Q: Do I really need to clean my dog's genitals?

Q: Do I really need to clean my dog's genitals? Can't he (or she) take care of this on his (or her) own?

A: Keeping the genital area clean and tidy on male and female dogs is extremely important. This true for all dogs, although dogs with longer coats usually need some extra attention "down there." Your pooch's self-cleaning is just not enough!

The coat on Hair dogs (such as Poodles, Doodles, Portuguese Water Dogs, Shih-Tzus, Yorkies, Beardies, Maltese, and mixes) keeps growing. That means, unless the hair is cut, it will get longer and bushier and then you risk retraction problems. If the hair is left uncut, it can wrap around the penis, which makes it too big to retract. Left out, it will dry up and it has no lubrication to help the retraction process. Occasionally, you'll see a dog with longer fur have a problem, but it's rare. Moreover, unkempt genitals can cause a host of other unpleasant issues, such as mats, crusty debris--we could go on, but this is a family blog.

Regardless of your dog's coat type, you must keep his genitals neat and tidy. Whether Fido has a penis or a vagina, discharge is normal unless it becomes excessive. Moreover, if a male dog isn't neutered, you'll have lots of discharge, which contributes to the retraction danger. (Yes, another reason to neuter!) Keeping the genitals clean and tidy also prevents mats from developing and debris from hiding and exposes the area to air, which as we all know is a freeing feeling.

If you have a male dog, excess hair around the penis can pose other "embarrassing" problems. For instance, the hair can prevent the penis from retracting (or disappearing) after arousal, whether or not Fido has been neutered. When this happens, Fido will be uncomfortable and will lick the area, which can cause irritation, inflammation and infection.

Whether Fido is male or female, I recommend that the genital area be trimmed short or shaved on all dogs that have a lot of hair or fur there. Please, don't attempt to cut or shave this area yourself. This is an extremely delicate area that requires the expert hand of a professional groomer -- a good groomer with a gentle and steady touch. If your dog has hair that grows, he'll need to go in for a genital touch up about every 4-6 weeks. Otherwise, see the groomer when the fur gets long or thick.