Many pet owners view grooming solely as a cosmetic responsibility. In face, there are many health benefits for regularly grooming your furry family member (dog, cat, etc!) Regular grooming, which includes hair brushing, nail cutting, expressing anal glands, and bathing can actually protect your pet from many health complications. Here are some grooming tips to keep your pet clean and healthy as we enter the hot summer months.
Basic Grooming:
All long haired pets should be brushed ideally once daily, ranging from whether you have a Shih-Tzu or a Labrador Retriever. It is easy to forget to brush a Shih-Tzu with their long luxurious coat, however, if not taken care of properly, they start to develop knots known as “mats” close to their skin that are hard, if not impossible, to brush out.
Basic Grooming:
All long haired pets should be brushed ideally once daily, ranging from whether you have a Shih-Tzu or a Labrador Retriever. It is easy to forget to brush a Shih-Tzu with their long luxurious coat, however, if not taken care of properly, they start to develop knots known as “mats” close to their skin that are hard, if not impossible, to brush out.
Mats:
Most of the time you can’t see these mats in the beginning, and that’s just it, because it is the beginning. Once these mats get closer and tighter to the skin, it allows for less air to get to the skin. This may have a number of consequences.
Complications of mats/knots:
The first is pain, having a knot of hair pulling your skin is NOT comfortable. Even Golden Retrievers can get mats behind their ears or in their “feathers” (the long hair on their legs and under their belly). If not brushed through, the mats may cause skin infections, fungal infections, sores, hotspots, and so much more. When a coat is matted it is also more difficult for the animal to regulate its body temperature. Dogs do not sweat like humans do. They sweat through the pads of their feet, but mainly maintain their body temperature through panting. If there is not enough circulation on a pets skin, this can also cause them to over heat. Also when matted, it is not easy to see when a flea or a tick is on your pet. You can’t imagine the infestations that have been seen under a fully matted dog of fleas because they were not visible. If a pet is overwhelmed with a flea infestation, not only is it extremely uncomfortable, but potentially deadly. The fleas can suck so much blood out of your pet causing it to become anemic.
Cat Grooming:
Please remember that cats with medium to long hair also need daily brushing. They do groom themselves but sometimes not enough and/or they can’t reach certain spots like their back. Also by brushing them, you lessen the chances of them getting hairballs stuck in their gastrointestinal tract which can cause vomiting and/or constipation. Not only does brushing them make them feel good and comfortable, but it also helps to prevent the excess shed of hair around your home!
Shedding:
No matter what anybody says, ALL PETS SHED, some more than others and some much more noticeable than others. Contrary to what a lot pet owners think, short haired dogs and cats need basic grooming as well. Brushing your pug with the proper brush daily (or even every other day) SIGNIFICANTLY reduces the amount of hair that is left on your furniture, as well as it is enjoyable for your pet.
Start EARLY:GET YOUR PET USED TO BEING BRUSHED AS A PUPPY. A brush, whether for their coat or for their teeth should NOT scare your animal, make it a positive experience! The same thing goes for their feet. When you first get your pet, play with his or her ears and feet so that when it comes to cleaning their ears or trimming their toenails they are NOT as sensitive to it.
Nail Trims:
Each pets nails grow at a different rate just like humans. Some dogs nails need to be cut once every 3 months, while others need to be cut every two weeks. Walking them every day on pavement helps to also grind their nails down. If their nails get too long and/or overgrown it makes it VERY difficult to walk and get a grasp on whatever floor they are on. It is also painful! Sometimes unnoticed, if you haven’t cut your cats nails in some time, they may even grow and curl under AND INTO their foot pads! THAT is NOT comfortable and may cause more serious problems.
Bathing:
Each pet has its own needs. Some may need to be bathed once every two weeks for a medicated bath due to dry skin or a fungal infection, or some need to be bathed every few months because over bathing can also dry out their skin and coat. The activities they participate in are also a factor in grooming. If your lovable lab likes to go swimming with you in the summer, after swimming you should rinse off your dog to get rid of the chlorine from his coat and skin which can potentially irritate the skin if left on.
Ear Care:
Another important thing is that if you rinse your dog off after a swim or bathe them at home, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CLEAN THEIR EARS AS WELL AFTERWARDS. One of the most common cause of ear infections is left over water in a pets ear canal! Their ear canals have a curvature in them, so if you take a piece of cotton with some ear cleaner gotten by your local veterinarian or pet store, wrap the cotton around your pointer finger and wipe out what is left in the ears, that will prevent ear infections and many more things if done after every bath/rinse off/and/or weekly.
Weekly maintenance makes your pet feel comfortable and can prevent much bigger problems in the long run! Until next time!
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