Grooming your pet...necessary!


Blog Post by Linda Atha

If you have a pet, there’s always grooming to do. Carolina Pets Animal Hospital is a great place to have your pets groomed. 

Did you know your pet’s health begins with grooming?

It removes dead hair, dandruff and dirt. And, grooming also prevents those tangled messes and mats.  Regularly groomed pets have healthier and shinier coats. Grooming stimulates the blood supply to the skin. At Carolina Pets Animal Hospital we offer all of the following options for your pet, but here are some at-home hints:

Bathing – Avoid use of human shampoos on your dog's skin. Human grade shampoos contain chemicals that can be too harsh or drying for a dog or cat’s skin. We recommend use of a shampoo specially formulated for your dog or cats skin and coat needs (ask us if you need a recommendation).

When bathing, lather the shampoo and distribute evenly over the body behind the ears back. For your pet’s face and ears, use a wash cloth. Only use tearless shampoos on the head to avoid eye burns. If you’re using a medicated shampoo, be sure to leave the shampoo in contact with your pet’s skin for 5 to 10 minutes in order to get the full effect of the shampoo.  Rinse the shampoo from your pet's skin thoroughly, removing all excess shampoo residue. Follow with a pet conditioner.


*Don’t forget to clean your pet’s ears AFTER the bath with an appropriate pet ear cleanser such as EpiOtic or Micellar Solution.

 

Brushing -  Match the brush to your pet's coat type.  A curved wire slicker or pin brush works best for long-haired breeds (e.g., Shetland Sheepdogs or Border Collies). A regular wire slicker works great for medium or short coats with dense undercoat (e.g., Terriers). A mitt or rubbery curry works great for smooth-coated breeds (e.g., Labrador Retrievers or Pointers). 

*HINT*: Brush and comb your pet before bathing. Tangles become tighter and more difficult to remove when wet. 


Brush the entire coat down to the skin but do not brush the skin. Scraping the brush against your pet’s skin can cause "brush burn" — irritated, red skin that can require a trip to see one of our veterinarians at Carolina Pets Animal Hospital. Brush gently on tender areas, such as the tummy and inside the legs.  Concentrate on one section and one layer of the coat at a time. Part the coat by pushing it back with one hand and brushing the hair down a little at a time with the other. Use quick, deep strokes.  Take your time. Brushing out a coat, especially on heavy-coated breeds such as the Cocker Spaniel, can be hard work and time-consuming.  Comb after brushing to remove remaining tangles and knots. 

Is your dog or cat severely matted? A clip down (or “Lion cut”) might be the key to remove seriously matted hair coats, allowing them to grow out. This will spare your dog or cat the pain and irritation of hours of detangling.   



NAIL TRIM:  The final part of any grooming is a nail trim. There are many available tools for nail trims. We recommend avoid the Roscoe clippers as their guillotine-type cutting can cause pain when the blades dull, which happens quickly. And there is an increased risk of cutting the nail too short. We do recommended scissor-type nail clippers. Yes, there will be blood if you cut your pet’s nails too short. If your pet’s nails are white/clear then you can easily see the pink area to be avoided. However, if the nails are black, then you may need for us to show you how to do a proper trim and avoid overcutting. We are always happy to do a nail trim on your pet for you whether you have a dog, cat, rabbit, or another small rodent.


MOST IMPORTANT: Praise and reward your pet.  After all, grooming is a team effort!

 

 

 
Pic sources:
Dachshund puppy: http://bit.ly/1YEXkVQ
Cat and brush: http://bit.ly/1RjsUXf
Lion cut cat: http://bit.ly/1NFRO3x





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