Like us, your animals need regular maintenance on the eyes, ears and nose.
Cleaning the Eyes
Certain cat and dog breeds have droopy eyes. This problem particularly affects animals who have squished noses: these breeds often suffer from blocked tear ducts due to reddish secretions which stain the fur around the eyes.
In other breeds, the problem may arise from overly long hair near the eyes. To rectify this, ask your breeder or veterinarian to cut the hair.
To avoid the formation of dark circles under the eyes, clean them daily with a fresh, damp cloth. If the dark circles are pronounced, there are some highly practical cleaning lotions and damp baby wipes available on the market to facilitate the task of cleaning.
Note: In the event of runoff or unusual redness, consult your veterinarian.
Cleaning the Ears
Dog ears can take three forms:
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Drop ear;
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Rose ear;
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Prick ear.
Drop ears or ears with recurrent problems must be cleaned regularly: once per week to prevent ear infections and other problems related to wax buildup. Other ear types must be cleaned 1-2 times per month.
Ear cleaning can be easily performed at home, especially if your dog or cat becomes accustomed to it at a young age. To clean the ears, pick up a product designed specifically for cleaning ear canals and proceed as follows:
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Make sure your pet is retained so they don’t try to flee as soon as the product enters their ear.
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Find a calm area to make the experience pleasant for you and your pet.
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Ask for help to keep your pet in place - doing so will make it easier to see your hand movements.
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Pour a large quantity of the product into the ear and then gently massage the ear base to get gunk out.
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Let your pet shake their head in order to release liquid.
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Wipe the outside of the ear with a soft cloth or tissue.
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Always have treats on hand and reward your pet as needed.
Note: If there is significant runoff or an unpleasant odour arises, see your veterinarian to get a precise diagnosis. Also, to clean the ears, it is important that you use an appropriate solution that will dry the ears out in order to prevent moisture from building up. It is essential that you avoid using all domestic products such as peroxide, vinegar, and alcohol.
Cleaning the Nose
Healthy cats and dogs need healthy noses. However, some animals may have dry nasal secretions in the corners of the nostrils, and this is okay. You can remove it easily with a piece of tissue soaked in lukewarm water that has been boiled.
Note: Consult your veterinarian [French only link] if the nose is running a lot or takes on a yellowish colour.
From the tips of the ears to the ends of the whiskers, your pet deserves to be clean and healthy!
