Bloodhounds As Pets: A Handbook On Care
One surprising key to success when it comes to Bloodhounds as pets is grooming. The main tip is to always have a towel ready and waiting to catch the common release of drool out of the dog’s mouth. Other dogs have their own challenges such as course coats that grow continuously or fine coats that break easily, but this breed stands out in its unique way. There is a lot to learn about maintaining the health and hygiene of your pet, and this article outlines everything you need to know. With patience, consistency and a forgiving heart, a bloodhound can be your most treasured and affectionate companion.
Understanding the Breed: Bloodhounds as Pets
The bloodhound is a big, loving breed recognized for its extensive, floppy ears, drooping skin and tracking talents. They are smart and loyal to their families.
Quick Step-by-Step Overview
- Trim the nails
- Brush the hair
- Comb
- Health check
- Clean ears
- Rinse thoroughly
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Complete rinse
- Brush teeth
- Towel dry
- Blow dry
- Brush
- Praise and optional fragrance and accessory
Tools You Need
- Nail clippers, grinder
- Pin brush
- Slicker brush
- Something to stop bleeding such as quick stop, benzocaine, stypic powder, nail cauterizer, cornstarch, sugar or even baking soda. Note: only use powdery food products to stop bleeding if you happen to cut the tongue.
- Canine ear solution
- Cotton swabs
- Dog toothpaste and toothbrush
- Bath suited for your dog
- Grooming table
- Leash attachment
- Canine shampoo and conditioner
- Towel appropriate for the size of the dog
- Force dryer Fragrance (optional)
- Bandana or bow (optional)
Prep
Perform a health check by looking over the skin, focusing on the folds such as the dewlap area beneath the neck. This breed’s wrinkles can sometimes sustain harmful levels of moisture, causing skin infection, so be aware of this.
Use a FURminator to remove any excess hair.
Cut the nails with a clipper or use a Dremel to file them down. Pets can be resistant to people touching their feet. Practice touching their feet often and holding onto them even when the dog pulls away. Don’t tug hard because that can dislocate their shoulder. Just get them acclimated to you holding onto them gently. Find out more about trimming here.
The quick, a blood vessel within the nail, is difficult to see on dark nails. It ends where the nail starts to curve dramatically. If you do hit it, the dog will bleed profusely, so have some powder ready to stop the bleeding in case of an accident.
Clean out the ears with some dog ear solution and a cotton ball. Leave a cotton ball in each ear (not too deep) to prevent water from getting into the ears during the bath.
If there is a bad smell in the ears, that is a sign of infection and the dog needs to visit the vet.
Use mineral oil on each eye and wipe with a cotton ball until all debris and gunk is out. Sterile ophthalmic eye ointment is also fine.
Bath
Rinse well and then bathe in a canine shampoo. Use conditioner if you choose. Rinse out all the shampoo completely because, if left on the skin, it can cause irritation.
Dry
Towel dry as much as possible, and then force dry.
Groom
This is a short-haired, so there isn’t much to do in the way of trimming. It’s always good to use an electric clipper to remove hair between the pads. Use a 30F or 40F blade when doing this.
Maintenance For Bloodhounds as Pets
Walk your dog every day! Bloodhounds need a lot of exercise. This will help their overall health and help keep their nails from getting too long between grooms.
Of course ears should be cleaned weekly.
Brush every week, take special note of the spot below the neck, referred to as the dewlap area, because it is prone to skin disorders and hair loss. Add some powder such as Gold Bond powder to reduce moisture and help heal the area.
For healthy eyelids, swab them daily. Additionally, apply mineral oil to each eye and wipe with a cotton ball until all debris and gunk is removed. You can also apply sterile ophthalmic eye ointment if preferred.
Wipe their long ears every day because they are prone to hanging in their food and collecting dirt.
Just as a rule of thumb, always have towels handy to catch drool. Evidently, this breed tends to drool profusely.
Depending on your pet, they could shed only during the fall and spring, or they might shed all year. You can use a FURminator to remove excess hair.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this article was about care and maintenance for your pet.
If you have a bloodhound or if you are considering getting one, then you might really like this article about their habits and needs.