Teaching your dog to accept brushing will take some training, but will be very beneficial to the dog once he is accustomed to the process. Daily brushing is most beneficial and will help to establish a routine for your pet, but brushing twice a week is acceptable if your schedule can’t accommodate daily brushing.
Make sure that you use a clean plastic container. Your vet may provide you with one or you may use a clean margarine dish or something similar. A pie plate works best for female dogs. Keep in mind that a fresh specimen is best. Anything more than 12 hours old will not provide accurate results. If you can’t bring in the specimen within an hour of collecting it, make sure to place it in the refrigerator.
Make sure that you use a clean plastic container. Your vet may provide you with one or you may use a clean margarine dish or something similar. A pie plate works best for female dogs. Keep in mind that a fresh specimen is best. Anything more than 12 hours old will not provide accurate results. If you can’t bring in the specimen within an hour of collecting it, make sure to place it in the refrigerator. Before collecting a specimen from a male dog, make sure you know which leg the dog prefers to lift, or if he prefers to squat.
Remember that the ear may be very painful and that even a passive dog may respond by biting. You may need to muzzle the dog for this procedure.
Make sure that you wash your hands both before and after administering the medication to prevent the spread of infection. If your dog’s eye is painful, you may need to have someone assist you with restraining or you may need to apply a muzzle.
The easiest way to give your dog a liquid medication is to mix it with some canned food. To ensure that the medication is actually taken, it is best to give a small amount of food that the dog is certain to eat rather than a large portion that the dog may not complete. Some dogs may be unwilling to eat the food or may have dietary restrictions that prevent you from using this technique. If this is the case, you will need to administer the medication directly into your dog’s mouth.