Post by: Isabella Brown
Regular grooming sessions keep pets like dogs looking and feeling their best. They’re also a great chance to examine your pet’s coat, ears, teeth, and nails for any signs of problems, including scrapes or cuts on the skin and tartar buildup on their teeth. Grooming is something that you can do for your furry friend yourself or, for more complex tasks, take them to a professional groomer for.
While professional groomers and veterinary technicians are well-trained to handle pets, it’s also worth taking the time to learn basic maintenance grooming yourself. On top of sprucing up your pet’s appearance with accessories like handsome martingale collars, you can also take charge of simple grooming tasks like bathing, brushing, and nail trimming. This way, you can properly care for your pet in between visits to the groomer’s and reduce their chances of complications like matting.
Grooming your fur baby is not as hard as you think, and you don’t have to do all the routines every day. If you don’t know where to start, check out these tips on how to properly groom a pet like a dog.
Bathing Your Pet
Even if your pet isn’t due for a visit to the groomers, you may need to give them baths depending on the breed and coat. But remember that overly frequent washing may remove the natural oils from your pet’s coat, and baths can also dry out their coat and make it harsh. It’s best to ask your vet about just how often you need to bathe your dog.
When you do bathe your dog, for example, use a mild shampoo that’s specifically formulated for dogs. An oatmeal and aloe shampoo is a good choice, as it can condition the fur and help soothe the scalp. Before you give your pup a wash, you may also want to protect the insides of their ears by placing cotton balls on them. Again, find out the best method to bathe your pet depending on their exact needs.
Brushing Their Fur
In between washes, remember to also brush your pet’s fur. It will keep your pet’s coat neat and clean as well as manage shedding. Several brushing sessions a week are fine, but if your pet’s breed or the length of their coat requires that you do it every day, all the better.
When you brush your pet’s fur, do it all the way down to their skin. This provides a massaging action that stimulates blood circulation. It also helps loosen and remove flakes of dandruff. Aside from the proper brushing technique, use the proper tools according to your pet’s coat texture and length.
If you have a pet dog with long hair, use a pin brush. It has round-ended stainless steel pins to help remove minor tangles. Brush your dog’s hair bit by bit and put your finger between each tangle and your dog’s skin. This way, you won’t yank the fur or pull the skin, which can hurt your dog. For short or medium-haired breeds, you’ll need to use a bristle brush. This type of brush has tightly packed natural bristles that can remove loose hair and stimulate your pet’s skin. For doodles, a slicker brush and metal comb work well.
Trimming Their Nails
For pets like dogs, nails need to stay short for their feet to steer clear of injuries. Long nails can interfere with a dog’s gait and make walking awkward and painful. Overly long nails also tend to break easily and cause problems at the base of the nail, where blood vessels and nerves are located. A dog’s injuries from nail length may be compounded by further ailments like infections and lead to a trip to the veterinarian.
But not all pets require regular nail trimming. Some pups’ nails, for example, tend to stay naturally short when they walk on concrete or pavement, while others need frequent trimming. If you have such a pet, choose a pet nail clipper that can accommodate your pet’s size. It’s also a good idea to get one with safety guards to avoid cutting your pet’s nails too short.
Trim only the ends of nails or until the quick (which is the blood vessel inside the nail) is reached. If you don’t know where this is for your dog, a good guide is the hook-like part of your dog’s nail that looks like it’s turning down.
Brushing Their Teeth
Frequent cleaning can keep your pet’s teeth free of plaque and keep their breath smelling good. Make sure to use a toothbrush and toothpaste products that are specifically designed for pets like cats and dogs. Giving them anything with fluoride can be harmful.
If your pet isn’t too enthusiastic about having their teeth cleaned, try getting them used to it by rubbing their teeth and gums with your fingers. Then, put a bit of toothpaste on your finger and let them smell and lick it. Do the same thing when you’re introducing them to their toothbrush.
Cleaning Their Ears
Lastly, it’s a good idea to clean your pet’s ears when necessary, which is typically every month for dogs. Proper cleaning can prevent wax buildup and address any debris that may cause ear infections. If you have a dog that often swims or has pendulous ear flaps, they may be more susceptible to ear problems, and that means that you should clean their ears more frequently.
When cleaning your dog’s ears, focus on the outer part only and don’t force anything into their ear. Use a damp cloth or a cotton swab soaked in mineral oil to gently clean off debris.
Taking your pet to the groomer’s every once in a while will certainly help them look sharp and feel their best, but as a pet owner, it’s always good for you to know the basics. For any queries on how to go about grooming and health or hygiene problems related to grooming, don’t hesitate to reach out to a vet or a professional pet groomer.
Post by: Isabella Brown