Cons:<\/p>\n

\n
• Need to be sharpened or replaced periodically<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  <\/p>\n

  Scissors Cutter<\/h6>\n

  Scissors style cutters are easy to control and great for precision cuts<\/p>\n

  Pros:<\/p>\n

  \n
  • Easy to use and maneuver<\/li>\n
  • List Item<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Cons:<\/p>\n

    \n
    • Need to be sharpened or replaced periodically<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      <\/p>\n

      Angled Plier Cutter<\/h6>\n

      Angled for better positioning<\/p>\n

      Pros:<\/p>\n

      \n
      • Easy to use and maneuver with<\/li>\n
      • Most come with safety guards<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Cons:<\/p>\n

        \n
        • Need to be sharpened or replaced periodically<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          [ Tools For Nail Sanding]<\/h5>\n

          <\/p>\n

          Emery \/ Metal File<\/h6>\n

          Emory or metal files are perfect for sanding and smoothing your dog’s nails after cutting and in between cuts<\/p>\n

          <\/p>\n

          Rotary Grinder Tool<\/h6>\n

          Rotary grinders are the ultimate tool for grinding and sanding your dog’s nails quickly and efficiently<\/p>\n

          [ Nail & Paw Care Supplies ]<\/h5>\n

          <\/p>\n

          Styptic Powder<\/h6>\n

          Styptic powder is essential for stopping bleeding when the quick is accidentally cut<\/p>\n

          ~ Can use corn starch as a substitute<\/p>\n

          <\/p>\n

          Ointment \/ Balms<\/h6>\n

          Paw protecting ointments like Musher’s Secret is great for protecting your Shiba Inu’s paws from cold snow, ice, snow salts, and pavement.<\/p>\n

          Balms are also great for lubricating and moisturizing dry and cracked paws<\/p>\n

          <\/p>\n

          Dog Shoes \/ Booties \/ Socks<\/h6>\n

          Dog shoes are the ultimate paw protectors. Getting them to stay on and training your dog to walk in them is another story!<\/p>\n

          <\/p>\n

          Muzzle<\/h6>\n

          Certain Shiba Inus, no matter with how much training, still need to wear a muzzle to protect from bites.<\/p>\n

          It’s important to find a comfortable and properly fitted muzzle to ensure safety and comfort – for both you and your Shiba.<\/p>\n

          [ Basic Nail Trimming Procedure ]<\/b><\/p>\n

          \n
          • Choose a time when your Shiba is more likely to be calm (ideally after a long walk)<\/li>\n
          • Make sure you are also calm and in good spirits – never attempt any type of grooming in a negative mood.<\/li>\n
          • Place your Shiba in a comfortable position that gives you easy access to their nails<\/li>\n
          • Using the clipper of your choice (must be sharp!), begin clipping the nails – don’t clip too much as once (refer to nail chart for proper cutting angle)<\/li>\n
          • Don’t forget to trim the dew claws if present<\/li>\n
          • Be careful with the back paws – back nails are naturally shorter so less trimming is needed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            <\/p>\n

            [ Basic Nail Sanding Procedure ]<\/b><\/p>\n

            Sanding your Shiba Inu’s nails after clipping is great for removing sharp edges. The additional sanding will also help getting the quick to recede “quicker”.<\/p>\n

            \n
            • Use either a manual or powered nail grinder (or a combo of both) to carefully sand down each nail<\/li>\n
            • Use a powered grinder ONLY<\/b> if your dog has been acclimated to it (for many, this is much easier said than done<\/b>)<\/li>\n
            • Make sure to sand the tops of your dog’s nails too<\/li>\n
            • Monitor your dog’s nail while sanding – you can get to their quick while sanding and cause pain<\/li>\n
            • If you ‘quick’ your dog’s nail, use either styptic powder or cornstarch to stop the bleeding<\/li>\n
            • Make a mental note of how long your dog’s nail was when reaching the quick so you can be more careful next time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Paw Pad Care:<\/p>\n

              <\/p>\n

              TIP<\/h3>\n

              You can make your own rubber dog booties using #7 balloons. Perfect for rainy \/ muddy days!<\/p>\n

              Caring for your dog’s paws is an often overlooked grooming task.<\/p>\n

              But put yourself in your dog’s shoes (paws) for a moment and you will quickly realize that neglected paws can result in pain and suffering.<\/p>\n

              Your Shiba Inu’s paws are basically their four bare “feet” that must traverse on hot pavements, icy snow, rocks, sharp objects and whatever icky goop commonly found on the ground.<\/p>\n

              Paw pad injury is common with the most injuries caused by hot pavements like asphalt so never walk your dog on hot pavements without dog shoes.<\/b><\/p>\n

              Shoes or dog booties can also protect from ice and ice salts commonly found on the road. Dog balms such as Musher’s Secret can also be used for protection against snow.<\/p>\n

              Wearable Paw Protection:<\/p>\n

              \n
              • Dog Shoes \/ booties<\/li>\n
              • Dog “Socks” \/ balloons<\/li>\n
              • Paw Pads<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Topical Paw Protection<\/p>\n

                \n
                • Petroleum Jelly<\/li>\n
                • Musher’s Secret<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Paw Treatment<\/p>\n

                  \n
                  • Paw “Butter”<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    Learn More…..<\/p>\n

                    <\/p>\n

                    SHIBA INU [ DENTAL CARE 101 ]<\/h2>\n

                    Oral disease in dogs in silent, serious, and preventable.<\/p>\n

                    Periodontal disease in dogs causes pain, tooth loss, and can be a contributing factor in other serious diseases like heart disease and diabetes.<\/p>\n

                    Simple Health Tip: Brush your Shiba Inu’s teeth!<\/b><\/p>\n

                    Brushing is Best. Period<\/p>\n

                    <\/p>\n

                    Did you know that dogs are five times more likely to suffer from gum disease than humans?<\/p>\n

                    Why?<\/p>\n

                    First off, a dog’s mouth is more alkaline<\/b> versus acidic – a more favorable environment for bacteria that causes plaque.<\/p>\n

                    Secondly, dog owners simply don’t brush their dogs teeth like they should.<\/p>\n

                    They may just give “dental” treats loaded with unknown empty calories of questionable quality.<\/p>\n

                    Or they may even believe the myth that kibble actually “brushes” a dog’s teeth. (it doesn’t).<\/p>\n

                    Brushing your dog’s teeth everyday is the best method in preventing dental disease.<\/p>\n

                    You’d be doing your part in ensuring that your dog has the best chance for long term health and quality of life.<\/p>\n

                    Yes, it takes time, commitment and patience.<\/p>\n

                    But our dogs deserve it.<\/b><\/p>\n

                    So instead of wasting a few minutes of your day checking on updates on your phone you already checked a little while ago – brush your dog’s teeth.<\/p>\n

                    We can’t 100% prevent other diseases such as cancer but why not do our part in preventing a disease that we do know we can prevent?<\/p>\n

                    Check Dog’s Teeth and Gums for:<\/p>\n

                    \n
                    • Yellow plaque buildup<\/li>\n
                    • Gum redness<\/li>\n
                    • Gum inflammation (pus, abscess)<\/li>\n
                    • Pale gums<\/li>\n
                    • Noticeable bad breath<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      TIP<\/h3>\n

                      Try to brush each area of your dog’s teeth AT LEAST 8 seconds for optimal teeth cleaning \/ plaque removal<\/p>\n

                      Oral Care Shopping Checklist<\/p>\n

                      \n
                      • Small Toothbrush (child-size)<\/li>\n
                      • Battery Operated Toothbrush (bonus points!)<\/li>\n
                      • Rubber ‘brushing’ tips for fingers<\/li>\n
                      • Dog toothpaste (enzymatic)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        [ Basic Teeth Brushing Procedure ]<\/b><\/p>\n

                        The one and only way you can make brushing your Shiba Inu’s teeth easier (versus harder) is to start during puppy hood.<\/p>\n

                        If you haven’t done that, then using a combination of patience, positive reinforcement, and conditioning are the best methods to ensure teeth brushing success.<\/p>\n

                        \n
                        • Use either a child-sized toothbrush or a toothbrush with a small head that will accommodate the size of your dog’s mouth and teeth<\/li>\n
                        • Allow your dog to taste the toothpaste a bit before attempting to brush<\/li>\n
                        • When you dog seems to enjoy the toothpaste, begin introducing the toothbrush gently and slowly while using positive praise<\/li>\n
                        • [TIP]<\/strong> If you sense that your dog is already uncomfortable, instead of introducing the toothbrush instead apply a bit of toothpaste to your fingers and slowly (and carefully) “brush” your dog’s teeth with your finger<\/li>\n
                        • If the dog seems comfortable, continue brushing as much teeth surface as possible<\/li>\n
                        • If the dog is very uncomfortable, you must keep the initial sessions short but always ending on a positive note<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          Learn More…..<\/p>\n

                          <\/p>\n

                          SHIBA INU [ EYES AND EAR CARE 101 ]<\/h2>\n

                          A dog’s eyes and ears serve a critical role of allowing the dog to sense the world around him.<\/p>\n

                          A dog’s eyes can also tell a lot about their overall health.<\/p>\n

                          Eye Care<\/p>\n

                          <\/p>\n

                          Clear bright eyes with no redness, inflammation, or discoloring is a good sign that your dog is enjoying good health.<\/p>\n

                          It’s a good idea to always monitor your dog’s eyes for any signs of\u00a0potential health issues<\/a>.<\/p>\n

                          Weepy discharge can indicate allergies, while yellowing of the eye whites can indicate liver problems. Any of these symptoms will warrant an immediate visit to your veterinarian.<\/p>\n

                          Cloudy eyes<\/a>\u00a0can be a symptom of a hosts of conditions such as cataracts, ulcers, and dry eye. These symptoms also call for a visit to your vet.<\/p>\n

                          Shiba Inus have been known to have eye issues such as cataracts and glaucoma. Both conditions are treatable but may come at a high expense.<\/p>\n

                          If getting your Shiba Inu as a puppy, make sure to buy from reputable breeders that check for genetic issues that include eye problems.<\/p>\n

                          Aging and Your Shiba’s Eyes<\/p>\n

                          The natural aging process affects your Shiba Inus entire body including eyes and eye sight.<\/p>\n

                          Corneal changes and cellular loss can cause cloudiness in the corneas. Some Shibas will experiences lipid and mineral deposits in their corneas that can cause corneal ulcers.<\/p>\n

                          The most common and obvious age-related changes to your Shiba Inus eyes is called nuclear sclerosis which causes cloudiness deep in your Shiba’s eyes.<\/p>\n

                          This cloudiness is caused by the eye lens that continue to grow in the eye. As space runs out, fibers in the lens become densely packed resulting in cloudy eyes.<\/p>\n

                          This condition also affects humans that make us require reading glasses as we age.<\/p>\n

                          Cataracts are another condition that comes along with aging. Some cataracts are very tiny and don’t cause much of an issue. Large cataracts will affect vision and cause complete blindness.<\/p>\n

                          In most cases, surgery can correct cataracts but can be costly.<\/p>\n

                          <\/p>\n

                          Check Eyes For:<\/p>\n

                          \n
                          • Excessive tearing<\/li>\n
                          • “Dry” eye (crusting, hard discharge)<\/li>\n
                          • Yellowing of eye whites (potential liver issues)<\/li>\n
                          • Pale \/ cloudy eyes<\/li>\n
                          • Bulging of eyes (Glaucoma symptom)<\/li>\n
                          • Eye redness<\/li>\n
                          • Squinting \/ closed eyes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                            Eye Care Maintenance<\/p>\n

                            \n
                            • Clean discharge with mild solution (contact lens solution works)<\/li>\n
                            • Ointments if needed for dry eye or other eye conditions<\/li>\n
                            • Avoid excessive direct sun exposure (use dog goggles as needed)<\/li>\n
                            • Protect your dog’s eyes from flying debris (grass cutting, dust during windy days, etc)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                              <\/p>\n

                              Ear Care 101<\/p>\n

                              Keeping your dog’s ears clean and healthy is an often overlooked part of grooming care.<\/p>\n

                              A dog’s ear has glands that produce secretions such as ear wax that can build up over time – especially for older dogs<\/b>.<\/p>\n

                              Dogs with droopy or hairy ears are more prone to ear infections due to the lack of air flow throughout the ear canal.<\/p>\n

                              Thankfully, Shiba Inus have perky ears that allow for adequate air flow.<\/p>\n

                              However, ear issues such as ear mites, inflammation, and ear infections can affect all dogs.<\/p>\n

                              Ear infections can be painful and lead to serious issues such as deafness and ruptured blood vessels<\/a>.<\/p>\n

                              Check Ears For:<\/p>\n

                              \n
                              • Wax Buildup<\/li>\n
                              • Discharge<\/li>\n
                              • Mites (traces of coffee-ground like specks)<\/li>\n
                              • Redness<\/li>\n
                              • Hair Loss<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                Causes of Ear Discharge<\/p>\n

                                \n
                                • Ear mites<\/li>\n
                                • Outer ear infection, caused by allergies, mites, wax, moisture<\/li>\n
                                • Inner ear infection, caused by not treating outer ear infection<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                  A dog’s hearing is one of their most important senses so it’s important to take care of their ears at all times.<\/p>\n

                                  Ear infections are painful and can lead to dizziness, nausea, and even loss of hearing.<\/p>\n

                                  If your Shiba Inu has\u00a0 any of the above symptoms, see your vet immediately. Don’t try to diagnose the problem yourself.<\/p>\n

                                  Ear Care Maintenance<\/p>\n

                                  \n
                                  • Gentle cleaning with mild solution using cotton balls<\/li>\n
                                  • Ear hair trimming \/ plucking if necessary<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                    Learn More…..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                    On occasion, our posts contain affiliate links. However, we only recommend products that we truly believe in. For more information, visit my privacy policy page\u200b. Shiba Inu Grooming 101 Thanks for visiting\u00a0Myfirstshiba.com!\u00a0We do our very best in providing our readers with awesome content about our beloved Shiba Inu breed. Some of our articles include reviews and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37,30,31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8575","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bathing","category-most-popular-shiba-inu-posts","category-page-appearance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myfirstshiba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8575"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myfirstshiba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myfirstshiba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myfirstshiba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myfirstshiba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8575"}],"version-history":[{"count":277,"href":"https:\/\/myfirstshiba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8575\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14866,"href":"https:\/\/myfirstshiba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8575\/revisions\/14866"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myfirstshiba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8575"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myfirstshiba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8575"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myfirstshiba.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8575"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}