ASDA part of the Wal-Mart family

Grooming

Regular grooming keeps your dog looking and feeling his best. If he's long-haired or densely coated, he will require brushing more frequently than if he's short-haired. He may need regular professional clipping. Your vet can assist with cutting nails and brushing teeth as well as checking for fleas, ticks and lice. There are also specialised treatments which you can pick up to treat them from home.

Dental

Believe it or not, dogs need dental care as much as people do. And, just like people, they have to have their teeth regularly brushed and cleaned.

The idea of dental care for your dog may come as a surprise. It's not simply a question of maintaining a nice smile or avoiding 'dog breath'. Periodontal disease is, apart from obesity, probably the number one health problem for dogs. Most dogs over two years of age who have not received regular dental attention may have dental problems. The accumulation of tartar and plaque and the resulting gingivitis can lead to more serious conditions.

So what can you do to keep your dog's teeth in peak condition?

Give his mouth a health check.

Lift his lip and take a look. Plaque appears as a brownish-red discolouration close to the gum line. Once tartar has accumulated, the healthy pink gum starts to look red and swell. Unless there's medical intervention at this point, gingivitis or inflammation of the gum takes over. This leads to bad breath and worse, including damage to the jawbones and loss of teeth.

If your dog has a dental problem, the first thing to do is to have his teeth properly cleaned by your vet. The procedures used are similar to those we go through when we visit the dentist. The difference is that dogs won't simply grin and bear it. They need to be sedated with a tranquiliser or, more commonly, put under general anaesthesia.

To avoid dental problems, brush his teeth regularly. For this, you need a toothbrush designed for dogs and some canine toothpaste. Don't use normal toothpaste as dogs dislike the taste and it is not designed to be swallowed.

An alternative to brushing is to use a dental chew. In fact, according to studies by the Waltham Centre, using dental health chews can lead to significant reductions in the accumulation of plaque and calculus, as well as the incidence of gingivitis and bad breath. Furthermore, they are tasty as well as healthy so daily cleaning can be a treat instead of a chore.