Grooming and health

Cockapoo Grooming and health

It’s important to have a grooming regime to keep any dog healthy, particularly those with thicker or longer fur.

Grooming is not just about trimming the fur, it’s also about ensuring the eyes are not obscured, the nails are not too long and the ears are looked after.

Grooming/brushing sessions are also an excellent opportunity to examine your dog’s skin for any growths, lumps, bumps or wounds and to have a good look at his ears, eyes and mouth.

Build into your dog’s grooming regime a pattern of small treats and praise so he or she feels content. This should be the case whether you or a paid groomer carries out the work

cockapoo grooming

Ears

Attention will also have to be paid to inside the ear canal as, like Poodles, some Cockapoos grow excess hair inside the ear that will trap ear wax. “Pluck-it” or “Thornit” canker powder can be used to help grip these hairs which need to be plucked out of the ears either with yours or your groomer’s fingers.

Vigilant prevention is the hallmark of good healthcare for all companion animals. Watch for any discharge from the eyes or ears, as well as evidence of accumulated debris in the ear canal accompanied by a foul or yeasty odor. (This is a sign of parasitical mite activity.)

Thoroughly rinse your dog’s coat with clean fresh water to remove all residues. Towel your pet dry and make sure he doesn’t get cold.

Anal Glands

All dogs can suffer from blocked anal glands, typically indicated by the dog rubbing its bottom on the ground or carpet. (You may also notice an odour.) If this occurs, the glands will need to be expressed to prevent an abscess from forming. This is a sensitive task and one that a veterinarian or a highly experienced groomer should perform.

Fleas

I’m including fleas and ticks under grooming because both are typically discovered by and addressed through grooming sessions. Don’t think that if your Cockapoo suddenly has “passengers” you’re doing something wrong, or that the dog is at fault. This is simply part of dog ownership for you to deal with. Sooner or later, it will happen.

Of course the problem needs to be dealt with immediately, but it’s not a reason to freak out.

Do NOT use a commercial flea product on a puppy of less than 12 weeks of age and be extremely careful with adult dogs.

Most of the major products contain pyrethrum. This chemical has been responsible for adverse reactions, including long-term neurological damage and even fatalities in small dogs.

To get rid of fleas, bathe your dog in warm water with a standard canine shampoo. Comb the animal’s fur with a fine-toothed flea comb, which will trap the live parasites. Repeatedly submerge the comb in hot soapy water to kill the fleas.

Wash all of the dog’s bedding and any soft materials with which he has come in contact. Look for any accumulations of “flea dirt,” which is excreted blood from adult fleas. Wash the bedding and other surfaces daily for at least a week to kill any remaining eggs before they hatch.

If you find a tick, coat it with a thick layer of petroleum jelly for 5 minutes to suffocate the parasite which causes its jaws to release.

Pluck the tick off with a pair of tweezers using a straight motion. Never just jerk a tick off a dog. The parasite’s head will be left behind and will continue to burrow into the skin, making a painful sore.

TIP: If you bath your dog at home in between clippings, do not get your pet’s head and ears wet. Clean the dog’s head and face with a warm, wet washcloth only.

Download Now

Cockapoo

Cockapoo diet: are you making hip dysplasia more likely?

Hip dysplasia in cockapooMany Cockapoo owners are not aware that what they feed their dog can affect whether he/she will suffer from gets hip dysplasia. Three factors are known to contribute to the advance of this joint disorder: genetics, exercise, and nutrition. Your puppy’s genetics are not changeable, but the other two factors are still under your control.

To decrease the likelihood of your puppy developing hip dysplasia, avoid overfeeding and in particular over dosing their food with extra calcium, vitamin D.

Cockapoo diet

Excess calories promote rapid growth, which places strain on a puppy’s developing bones and joints. Excess calcium also interferes with normal cartilage development and growing bones.

Your dogs size is already determined by inherited genetics so your puppy will reach a full grown size whether you feed him rocket fuel or sensible portions.

A good way to prevent overfeeding is to be present when your dog eats so you know for sure what has been eaten. Leaving a dog bowl out that constantly gets topped up is an easy mistake that leads to canine obesity.

The factor is exercise. A small dog like the Cockapoo only needs light exercise, but that doesn’t mean no exercise at all. One session of 30 minutes is the minimum but two sessions are ideal. Cockapoos thrive on exercise and this will burn off extra calories just like in humans. Managing your dogs weight is key to preventing hip dysplasia.

To check your dogs weight, lay your hands on your dog with thumbs either side of the spine. If your puppy is at the right weight you should be able to feel the ribs without pressing. If you are still unsure ask your vet to check your puppies weight.

For more information on treatment of HD read here

Cockapoo

Cockapoo For Life
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.