by Kat Oliver

Created on: April 09, 2009

Tips for Grooming Your Black Mouth Cur:

If you are one of the lucky ones who lives with a Black Mouth Cur you will find your pet, or family member, is actually very easy to groom.

The Black Mouth Cur is a ruggedly muscular and study short-haired animal. Some are born with heavier coats than others. But both have the same grooming requirements.

Comb or brush them everyday, or at least every other day, to remove dead and loose hair. You may want to try both a slicker comb and a rubber curry comb to see which one your Cur prefers. Some Curs have more sensitive skin than others. The curry comb will help stimulate the natural production of oil to help prevent dry skin. But don't over do it because too much oil can also cause skin irritations. I only use the curry on my Cur when he seems to itch a little more than what is normal.

The Cur should be bathed only when absolutely necessary because bathing this breed tends to dry their skin and could result in excessive skin irritations or infections. If you do have to wash your Cur, use a gentle shampoo such as baby shampoo and make sure you dry him well with an absorbent towel.

Check the ears daily to make sure the ear canal is free of excess shedding hair or other debris. If you find excessive wax buildup in the ears, check with your vet before attempting any home remedies' to remove it. The ear canal is very sensitive and susceptible to injury so don't stick anything down into the ear canal.

Check your Cur's eyes daily to make sure they are clear and clean. Debris caught in the eye tends to migrate to the corners of the eyes where it can be easily and gently wiped away. Do not put anything into the eye unless you are specifically instructed to do so by a licensed vet. Just because it may be safe for human use doesn't mean it's safe for your pet.

Once a week you should check the toenails and clip them if they have grown long enough to actually touch the ground. The rule of thumb is if you can hear the little click-click' from his nails when your Cur walks across the room, it's time to trim his nails.

If the toenails actually hit the floor as your pet walks, the constant impact, even though it is a small one initially, can cause injury to the nail bed and the toes causing your pet to have an unbalanced gait. This unbalanced gait may ultimately cause damage/sores to the foot pads from the unevenly distributed weight on the foot.

Don't forget to check the pads on the bottom of the paws for stickers, thorns, cuts, and abrasions. If anything looks out of the ordinary or inflamed, contact your vet for advice before your treat the injury.

If you are one of the brave souls who wants to brush your Cur's teeth, DO NOT use human toothpaste. Purchase a good toothpaste from your vet or local pet supply.

Properly grooming your Cur will help keep him healthy and will make both of you very happy.

Learn more about this author, Kat Oliver.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.