Dental care The Australian Shepherd will also need to have teeth brushed regularly. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean his teeth. By brushing his teeth at least three times a week, you will reduce plaque buildup and give stimulation needed for healthy gums. It's an important part of his dental and overall health.
Dogs need their teeth brushed just like humans do. Brush their teeth 2-3x a week with a dog friendly toothbrush and toothpaste. Use dental treats and sticks. At your local pet shop, you can find treats and chew sticks for your dog that can help remove build up on your dog's teeth.
Australian Shepherds are relatively easy to care for when it comes to grooming. They only need to be brushed once or twice a week, and they only need to be bathed every few months. Australian Shepherd's also shed moderately, so they may not be the best dog breed for those with allergies.
Dogs that have double or water-repellant coats, like Australian Shepherds, Siberian Huskies, Akitas, Labrador Retrievers, and Newfoundlands, may only need baths every few months. Bathing them more often than necessary can cause dry skin.
In the case of the Australian Shepherd pup, tail docking is a procedure that benefits the life of the dog. A shorter tail prevents potential breaking later in life and ensures a cleaner and more sanitary lifestyle for the dog and its owner.
Should you ever cut the fur off this breed? No, there's generally no need to give your Australian Shepherd a haircut. The only exception is trimming the hair around the feet, legs, and ears, which can get long.
Brushing your pet's teeth is slightly different than brushing our own. You need to brush only the outside surface of their teeth (those facing their cheeks). For dogs, Lee recommends brushing in a downward direction (and for cats, a horizontal motion is preferred). Ideally, you'll brush their teeth every day.
Most veterinary dentists recommend professional teeth cleanings once a year for most breeds, but a few individuals, especially smaller breeds, may need 2 visits per year due to prevent loss of teeth. After a cleaning, your veterinarian can recommend the appropriate cleaning interval for your pet.
When your dog licks you, he may be showing his affection, or simply because your lotion or skin tastes good. A compulsive licker may have unintentionally been taught this behavior by his owner: He learns that licking gets him attention, even if it's negative.
Australian Shepherds Coat Characteristics
Australian Shepherd shedding is year-round, too, though you'll notice a surplus of shedding during spring and fall.
Aussies are cotton ball fluffy when they're tiny and then they loose all that fluff and have this thin, soft, wispy chicken feather coat for a while during their adolescent phase. As they get closer to being 1 year old they finally get a long, slightly more dense and coarse adult coat (see pics below).
In dogs, their gums should be a powdery pink color. This color is a sign of healthy gums. However, if the gums are not pink, they may be pale in color, which could mean that your dog has some underlying health problems.
Like us, it is ideal to brush your dog's teeth at least twice daily. For many dogs, once brushing becomes a part of their daily routine they will begin to expect and enjoy it. Brushing three times a week is the minimum recommendation to help remove plaque and prevent tartar accumulation.
“As we learned more about dental care in our dogs and cats, it became more obvious that brushing teeth makes a difference,” Teller said. Research shows that regular brushing works with dogs and cats the same way it does with people. It helps prevent gum disease, which can have terrible consequences.
The Benefits of Raw Carrots
This chewing mechanism helps clean your dog's teeth and gums by removing residual food pieces and help clear plaque from tooth surfaces. Carrots can make great treats for your dog, due to their low-calorie content, especially if you need a larger quantity of treats when training.
Without brushing, plaque can build up, putting your dog at risk for bad breath, gum disease, and tooth decay. It can also cause painful infections. Severe infection can spread, causing life-threatening conditions.
The best way to remove plaque is to simply brush your dog's teeth daily with a dog toothbrush and dog-safe toothpaste. Brushing your pooch's teeth every now and then won't get rid of a buildup of plaque, but regular brushing will help keep their teeth and mouths healthy.
Foods such as apple slices, carrot sticks, uncooked pumpkin, sweet potato, and squash are all tasty dog-friendly human foods that help to scrape plaque and build-up off of your dog's teeth.
Brushing your dog's teeth, therefore, is one of the best things you can do to prevent periodontal disease. Typically you can clean your dog's teeth with a toothbrush designed for dogs, and of course, dog toothpaste. Most types of dog toothpaste contain scrubbing ingredients that help wash away stains and plaque.
You can improve your dog's oral health by cleaning their teeth either with a brush or just your fingers, using a few drops of coconut oil. Dog teeth cleaning can also be done by including coconut oil in his meals. Coconut oil helps to stop gingivitis and the pain of dreaded periodontitis.
Do NOT shave this breed, as it messes up the delicate balance of the coat, which insulates them from heat and from cold by holding a layer of temperate air close to the body. The coat may never grow back the same if this breed is shaved.
The Aussie Is Losing Its Puppy Coat
This typically occurs when the Australian Shepherd is between 6 months to 1 year of age and will involve your Aussie shedding its soft puppy coat for a more dense adult coat. This typically lasts for a month at most.
Bathe Your Dog 1-2 Times a Month
Regular grooming is good, constant grooming is bad. Try not to bathe your Aussie more than 1-2 times per month because you'll risk removing the natural oils from their coat. Use a deshedding dog shampoo to add vitamin E and fatty acids into their coat to help reduce excess shedding.