Basset Care

Basset Care and Grooming

Nails

Basset nails should be cut every 2 to 3 weeks. If the nails are clicking on the kitchen floor they are too long. With their wonderful big feet, if the nails get too long it will cause their fat toes to splay, eventually causing problems with their legs and feet.

Grooming

Bassets shed in the spring and fall and all year round. A weekly brushing will limit some of the dog hair rolling around you house. Bassets do not have a long coat, so for brushes use the rule of thumb, "If the brush wouldn’t feel good using it on your head, it won’t feel good on the basset’s coat”.

Bathing

Remember to put cotton in their ears, so you don’t get water down the ear canal. Use Dog shampoo. Human shampoo has a different pH than a dog shampoo. Dogs will itch if you use human shampoo. Make sure you rinse all the shampoo out, so they don’t itch.

Ears

Bassets are prone to ear infections. If the ears smell your basset probably has an ear infection. Baby Wipes are excellent for weekly wiping out of the basset’s ear. If you have an ear infection the following treatment really works well.

Violet Ear Treatment

This Violet Ear Treatment has been around for years, most of the old time vets have used this treatment for years for everything from ears to treating cuts on horses legs.

INGREDIENTS:
16 Oz. Isopropyl Alcohol – you will have to dump out about ½ oz so you have enough room for the rest of the ingredients.
4 Tablespoons Boric Acid Powder
16 Drops Gentian Violet Solution 1%
Mix together in alcohol bottle and shake well.
The Boric Acid Powder will settle to the bottom, so you need to shake the bottle each time you use it.

TREATMENT: Gentian Violet stains anything it gets on, so it is best to treat your dog’s ears outside or on sealed surface linoleum. Warm the solution – your dog will thank you.

For the first three days, flood the ears twice a day, rub the dog’s ears and let him shake it out.

On the fourth days, go to once a day. Using 8 to 10 drops, massage the ear then use baby wipes for the excess.

Continue day four treatment for up to two weeks.

You will be amazed at the results and your dog will be happy.

Use 2 to 3 drops every two to three weeks when you clean ears and they will stay healthy.

Gentian Violet was used for years for Thrust in baby’s mouth and mother breasts. Thrust is a yeast infection. Modern medicine has moved away from this great treatment because of the stain factor, but old time cures are sometimes the best.

You might have to call a few Pharmacies’ before you find one that has it or will order the Gentian Violet for you. It is an over the counter item. Usually cost less than $5.00. You can find the Boric Acid Powder in the pharmacy area, usually less than $2.00. Isopropyl Alcohol - less than $1.00.

This treatment works if you are consistent in following the program. So many people who have tried it have reported that it has cleared up ear problems they dogs have had for years. Just remember it stains.

Feeding

Over the years in rescue I have found a premium quality Lamb and Rice or Chicken and Rice dog food works well for a basset. A basset that had been fed a BEEF dog food will come in with hot spots and smelling like a gym sock. Once they are switch over to a good quality Lamb and Rice, the smell is gone and within a week the hot spots are gone, plus the coat become shiny and soft.

06/11/2007 05:28:55

Hit Counter

©2008 Washington Basset Rescue WABR.NET
For more information call or write:
Washington Basset Rescue
7220 N Haven Spokane, WA. 99217
509-466-1538 Email: rescue@wabr.net