Skin Care for Your Gun Dog
Skin Care for Your Gun Dog
Even if we think we have room for improvement, we all care for our skin. We cover our bodies with proper clothing for the experiences we encounter. Receive annual medical checkups and seek medical attention when necessary. We shower, shave, moisturize and examine our bodies for abnormalities, injuries and intruders like ticks, burs and slivers. When we think about caring for our dog’s skin, we should apply these same practices.
AFTER BEING IN THE FIELD OR WATER
When we get back to the truck after a training session or hunt, we should examine our dog for injuries and intruders. A simple practice is to start with the head and move to the tail. Check their mouth for foreign objects, broken teeth or gum injuries. Move to the eyes and check for redness, discharge and foreign materials. Check their ears for things like seeds, ticks and cuts. Then run your hands over their body starting with their nose, moving to their neck, working your way to their torso, legs and tail, looking for tender spots, abrasions, swelling, ticks and embedded seeds, sticks, etc.
ITEMS TO HAVE ON HAND
I hate to state the obvious, but having a travel tote ready with items you might need is better than being in a situation where you’re panicking or frustrated because you can’t give your dog the skin care they need.
The first and most important item to consider is a first aid kit that includes items to treat wounds, stop bleeding, remove thorns, treat hyperthermia, flush eyes, etc. Depending on the cover you plan to hunt and your dog’s proneness to getting foreign objects in their eyes, you might want to consider purchasing eye goggles for them. It goes without saying that you’ll need to train them to get used to the goggles long before you get in the field.
For your dog’s feet and legs, consider having them wear boots and or shin guards. These items might not be necessary if you don’t hunt dense cover and/or your dog isn’t susceptible to feet or leg wounds. Even if your dog’s feet and legs seem to stay out of harm’s way, a product I believe every dog owner will find helpful is a paw wax like Musher’s Secret. Paw wax is breathable and helps protect your dog’s pads from the elements.
When you plan and pack items to care for your dog’s torso, there a handful of items I recommend. A protective vest for when they are busting through cover. Consider a neoprene vest for when they are encountering cold water. Have a good brush like a FURminator and some detangler handy to brush out intruders like ticks and stickers.
PREVENTATIVE CARE
Our dog’s skin being healthy starts with them being healthy. Make sure to keep your dog’s annual vet check a priority. having an emergency vet contact stored on your phone is handy if you’re caught in a moment of panic.
A good diet is another significant component to keeping our dog’s skin healthy. Diet’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids, protein, vitamins and minerals plan an essential part in caring for our dog’s skin and coat. Bottom line, it’s worth paying the price for a good dog food, otherwise it’s likely that our dog’s coat will pay the price. Even with a good diet, it is possible that your dog might still suffer from skin irritation, itchiness, dry skin, redness or hair loss. If that’s the case, it’s time to incorporate a skin/coat supplement. Some ingredients to look for in a good supplement are omega-3, primrose oil, turmeric and sunflower oil.
Consistently using a flea and tick repellant that works for our dog is vital. Sometimes the place we find our dog picking up ticks is in our own back yard, not the field. There are great topical and oral treatments you can give your dog. Not all treatments work the same and not all treatments work on every dog. Do your homework and find which one works for yours.
Regular skin care maintenance is key. Having trimmed nails keeps are dogs less likely to crack, break or tear a nail. Keeping our dog’s ears clean helps keep our dogs from getting ear infections. Checking our dog’s eyes for gunk creates a habit that carries to the field and it assures us that our dog’s eyes aren’t being irritated by foreign objects. Consistent brushing helps remove anything hitching a ride in your dog’s coat, plus it removes dead, shedding hair.
The approach you take to caring for your skin can be a good measuring stick to evaluate how thoughtful you are of your dog’s skin care. Ask yourself, “do I care about my dog’s skin as much as I do my own?”
by Kyle Dana
April 2023
