Grooming a Maltese – What You Need To Know?

Grooming your Maltese can be a challenging task. It is typically carried out by a professional dog groomer. However, with the proper training and grooming tools, pet owners can learn to carry out grooming themselves. This can not only save time and money, but it can also provide an enjoyable bonding experience for you and your Maltese. Patience and persistence are also important in grooming your pet.

Usually Maltese grow their hair down to the floor and can grow up to 12 inches. Its hair is very soft and silky, and prone to matting if not taken care of. Their hair is considered to be hypo allergenic, making them a great choice of pet for those with allergies and asthma. It is known to be very clean and odor- free. To train your pet to become comfortable with grooming, it is best to begin grooming them from an early age. The best time to clean the ears, clip the nails, and brush the teeth of a Maltese is before you bathe them. Below are some tips on the best ways to groom your Maltese.

Bathing

Begin by brushing your pet's hair to remove any dead hair, knots, and mats. Be careful not to get water inside the ears, as it may lead to an ear infection if it reaches the ear canal. To minimize this, you can place cotton balls in the ears. Have the necessarily equipment ready in advance such as towels, shampoo and conditioner, and check the temperature of the water to ensure it is not too hot or too cold. The quality of the shampoo and conditioner is important, and there are many options available and which are specifically designed for pets. Wet your pet before applying the shampoo, beginning around the head area. Remove any tear-stains and matting, paying careful attention to the delicate eye and ear area. Continue applying shampoo to the rest of the body, paying particular attention to the anal glands and the paw pads. Rinse your pet and apply conditioner, massaging this into areas of matting. Ensure you thoroughly squeeze excess water from your pet, before covering them with a dry towel and gently rubbing. Follow by combing your pet, starting from the bottom, and working upwards. There are canine dryers available which ensure the air is not too hot and is safe for use. These allow you to dry your pet's coat in small sections. Once dry, brush the coat again using a metallic comb.

Coat

If you choose to have your Maltese maintain a longer coat, daily brushing may be necessary. You may choose to apply conditioner to the coat in between bathing, which may help to reduce matting and maintain the coat's sheen. When combing, hold your puppy ensuring that you have a gentle but firm hold. Begin brushing from the back moving to the shoulders and finishing with the paws, neck, head, and face.

Ears

Try to check your dog's ears for any signs of infection on a weekly basis. When examining the ears, look for signs of heavy wax build up, debris, inflammation, strong odor or if your dog scratches, shakes the ears, or tilts their head to one side. If you see any signs of these it is important to visit your veterinarian. At home, you may use cotton balls and specifically designed ear cleaning lotions.

Nails and Toes

The Maltese's nails should be trimmed every 2 weeks using guillotine or scissor style nails. Dog's nails contain an area known as the quick which have a rich blood supply and are sensitive.