Skin
Problems
Skin problems in Dobermans most commonly present as dry skin that can lead to severe
itching and loss of coat. The dog will scratch and bite herself,
causing bleeding; these symptoms may not appear until around three
years of age. The best approach is to be cautious and avoid potential
problems from the beginning by not over-bathing a Dobe: a sponge bath
usually works quite well in removing dust and loose hair and even
mud as long as the coat isn’t completely saturated.
| Use a rectangular bucket that the Doberman can stand in two feet at a time. Fill
the bucket half way with warm water and a little vinegar. Use
a sponge and start cleaning the face, working back. In hot weather
this is a good technique for gradually cooling an over-heated
dog: use cool water and gradually saturate the coat and
top of the head to bring the body temperature down without trapping
heat inside the body. If a dog is hot and dirty from exercising
this technique works well; when bathing a hot dog in the tub,
be careful not to lower the body temperature too quickly by spraying
with cold water; start with tepid water and cool it gradually
over a period of 20-30 minutes. |
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When giving a complete bath, both rinse-out and
leave-in type conditioners can be used after shampooing. Hansen’s
Cherry Remoisturizer is a good leave-in conditioner that can be
applied while the coat is still damp; rub a small amount of the
conditioner into the coat and skin with your hands. Be careful
not to use very hot water when bathing a Dobe; barely warm water
is better for preventing dry skin, even if you have to heat the
bathroom for a few minutes before the bath. Also, for safety reasons,
use one or two bath mats to prevent slipping in the tub; two mats
can be placed sideways, one for each pair of feet. A sponge can
be used to scrub a Dobe’s sensitive areas, and a rubber brush for
the top of the back where the coat is more dense. A soft brush
with long bristles will reach areas between the paw pads to clean
the feet thoroughly. You shouldn’t need to bathe
a Dobe more than once a month (once every three months would be
better), but you may never need to resort to a complete bath unless
the dog gets muddy.
| Diet is very important in preventing
skin problems in Dobes. Unlike water dogs such as retrievers,
Dobes are prone to dry skin, but the advantage for the Dobe
lover is that Dobes don’t have a strong odour from skin oils
in the coat. Make sure the kibble you buy is fresh; even a
product that boasts linoleic acid will not be helpful if the
oils are stale. In addition, be sure to store the kibble in
an air-tight food-grade container to keep it fresh. Clean grape
juice bins are handy for large quantities, and the kibble stays
fresh longer if half of it is stored in a separate container
that isn't opened until needed. Eliminate as much air space
as possible. The lids fit very snugly to reduce oxidation. |
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