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Cleaning your dog's ears is an essential part of a great grooming routine. Click here for the step-by-step Petco guide on how to clean your dog's ears.
Updated on June 19th, 2026
Wondering if you are grooming your golden retriever correctly? Take the guesswork out & keep your pet looking great with our vet-approved grooming guide!
Updated on June 19th, 2026
Pup looking a little shaggy? Take a look at these 7 questions to ask your groomer before booking a grooming appointment.
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Discover how to choose the best supplements for your pet’s health, from essential vitamins to joint support and digestion aids. Learn age-specific and seasonal supplement tips for cats and dogs.
Updated on June 19th, 2026
Here are a few common terms and phrases that are used around professional grooming salons to explain everyday procedures and coat trims.
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I really like Virbac's line of dermatologic products, and their Epi-Otic is a great all-purpose ear cleanser for dogs. It is available over the counter, and you can order it from DrsFosterandSmith.com or Amazon.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
I'm not as familiar with the Oxyfresh brand. The Oratene products are amazing and they have a brushless gel as well. ( https://www.allivet.com/p-5484-oratene-veterinarian-antiseptic-oral-gel-1-oz.aspx ) Glad you are getting the other products. Hope they help!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Nikki is adorable! Thanks for including pictures! Yes, PetSmile is expensive, but it is one of the only toothpastes to actually be approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council. Here is a list of their approved products. http://www.vohc.org/VOHCAcceptedProductsTable_Dogs.pdf PetSmile is what I use with my dogs. (Last year they ran a 25% off sale before Christmas, so I stocked up!) Yes, it is fine to use Dawn on Nikki's feet daily, but I suspect any gentle cleaner would be fine as well. You may have to experiment to find the best shampoo for her. I have been very pleased with EarthBath products, so you might want to try their Oatmeal and Aloe shampoo for itch relief. https://earthbath.com/product/oatmeal-aloe-shampoo/ There are also prescription itch relief shampoo and conditioner products if needed that you can talk to your vet about. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your questions. Thanks for using PetCoach.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Nikki is adorable! Thank you so much for posting pictures. You posted about a number of concerns, so hopefully I can address all of them. As far as her teeth go, it is always recommended to have a full dental cleaning under anesthesia to resolve any underlying problems and pain, then follow up with something like a water additive to decrease additional dental calculus from forming. My favorite dental product is PetSmile, but it does need to be applied to the teeth. https://petsmileusa.com There has been a lot of evidence that increasing the amount of Omega 3 fatty acids in the diet can make a big difference for inflammation and itching. Since a diet change and adding Omega 3 fatty acids to the diet can both cause loose stool, I normally only recommend that clients make one change to a diet at a time (which includes supplements). Both Acana and Wellness make a wonderful fish based diet, so I do not have a preference between the 2 of those. Make sure you do a gradual diet change over a period of days to prevent any GI upset and loose stools. Then, if you still need to add in an Omega 3 fatty acid supplement, you could add something like Nordic Naturals. https://www.nordicnaturals.com/petRet/ Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your questions. Thanks for using PetCoach.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your question. I would not recommend formulating your own ear cleaner and instead purchase a commercial ear cleaner. I would recommend using Zymox otic cleanser or Epi Otic ear cleanser. Both of these can be found online quite easily. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. Please take the time to mark this question as helpful or not as it helps us to improve on the quality of our answers to other pet owners. Thank you kindly!
Updated on September 24th, 2025