FAQ: Grooming for dogs

Hygiene pants are put on a female dog in season so that discharge does not soil furniture and floors. Disposable liners go inside and need changing often. The pants do not prevent mating, so the dog still needs close supervision during her season.

A belly band is a fabric band with an absorbent liner that wraps around a male dog's belly so urine does not get on furniture. It is used for dogs that mark indoors or are incontinent. The band must be changed and washed often, and the reason for marking or incontinence is worth discussing with a vet or behaviourist.

Use absorbent pads or nappies, a bed with a washable waterproof cover, and wipe the dog's skin often with damp wipes before drying it. Keep the hair around the genitals short. Incontinence can often be treated, so see a vet first.

A grooming table with a non-slip top raises the dog to a comfortable height, making clipping, brushing and nail trimming easier and safer, and sparing your back. Dogs are often calmer on a table than on the floor. Never leave a dog on the table unattended.

A grooming loop attaches to the table arm and goes around the dog's neck so it stays in place. It is safe only while the dog is constantly supervised: if the dog jumped off the table, the loop could strangle it. The loop must not be too short or tight around the neck.

A basic kit: a brush suited to the coat, a metal comb, dog shampoo, nail clippers, styptic powder, ear cleaner, a toothbrush with dog toothpaste and a towel. Long-haired dogs benefit from conditioner and detangler, and dogs that are clipped from clippers and round-tipped scissors.

It is a robe made of absorbent fabric, often microfibre, fastened on the dog after a bath or a walk in the rain. It soaks up water while the dog warms up and protects furniture from a wet coat. Choose the size by back length.

The earlier the better: from the first days in its new home gently touch the puppy's paws, ears and mouth, brush it briefly and reward it with a treat. Short, pleasant sessions like these help the adult dog accept bathing, clipping and nail trimming calmly.

Old dogs walk less, so their nails grow longer and need trimming more often. The skin may be drier and the coat thinner, so choose a mild shampoo and a softer brush. Keep sessions shorter, let the dog lie down, and while brushing check for new lumps or sores.

A hairless dog's skin has no coat to protect it, so it needs regular washing with a mild shampoo to stop oil building up, and moisturising with dog products. In summer it needs sun protection, in winter clothing against the cold. Spots or redness may mean the products do not suit it.

Sunburn is a risk for dogs with light, thinly haired skin, especially on the tip of the nose, the ear edges and the belly, and for hairless and closely clipped dogs. Use only sun protection made for dogs, because some ingredients in human sunscreens, such as zinc oxide, can be harmful when licked off.

If the dog might bite, a muzzle protects you and lets you get through the procedure more calmly. Get the dog used to the muzzle in advance with treats, so it is not associated only with unpleasant things. A basket muzzle lets the dog pant and take treats.

Stop and, without punishing, try to work out why: it is often pain from mats, ears or joints, or fear. Go back to short, rewarded sessions and do not force the dog. If the aggression keeps happening, consult a vet and a dog behaviour specialist.

On a trip it helps to have a brush, wet wipes, dry shampoo, a towel, a tick remover, paw balm, poop bags and, if your dog needs them, ear and eye cleaning products. Liquids are worth decanting into small, leak-proof bottles.

First try loosening resin or gum with vegetable oil worked into the coat, then comb it out carefully and wash with shampoo. Gum can be hardened with an ice cube and broken off. If only a small bit is left, it is easier to trim it out. Do not use solvents or petrol.

Dogs with continuously growing coats usually go every few weeks, wire-haired dogs a few times a year for hand-stripping, and short-haired dogs may need only the occasional visit, for example during the moult. The groomer will suggest an exact interval based on the coat and chosen cut.

Remove the tick as soon as possible with a tick remover or tweezers, gripping it as close to the skin as you can and pulling or twisting steadily without squeezing its body. Clean the bite site and watch how the dog is for a few days. If it becomes lethargic, feverish or stops eating, see a vet urgently.

No. zoogidas.lt sells nothing — the site only compares prices of Lithuanian online pet shops. Once you choose an offer, you buy the product on the shop's own website.

Prices are collected about daily, and each product shows when its price was last checked. Before buying, still confirm the final price on the shop's website, as shops can change it at any time.

Product pages on zoogidas.lt show price history, so you can see how a product's price has changed and judge whether the current price is lower than usual. This is especially useful when buying more expensive tools such as clippers or a dryer.