampoo and mousse or specific powders are more suitable, they remove any dirt from the hair giving it also a nice scent in case you want to remove unpleasant smell.
In addition, you should brush it every day, perhaps when returning home from the walk, for, hygiene reasons and to get it used to be “cured”. At one year of age, it can receive the first bath, always considering the weather conditions trying to avoid the coldest months. Spring and summer months are better. In summer, the bath will be much appreciated by the dog and it can also save it from the excessive heat. Apart from the season of the bath, you should never neglect to dry the hair very well to avoid any residual moisture, cause of colds and dermatitis.
How to make a proper cleaning of the hair?
Brushing your dog at least twice a week is a highly appreciated habit for the beauty as and the hygiene of the dog. This habit should become a duty and during the moulting time the coat should be brush it every day to accelerate the loss of old hair and leave space and oxygen to the new one. An accumulation of the remaining hair may in fact increase the incidence of dermatitis or an excess of sebum. It is important to dry the dewlap of the dog after it has drunk. The excess of sebum is due to a huge production by the sebaceous glands and it can be dry or wet. In the first case, we can notice dandruff or skin flakes in the hair. In the second case, the hair becomes very greasy, oily and sometimes even smelly. In both cases of seborrhea (after excluding a possible parasitary cause, see following pp.), frictions with apple cider vinegar is a good remedy, otherwise you can opt for a bath. The excess of sebum can involve a renewal of the usual diet of the dog or the integration of specific nutrients.
How to clean dog ears?
Dogs have very sensitive ears, especially when it comes to breeds with long and hanging hears. This kind of ears does not help the passage of air and by keeping the humidity, bacteria proliferate more easily. It is quite easy to collect, dirt or parasites such as mites in the ears. They can cause various degrees of ears infections and even very serious damages to the hearing and nervous apparatus of the dog.
For these reasons it is advisable to maintain the hygiene of ears by cleaning them at least once a week. However in presence of ear infections or particularly resistant earwax it is good to clean them daily with specific products. In the market there are many lotions suitable for cleaning dog ears, but you can also use Vaseline oil or wet wipes for children. After soaking the cotton wool ( disks of cotton wool as those used to remove make-up are handy) in one of these fluids, you can clean the outside part of the ear by removing dirt from its folds. It may be necessary sometimes to apply certain products directly in the ear to melt the wax and help its discharge. Only later let’s use some cotton wool to clean and dry the material that has come out. You should be careful not to go too deep into the ear to avoid creating any trouble. Anyway for beginners, it is advisable to ask the vet to show them the proper way to perform this simple task..
How to clean the eyes?
The eyes should be cleaned at least every two or three days. You can use some camomile for its calming and decongestant property, some boric water slightly disinfectant or other specific products. Wipe gently the lachrymal duct with some cotton wool without rubbing the cornea. After the cleaning process it is possible to put a drop of collyrium. The eye cleaning prevent against irritation and conjunctivitis caused by dust, long exposition to wind or irritating substances of various kind.
How to clean the teeth?
Development of teeth in a dog is like the one in humans, with the exception of the timing. A year old puppy has already got permanent set of teeth, almost complete. From now on the dog teeth start a gradual degeneration. This decline may be slowed down or mitigated through a good home dental hygiene or with the assistance of a vet. There are, in fact, toothbrushes and toothpaste designed for dogs, but you can also use baking soda or lemon juice. Giving the dog a bone of buffalo, which is available commercially, to chew may be another solution although this may have other contraindication for both, behaviour and health. Even the best dog in the world can develop a possessive attachment to the bone that may induce unwanted aggressive behaviour towards us and its conspecifics. This does not mean you should deprive him of this “special joy” but only that you have to educate it, since it is a puppy ,to let you take away the bone or anything else without showing signs of aggression. You have to do a smart work without that the puppy thinks you want to steal his prize as this would increase its attachment even more. Regarding its intestinal health, you should pay attention to certain types of bone that, when swallowed whole, can cause intestinal obstructions.
Should nails be cut?
A dog that does enough exercise should not need any cutting of nails as these, upon contact with the ground, file themselves naturally. The only nails that don’t consume are the spurs. In breeds in which single or double spurs are accepted (Spanish Mastiff is one of them) they have to be shortened because otherwise they could grow in causing infection. You can ask your vet to cut the spurs, or you can buy a pair of suitable scissors, but in this case, you must be very careful not to damage the animal by cutting them too short risking to excise some capillary.
How to keep the hygiene of the genitals?
The hygiene of the genital area is particularly important in fully grown and young females. With some cotton soaked in a disinfectant solution, gently clean the outer part of the two labia without going to much inside. This cleaning is essential, particularly during the menstrual cycle when the vulva thickens and widens facilitating the entry of bacteria and dirt. Before and after the heat you may notice some vaginal discharges, however, they should never be yellowish or reddish or smell bad, because in that case there could be an infection of uterus. If those discharges are also associated with other symptoms such as increased thirst, loss of appetite, sometimes vomiting and general malaise, you should immediately consult your veterinarian. Genital cleaning can be done also in males even if the risk of infection is lower.
How to take care of the feet?
Feet care means the weekly check of the interdigital and plantar areas. Not being protected by shoes, these areas of the dog are more exposed to the possibility of injuring from stones, thorns, sharp rocks, pieces of glass, ears, etc.
A weekly check allows to detect and disinfect possible wounds and, if necessary, to bandage them.
These parts may also be affected by a prolonged exposure to snow and ice as well as to a very dry and dusty ground. The excessive cold and dust make the fingertips to become dry and the subsequent chapping. In order to prevent this from happening, you can keep them soft with some cream or vaseline oil.
The injuries affecting the feet, although of banal entity, can turn into a real nightmare when the dog, feeling the trouble, begins to lick incessantly preventing the healing of the wound and provoking itself further lacerations. If you notice this attitude, it is recommended (though it might break our heart) to keep the dog with the Elizabethan collar, to give the wound time to heal completely.
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