A long-haired pooch has many wonderful advantages, such as being able to keep its coat clean and shiny. They’re the perfect pet for those who want to cuddle with their pets, and they shed less than other breeds. Plus proper care means your pup will be as beautiful on day one. However, the major drawback of having so much hair is that it can act like Velcro, attracting leaves and dirt as well as poop.
Dreaded “Poop Butt”
The dreaded “poop butt” is a problem for many long-haired dogs, but you can help stop it from happening. Here are some tips that can help you deal with it.
1. Keep Your Dog’s Hair Neatly Trimmed
Grooming is essential for the health and longevity of your dog. The right cut will not only prevent matting, but it’ll also keep them clean. Depending on the breed, hair length, and coat type, dogs need grooming at least once a month.
Going to the dog groomer is a great way for you and your four-legged friend’s hygiene. Ask them to trim thoroughly around rear leg areas, under tail area as well as around the anus. Many people also request a short trim around the penis or vulva. This prevents urine staining and reduces the likelihood of fecal matter infiltrating the dog’s urinary tract, which can cause infection. This type of hygienic trim is often referred to as a “potty patch” because it helps keep your dog’s private parts clean and healthy.
2. Feed your Dog A High Quality/High Fiber Diet
Firm, well-formed stools are far less likely to become caught in your dog’s hair than soft and loose ones. For dogs without intestinal issues, a high-quality diet can help your dog have healthy bowel movements.
Just like humans, dogs need essential nutrients to stay healthy and happy. They also benefit from eating a diet high in fiber as it helps them feel full longer so they don’t overeat or consume too much food. Canned pure pumpkin is an excellent addition to any dog’s diet. It helps soothe the digestive tract, absorb excess moisture, and firm up stool.
3. Ask Your Vet
Matted poop in the hair around a dog’s anus is so common that it even has its own veterinary term – pseudocoprostasis. Pseudocoprostasis, if left untreated, can cause far more than just a hygiene issue. Wiping your dog’s bottom is a routine part of pet care, but it can be less daunting when you know that the hair and stool from one potty session could completely block out their rectum.
4. Always Bring Wipes For Quick Clean-up
It’s no surprise that a little bit of poop is going to get caught in your dog’s long hair every now and then. By quickly cleaning and removing a moist and pliable stool from your dog’s behind, it will prevent future major problems from happening.
5. Use Waterless Shampoo
HygenaPet is a new product recently announced by Dogtime that could revolutionize pet care. The inventors of this device are the team of students from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. It is composed of beeswax and carnauba wax that is sprayed directly onto the dog’s bum to prevent feces from sticking.
The inventors took the grand prize in the 2018 Cornell Animal Health Hackathon, however, the product is not yet commercially available.
On the brighter side, waterless shampoos are a convenient, eco-friendly way to keep your dog clean between baths. Having a waterless shampoo is the best way to keep your dog clean and healthy. It removes wastes, leaving them fresh without having an exhausting full bath or worrying about drying out their skin with excessive bathing.
Wiping your dog’s bottom is a necessity, but it can be difficult to avoid the unfortunate poop butt sometimes. Nonetheless, these tips may be great help for you and your dog in the long run.
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