Groom Your Dog and Cat with These Helpful Tips and Advice
Pet grooming, whether by bathing or brushing, is beneficial for many reasons. It helps build the human-animal link by allowing you to monitor your dog's or cat's physical status to prevent minor issues from becoming major ones.
In this article, we put together everything you need to know to keep your pet clean and healthy, whether you handle all of the grooming yourself or take your pet to a professional groomer or veterinarian for specific procedures.
Cat Grooming Basics
Healthy cats will take care of grooming themselves for the most part: They are extremely clean! However, there are specific things you may do to assist them in maintaining their coat.
Brushing
Brushing your cat's fur and skin regularly will help maintain its health. A weekly brushing will be adequate for short-haired cats. To avoid uncomfortable matting, longer-haired cats should be groomed more frequently—up to every day. If you’re unsure of frequency, ask your groomer.
When brushing at home, invest in a specialist dematting comb and stop brushing if your cat gets irritated.
Bathing
While most cats don't enjoy or need regular baths, certain times might be necessary. If your cat gets into something sticky, oily, or potentially harmful if ingested, you'll want to bathe them to keep them from getting sick trying to lick themselves clean.
Depending on your cat’s affinity (or lack thereof) to water, you may need help bathing them. If they’re particularly challenging to bathe, consider having them professionally groomed.
Nail Trimming
Nail trimming is not appreciated by most cats, but it is crucial for indoor cats because their nails don’t undergo the wear-and-tear process that they do in the wild. While scratching posts will help, failure to trim your cat’s nails regularly can be uncomfortable for them, not to mention painful for you if you get scratched.
You can trim your cat’s nails as frequently as needed. Typically, once a month will suffice. Consider purchasing a pet nail clipper as it will be easier to use and will not harm your pet if you slip.
Ear Care
If you're bathing your cat, be sure the water doesn't get in their ears. Cleaning the ears with a moistened cotton ball or cotton swab should be done individually. Make sure you don't put a swab in your cat's ear. Only clean the cartilage close to the ear's opening.
Long-Hair Care
Long-haired breeds may require extra grooming. Keep a paw haircut to avoid kitty litter clumping. To prevent a build-up of trapped excrement, keep the fur around your cat's behind short as well. Keep an eye on their facial hair to make sure it doesn't grow into their eyes, obstructing their vision or irritating their corneas.
Dog Grooming Basics
Grooming is often more difficult for dogs than cats, but the amount of effort required varies by breed. The following are the essential grooming requirements for most dogs to be healthy.
Brushing
A weekly brushing will keep your short-haired dog's skin and coat clean and healthy. Start with a slicker brush and then a bristle brush for dogs with dense fur prone to matting. Brush your dog daily if they have a long, silky coat. Use a slicker brush to remove tangles, then run the fur through with a bristle brush to finish.
Bathing
While there are no hard and fast rules for how often you should bathe your dog, a reasonable rule of thumb is at least four times a year. Bathing your dog too frequently might make their coat and skin dry and harsh. Regular brushing can help to reduce the need for baths, but only use a gentle shampoo when you wash your dog.
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Nail Trimming
Unless your dog spends a lot of time on concrete, trim their nails regularly. It's time when you hear that familiar clicking on the floor. Remove the white area of the nail with dog-safe nail clippers. Be extra cautious of canines with black nails.
Ear Care
Do not forget to clean your dog's ears when bathing them. You can keep their ears dry during the bath by gently inserting cotton balls into them. Wipe the inside of your ears to eliminate any dirt or wax build-up.
Have Your Pets Groomed Professionally at Earthwise Pet Supply & Grooming Bentonville!
Proper grooming isn’t always fun for your pet, but it will keep them in good health. It will also be good for you as it ensures you have a fresh-smelling, happy, and healthy furry friend to play with. While there are many grooming maintenance items you can handle at home, remember: nothing can replace a professional grooming service!
While most pet parents prefer to groom their friendly companions at home, considering Earthwise pet grooming can save you time and energy. Our team can do it all, from trimming overgrown nails to brushing teeth for plaque and bad breath. Get in touch with us today to schedule a grooming appointment.