Grooming Tips for Maltese Dogs

Maltese dogs are small toy dogs that make excellent pets. Their owners frequently use them to compete in dog shows around the world. Even if you don't plan on competing with your dog, you should try to keep it fairly well-groomed. This article will share with you some grooming tips for Maltese dogs.

Brushing

Maltese dogs have long, silky white hair. In order to keep it looking its best, you should brush and comb your dog's hair every other day. This will help prevent the hair from tangling up. Because Maltese dogs have naturally long hair, eventually it will mat up. To take care of the matted hair, simply loosen it up with your fingers as much as you can, then use a comb to finish it up. If cared for properly, Maltese dogs will rarely shed any hair.

Eye Stains

Maltese dogs have rather small tear ducts causing their eyes to water excessively. This can lead to eye stains in the hair around the eyes called tear staining. To avoid this, you should wash your dog's face daily and ensure that it's kept as dry as possible. You should also make sure that their hair doesn't get in their eyes, as this will irritate them and lead to more staining.

Ears

Maltese dogs should have their ears cleaned on a regular basis. Since they have long hair, air may not be able to circulate well in the ear canals. This can lead to a heavy buildup of wax or a bacterial infection. Make sure you remove any hairs in the ear canal on a regular basis. You should also frequently clean out the ear wax with cotton balls to prevent buildup.

Bathing

All Maltese dogs should be bathed and shampooed on a regular basis to keep their coats in top form. Before giving your dog a bath, make sure you completely brush and comb the hair to ensure there are no tangles. Also before bathing, Maltese dogs should have cotton balls placed in each ear to prevent water from getting inside and causing an ear infection.

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