How to Groom a Bloodhound: 7 Expert Tips
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While they may have very short fur, Bloodhounds need a decent amount of grooming. They shed a lot, and that fur will end up all over your house if you aren’t careful. Luckily, grooming a Bloodhound doesn’t require tons of knowledge. (You’re not trimming a Poodle, after all.) It does require consistency and a decent amount of work on your part, though.
Below, we’ll explain exactly how to groom your Bloodhound so that they remain as healthy as possible (and the hair around your house remains manageable).
The 7 Tips for How to Groom a Bloodhound
1. Brush Your Bloodhound Regularly
These dogs need a lot of brushing. They have short, dense fur that sheds quite a bit. To remove this fur, you’ll need to brush them. Because fur loss happens all the time, you’ll need to brush your Bloodhound about every other day (though some dogs may need more or less of this).
During the spring and fall months, you may need to brush your dog even more. They tend to “blow their coats” during this time as they grow their coat for the new season. Their shedding can double or even triple during these periods.
A rubber grooming mitt or hound glove is best, as they have a very short, dense coat. Bloodhounds should be groomed starting at a very young age so that they’re used to the process by the time they’re older.
2. Bathe Your Bloodhound
Most dogs don’t need baths very often. However, these dogs are wrinkly and often drool a bit. Therefore, they require bathing about once a month. Use a proper dog-formulated shampoo that’s designed to be used regularly.
More bathing isn’t necessarily better, though. If you bathe your dog too much, it can cause dryness, which may lead to further skin problems. Instead, limit your baths to monthly (or even less often than that, depending on the dog).
3. Clean Their Ears
Bloodhounds have long, droopy ears that are very good at trapping dirt and debris. These can lead to ear infections if they aren’t removed. Therefore, cleaning your Bloodhound’s ears should happen at least once a week. Some people do it even more than this, which is fine as long as you’re being gentle.
Never put anything in your dog’s ear canal. Just use a wet cotton ball to rub the outside of your dog’s ears. Your goal is to clean the dirt and gunk around the outside—not deep into your dog’s ear. While warm water works fine for most dogs, you may want to consider a vet-recommended ear-cleaning solution. These solutions are just a tad more powerful, but they can still be used regularly.
4. Wipe the Skin Folds
Bloodhounds can be extremely wrinkly. Moisture and bacteria can get trapped in these skin folds, so you’ll need to wipe them regularly. Otherwise, skin infections may occur—or your dog may just become smelly. Either way, it’s best to keep them clean.
Luckily, this is rather easy. All you need to do is wipe them with a damp cloth. Every couple of days works well for most dogs, though some canines may need to be wiped more often than this. In the summer, you may need to increase your wiping time, as the added heat and sweat can make matters worse.
5. Trim Their Nails
Don’t forget to trim your Bloodhound’s nails—just like you would any other dog. Trimming your dog’s nails prevents them from accidentally scratching you or your floors. However, too-long nails can also be painful and are more prone to injury. Therefore, it’s vital that you keep them trimmed.
You can trim your dog’s nails yourself about once a month or have a professional groomer do it. However, if you’re careful to avoid the quick, it can be an easy part of your grooming routine.
6. Don’t Forget Their Teeth
You’ll also need to clean your Bloodhound’s teeth regularly. Just like your teeth, dogs will have problems with plaque and tartar if their teeth are not kept clean. These lead to further issues with oral health, some of which can be deadly. It’s an easy routine that can make a big impact.
You should aim to brush their teeth at least two to three times a week. However, daily is better if you can manage it. Always use dog-safe toothpaste. Enzymatic toothpaste works a bit better, in our experience, especially if your dog doesn’t like this part of their routine.
7. Clean Their Eyes
Bloodhounds have droopy eyes that are somewhat prone to irritation and infection. Therefore, you’ll need to regularly check their eyes and gently wipe them to remove any dust and debris. If your Bloodhound has continuous problems with their eyes, you may need to speak with your vet about using an eye-cleaning solution, which is a bit stronger than plain water.
Be sure to clean the skin folds around their eyes, too, if they have any. These skin folds are more prone to infection because the debris from their eyes can end up there. Plus, the infections are slightly more serious, as they are close enough to their eye to potentially cause problems.
Conclusion
Bloodhounds may be short-haired dogs, but they have a lot of grooming needs that must be kept up with. Luckily, all of these should only take a few minutes a week to complete. For instance, teeth brushing may only take a minute or two (or even less, depending on the dog).
Therefore, while this list may seem long, you shouldn’t spend that much time grooming your Bloodhound. Brushing them will take the longest, but you shouldn’t be spending more than 10 minutes a day on that.
In the end, these dogs may have some special needs that must be considered (like their skin folds). However, for the most part, their grooming needs are consistent with what other dogs need.
Featured Image Credit: LinaS1998, Pixabay
