Hi All. I just got an American Cocker 3 days ago. She needs her ears brushed, but I don't know what kind of brush to use on her ears! I am a new Cocker owner, so I am not very familiar with the grooming I can do myself on her, and the right tools I will need. Also, I think she was abused, and left outside all summer. The people we got her from, well, shall we say, the guy was rude and scary! She shook the whole time we were there to pick her up, but once we left and got down the road, she stopped the trembling, and has not done it since! Her name WAS Princess, but being as red as she is, we have named her "Irish". She never did come to the name of Princess! I don't think they even named her! Or paid enuf attention to her for her to learn a name! She is very skiddish, but after 3 days, is coming around. She is a wonderful dog, and any help I can get to help her fit in, and brushing her (which she s'posedly loves) would help out a lot! TY Skye
How advanced to you want to be? That's a great site just given.But it may be that your need is rather simpler.
Bathe the bitch, giving special attention to her leathers [ the technical term for her ear flaps]. Be sure to keep the inside of her ears dry, if possible.Dry her, using a towel. She is a cocker : that means it's odds-on she's got food, mud and much else in the leathers, however tidy she is Hence they need special attention in bathing. She is also likely to have knots (small matted portions) in her leathers, too. You can remove most knots simply by taking the sides of the knot, one side in each hand, and gently teasing the hairs apart.She may fidget at this, so be both firm and reassuring in your tone of voice and behaviour. Remember that you are the boss, though a kindly one: she isn't the boss!
You really need a comb, not a brush, but the comb you need is stripping comb. This is a comb with a handle. It has thin double teeth which are slightly curved.The teeth are in pairs.One of the pair is really a type of blade, but don't be alarmed! The idea is that you hold the comb at an angle, with the curve curving away from the coat and run the comb through the hair along the length of the leathers, starting at the top . You hold the comb so it is almost flat against the hair,curving away, so you don't risk digging the points into the skin. This will both strip the hair; thin it slightly with each stroke; and have it all running straight. Be sure to take a gentle but firm hold of the leather when doing this, so the bitch isn't having her head pulled.You'll find that the comb brings out some hair when you do this but it's thinning it, stripping it, not pulling it out !
Then you can use a medium brush, one with nylon or similar bristles, not a metal brush, just lightly, to finish. Thereafter, for everyday, you can use an ordinary metal comb for dogs just to give her a quick tidy.
You can, and should, use a stripping comb on the rest of her, from time to time. It'll remove dead undercoat and she'll look the better for that.
By the way, unless you are extraordinarily keen or want to show your bitch, don't bother with any fancy trimming, good though it looks in a show ring. You should know that grooming a cocker to 'show trim' takes a lot of time. If you imagined grooming a standard poodle takes a lot of trouble, you'd be right; lion mane, pom-poms on hips, sections on rear legs, trimmed muzzle, powdering; then you should know that a cocker takes at least twice as long That's largely because of all the layering and tapering you have to do.(I know: for my sins, I have had to do both !)
Oh my!! This is a lot to absorb! I did work for a vet for 8 yrs, and I helped the groomer we had, but I just didn't pay to much attention!! I think what I will do for her, and what I feel, is the best thing, is to get her used to the other dogs we have for now. My Chihuahua is slowly aceepting her, but my Rat Terrier is being a little SH*& about it! Eventually, once she fits in, I will take her to the groomer, watch them, and learn for myself how it is to be done and buy the right tools I need for her. Sound good? Skye.
Hi all. Skye again here! I have another question... My new Cocker has a funny smell about her ears. She itches them a bit, and they look as if she has ear mites. Or, since they cruelly kept her outside, maybe just dirty? Her ears flop over the water bowl, never in- guess I got lucky there! Now, I did work for a vet, but it has been 15 yrs now, since my son was born. She is still to timid to do much with, and I am afraid if I PUSH her into something, I may have to get rid of her, and put her into a Cocker rescue. She is just fitting in and playing with my Rat Terrier now, so I want to give it more of a chance. It has just been 2 weeks since we got her, and have let her in as an inside dog. I have never had a Cocker b4, so it is a lot to learn for me! But, the ears are my concern for now. Any ideas and helpful suggestions? Skye.
Why not get taken to the vet for a very thorough examination. It isn't a bad idea to find problems early and just get a clean base-line bill of health.
Posts: 9086 | Location: PA, USA | Registered: 06-05-02
Originally posted by Skye: I am thinking that, too. And they are catchy, if I remember right... Skye.
They are.
Do ask the vet to show you how to clean the ears and trim or pluck any excess hair inside All breeds with leathers are prone to smelly ears. The flap restricts the free flow of air and raises the moisture level in the ear so providing ideal conditions for fungus or yeast infections and bacteria. The excessive hair in the ears of some breeds favours the retention of wax and debris, leading to inflammation.
If the bitch has ear mites, she'll be scratching at her ears.
Whatever the cause of the trouble, the vet's is the first stop for her. Ear problems must be attended to promptly because a simple condition can aggravate rapidly into something more serious and more difficult to treat.
Chances are it's what we over here call 'canker' (nothing like as serious as its folk name suggests), a common condition. Doggy people here have the interesting habit of sniffing inside their dogs' ears This attracts strange looks from visitors ! We do it without thinking, just as we do in unconsciously feeling the ears for unusual warmth, when we cuddle the dog. This is our way of checking for ear troubles: a slight smell or a little extra warmth are both indicators.
Originally posted by Skye: Her ears are not hot... Just have a smell about them. Skye.
That's good. But see the vet anyway to establish what the cause is If it is only something minor the vet will soon deal with it, advise you how to stop it recurring and might suggest some remedy which you can get in any pet store. In the old days we had something called 'canker powder', which we squirted into the ear by using a puffer, but my own vet, much amused, assures me that nowadays there are much better cures!
Originally posted by Skye: I wonder if Gold Bond would help on the ears??
No !
Well meant but wrong It's very unwise to try anything until you know exactly what the cause of the problem is and the vet has dealt with it.Then act as the vet advises.
In particular, putting anything into (or on) the ear can easily make matters worse.
Yes, please do! A modern medication can clear up some of these troubling conditions very, very simply -- sometimes in one treatment! (I'm thinking here os a rabies shot or some treatments for intestinal parasites.)
Animals suffer through some very unpleasant conditions because humans just don't take them seriously. But the poor little pet may be truly suffering.
And it is never a good idea to try human medications on animals (e.g. Gold Bond). For example, some pet owners give pets Tylenol for pain. This can kill the pet. Worse, it can cause organ damage that will cause them suffering, even if not eventual death.
Posts: 6345 | Location: British Columbia, Canada | Registered: 06-11-02
I agree wholeheartedly here...get to the vet first. If the vet says you can use other things once home, fine.
A really good example of this - we had a kitten with ear mites once. The vet showed us HOW to clean the ear with Q-Tips dipped in peroxide, but did this AS she was doing it for the first time. I never would have attempted this on my own if she hadn't shown me.
The pet you have is worth taking that extra step at the vet. I know that MY vet, even if treating my animals for something, always shows me what they're doing in the event I can just get the medication next time and do it myself.
Peroxide? Did this work? I know how to clean ears, having worked for a vet 8 yrs, but this I have never heard of! Is it for kitties only? I know I can clean her ears, but she must have an antibiotic for ears to follow.... Skye.
Hence they need special attention in bathing. She is also likely to have knots (small matted portions) in her leathers, too. You can remove most knots simply by taking the sides of the knot, one side in each hand, and gently teasing the hairs apart.She may fidget at this, so be both firm and reassuring in your tone of voice and behaviour. Remember that you are the boss, though a kindly one: she isn't the boss!
I think what I will do for her, and what I feel, is the best thing, is to get her used to the other dogs we have for now. My Chihuahua is slowly aceepting her, but my Rat Terrier is being a little SH*& about it! Eventually, once she fits in, I will take her to the groomer, watch them, and learn for myself how it is to be done and buy the right tools I need for her. Sound good?
