Grooming Labradors

Labradors are large, stocky dogs with short coats that require regular grooming to maintain their shine and soft texture. The nails, eyes, ears and teeth of labs also should receive special attention. Groom your pet regularly to maintain his health and appearance -- regardless of his age.

  1. Coat

    • A labrador̵7;s coat is thick, water repellent and designed to protect it from cold temperatures. Labs shed more than you might think for a short-haired breed, making regular brushing essential. To keep your home and pet clean, use a vacuum cleaner that will tolerate large amounts of pet hair and brush your lab̵7;s coat at least once a week with a brush designed for dogs. Because a lab gets dirty playing outdoors, he needs a dry bath with a dry shampoo once a week to maintain his skin and coat. Once a month, give your lab a bath with a shampoo designed for dogs. Because labs are prone to dry skin and infection, a monthly water bath is enough -- unless your lab gets extra dirty in the interim.

    Ears

    • Labradors ears can become infected from waxy buildup, an injury or trapped bacteria. Each time you give your dog a bath, check her ears with a flashlight for redness, irritation or waxy build-up. Ask your veterinarian to prescribe an ear cleaner to dissolve the wax and kill any germs that may be causing the infection. Apply the cleaner to a cotton ball and gently wipe the inside of his ears.

    Eyes

    • Labradors̵7; vision can be obstructed by mucous secreted from the tear glands around the eyes. Help prevent an infection by wiping its eyes with a damp cotton ball twice a week, or whenever you notice buildup. If you notice any abnormalities in your lab̵7;s eyes during regular grooming, consult your veterinarian.

    Teeth

    • Just like humans, labradors can suffer from halitosis, tartar buildup and gum disease if their teeth are not property cared for. As part of your dog̵7;s weekly grooming routine, brush his teeth with a toothbrush and a toothpaste designed for dogs. Pet toothpastes come in flavors dogs love.

    Nails

    • Dogs that are active usually wear down their nails on their own. If your dog spends lots of time indoors or experiences fast nail growth, trim his nails every month with dog clippers. Trim your lab's nails when they begin to curl over, but don't cut near any pink flesh that includes the blood vessels in your dog̵7;s nails.