Chow Chow Grooming and Coat Care: A Complete Guide
The Chow Chow is a dog breed known for its distinctive, lush double coat. Proper grooming and coat care is essential to keep a Chow Chow looking and feeling its best. Here is a complete guide to grooming and caring for your Chow Chow's coat.
Brushing and Combing
Frequent brushing and combing is a must for the Chow Chow's thick fur. Here are some tips:
- Brush daily - Daily brushing removes dead hair, prevents matting, and distributes skin oils through the fur. Spend 10-15 minutes per day brushing your Chow.
- Use a slicker brush - A slicker brush with fine, short wire pins is ideal for getting down to the undercoat and removing tangles.
- Comb after brushing - Follow up with a wide-toothed comb to catch any remaining tangles. Comb all the way down to the skin.
- Focus on problem areas - Pay extra attention when brushing the mane, pantaloons, underside, feathering, and behind the ears. Mats easily develop in these regions.
- Brush before bathing - Always thoroughly brush out the coat before a bath. This prevents painful matting of the wet fur.
Bathing
Chow Chows generally only need occasional bathing every 4-8 weeks. Here are bathing best practices:
- Use a dog-specific shampoo - Human shampoos are the wrong pH for a dog's skin and coat. Purchase a high quality dog shampoo.
- Brush before bathing - As noted above, fully brush out the coat beforehand to avoid matting when wet.
- Watch water temperature - Use lukewarm water to avoid irritating your Chow Chow's skin. Avoid extremely hot water.
- Rinse thoroughly - Rinse all shampoo out to prevent residue buildup on the skin and coat.
- Dry completely - Dry your Chow Chow thoroughly with a towel. Air dry or use a blow dryer on a low heat setting to finish drying the thick fur.
- Brush after bathing - Gently brush after bathing to realign the coat and remove any shed hair while drying.
Trimming
Chow Chows require only minimal trimming:
- Trim feathering - Use thinning shears to trim feathering on the legs, tail, and ears to neaten the appearance. Avoid cutting the feathering too short.
- Trim foot pads - Carefully trim excess fur on foot pads to prevent debris buildup during walks. Only trim a little at a time to avoid nicking the pads.
- Clean ears - Pluck excess hair inside ears with hemostats. Never insert anything into the ear canal. Clean outer ears gently with veterinarian approved solution only.
- Trim nails - Clip nails as needed, avoiding the sensitive quick. Use a nail file to smooth sharp edges if you quick the nail.
Shedding and Deshedding
The Chow Chow is a seasonal heavy shedder. Here are some shedding management tips:
- Brush frequently - Daily brushing when heavy shedding removes the loose hair before it spreads over your home.
- Bathe and brush - Bathing and brushing loosens the old coat so shed hair comes out more easily with brushing.
- Use a de-shedding tool - A de-shedding tool with stainless steel blades cuts through the undercoat for maximum shedding removal. Use these tools carefully as directed.
- Give omega fatty acids - Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid supplements support skin and coat health while reducing shedding. Consult your vet on an appropriate supplement.
- Vacuum regularly - Vacuuming floors, furniture, dog bedsding, and your Chow Chow regularly keeps shed fur under control.
Preventing Skin and Coat Problems
To keep your Chow Chow's skin and coat healthy:
- Stick to a quality diet - A complete and balanced dog food supports skin/coat health. Ask your vet for diet recommendations.
- Supplement if needed - If coat condition is poor, your vet may recommend supplements like fish oil or vitamin E.
- Treat skin issues - See your vet for diagnosing and treating any skin problems like infections, allergies, or parasites.
- Avoid overbathing - Too frequent bathing strips beneficial oils from skin and fur. Stick to occasional baths only when needed.
- Control fleas/ticks - Talk to your vet about safe, effective flea and tick control products to prevent infestations that can irritate skin.
With the right grooming routine and skin/coat care, your Chow Chow's magnificent fur will stay luxurious and healthy for years to come. Proper grooming prevents painful matting, controls shedding, and supports their skin health underneath all that fur. Put these grooming tips into practice and get ready to enjoy your Chow Chow looking and feeling their very best.