How to Care for an Irish Wolfhound

Care for Irish Wolfhound is easy and at the same time uncomfortable due to the large size of the dog. Irish Wolfhound has a tough and wiry outer coat and a soft undercoat. This wool is ideal to protect Wolfhound`s body against mechanical damage during the hunting and persecution wild animals, bites of mosquitoes and horseflies, getting wet, cold and dirt. Wool does not tangle is easy to comb and does not smell.

Grooming: Irish Wolfhound has hard wool which should be trimmined but not cut. It is trimmined 2 times a year, spring - autumn. Trimming is made with your fingers or with a trimming knife or a stripping knife. Sick or old dogs are shaved with dog grooming clippers. Dogs which finished a dog show careers is permitted to cut.

Combing is necessary 2 - 3 times a week with a metal comb and a brush with natural bristles. Combing improves circulation, removes dead hair and pet enjoys a pleasant massage.

Rules combing.

• Wool is combing with a metal comb. It is necessary to start from the head, on the body and on the sides, after to move to the tail and then to the limbs.
• After, the wool is combed with the brush with natural bristles against the wool growth then to the direction of growth.
• At the end wool is wiped with a damp cloth to remov dust and dirt.

Bathing is recommended 1 - 2 times a year or before the dog show or depending from pollution with shampoo for wire-haired breeds without conditioner. The coat should be hard or it will lose a protective qualities.

Breeders often use dry cleaning of wool because the dog is very big. Dry shampoo is rubbed into the coat after it is combed with the crest.

Always wipe pet`s muzzle with a damp towel after feeding to remove food debris from the beard.

Claws are cut 1 time per month with Nail Clipper for large breeds. Sharp ends have to be smoothed with a nail file. Long claws cause discomfort and spoil dog`s gait.

Care teeth Irish Wolfhound are checked regularly. Healthy gums are pink without bleeding. The teeth are cleaned 1 time a week with toothpaste for dogs with a toothbrush or a special nozzle on the finger.

Ears are checked every day and cleaned with a damp cotton pad inside of the shell 1 time per week to remove dust and sulfur. If the dog shakes his head, rubs on the floor, the ear has an unpleasant smell, there is a lot of sulfur and liquid, you should consult veterinarian.

Paws and paw pads are cleaned and checked after walking. Wool between toes needs to be removed that fingers were gathered in a lump. In winter, the paw pads lubricated with vegetable oil to prevent cracking.

Eyes are checked every day and washed with a soft cloth soaked in chamomile tea or warm water, 1 time per week. Healthy eyes are clean and shiny without excessive lacrimal secretion and redness.

It is necessary to accustom your pet to all procedures at an early age otherwise you will not be able to control adult Irish Wolfhound. Always praise your pet and give favorite treat after each procedures of hygiene.

Ticks and fleas are a serious threat to the health of the Irish Wolfhound. Always check dog's skin after walking in the woods or park. Armpits, neck, ears, abdomen and near the genitals is favorite place of ticks.

You have to consult veterinarian about medicine against fleas and ticks because all products are selected according to the weight and health of dogs.

There are several types’ medicine against fleas and ticks:

• Drops (applied to the area of the withers 1 time per month, do not bathe your pet 10 days)
• Spray (handle the pet coat before walk and dog`s lounger and clothes)
•  Tablets (give to eat, protect up to 12 weeks)
• Collar (protects the dog at constant wearing of up to 7 months)

Fleas are cause of allergic reactions, dermatitis, severe itching and anemia and they are carriers of infectious diseases.

Ticks are carriers of the deadly disease of dogs - piroplasmosis (babesiosis). They are very active and dangerous in spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October).

If you find a tick on dog's body, do not panic. You can remove the tick yourself or contact your veterinarian. Vet will remove the tick, examine the dog and make the analysis on the presence of piroplasmosis.

How to remove the tick from the dog`s skin.

You should use а tweezers or a tick twister. Take the head of the tick close to the dog's skin and with a circular motion, remove it from the dog's body. Be careful not to crush the parasite. Check and treat place of bite with antiseptic.

The next few days watch the dog's health condition. If pet is active, eats with gusto, no temperature, do not worry everything is all right it means the tick was not infectious.

Babesia symptoms (piroplasmosis)

You should immediately contact the vet if you see the symptoms of the disease because the dog can die without medical assistance.

• Refusal of food and drink
• High body temperature (39 - 41 degrees)
• Lethargy, apathy
• Red - brown urine
• Yellowing of the whites of the eyes