Irish Setter Grooming and Care

Apartment Living

Active Lifestyle

Watchdog Ability

Child Friendly

Dog Friendly

Cat Friendly

Shedding Level

Exercise Needs

Social Needs

Grooming needs

Stranger Friendly

Health Issues

Trainability

Adaptability

Care and grooming Irish Setter are easy and pleasant because communication with your pet is enjoy spending time. This dog breed has a dense and smooth coat without undercoat. Moulting is moderate 1-2 times a year. Basically, Setter sheds on the body. A beautiful fringe on the paws, belly and tail almost does not shed.

Peculiarity of the breed: there is completely no smell of dog despite the long coat of this breed.

Сoat needs brushing and combing 2-3 times a week with a metal comb to prevent or remove mats and tangles. Combing is necessary because you remove dust, dead hair and do excellent massage which improves blood circulation.

Bath: 1-2 times a month with shampoo for long-haired breeds or depending on pollution. The wool is covered with natural oil which makes the coat waterproof and protects from dust and dirt. So, use detergents moderately to prevent washing off natural oil.

Trimming: Coat of Irish Setter is never cut completely. Wool is trimmed only with scissors or thinning scissors on the ears, on the neck from the throat to the chest, on the paws, between the fingers and is cut a fringe on the belly.

Ears are checked regularly. A healthy ear should be pink without redness and unpleasant odor. The ear shell is washed 2-3 times a week with damp cotton pads soaked in warm water.

Setters are susceptible to ear diseases so if you notice any change in the auricle, for example:

• too much of sulfur
• redness of the skin ears
• white or red pimples
• dog shakes his head and rubs his ears to the ground

Immediately contact the veterinarian and do not treat the pet yourself.

Paws are checked every time after walk with warm water. In the pads paws are rubbed vegetable oil to prevent cracks.

Claws are pruned with Nail Clipper for large breeds once a month. Do not forget to cut off claw of fifth finger on the front legs, it is high and is not erased when dog walks. Sharp ends are smoothed with nail file to prevent burrs.

Eyes are checked daily. There are permissible a small accumulation of gray lumps in the corners of the eye in the morning. Thus the eye is cleared against dust. It can be easily removed with a soft cloth. You need to wash the dog's eyes with chamomile tea 1 time per week to prevent sour eyes. Each eye is washed with a separate cloth.

Teeth are cleaned 2-3 times a week with toothpaste for dogs and with a toothbrush or a nozzle on the finger.

Flea & Tick Control and Treatments

You have to treat an Irish Setter regularly with a drug against ectoparasites (fleas, ticks, etc.).

Fleas carry on the infection, cause itching and anxiety. They can be the cause of the appearance of worms if the dog swallows the flea.

Ticks are carriers of pyroplasmosis (babesiosis) - a deadly disease for dogs. Always check dog`s skin after walk. Do not panic if you find a tick (not all of them are carriers of the disease). Put on rubber gloves and with tweezers or Teak Twister unscrew the tick from dog skin with circular motions. Treat the bite with an antiseptic. Watch pet's health for the next few days.

If the dog is active and feels good it means the tick was harmless.

Noticing the following symptoms, contact veterinarian immediately because dog`s health and life are in danger.

Symptoms of piroplasmosis:

• Lethargy
• Refusal to eat and drink
• High body temperature over 39 degrees
• Reddish brown urine
• Spasm of hind limbs