DOGS

An important part of your dog’s pet care routine is grooming. It not only makes him look better, but it also helps to prevent certain diseases and contributes to his overall well-being.

Brushing your dog regularly is important, especially during the shedding season.  If you do not keep on top of this task when your dog is shedding, you will find it frustrating trying to brush his severely matted fur later.   Trying to brush your dog when his fur is extremely matted can also be quite painful for the dog, and you surely don’t want that to happen.

Brushing will keep his coat clean and shiny, and will result in helping to prevent some canine diseases.  A dog’s shedding fur can be quite itchy, and he will scratch frequently to try to relieve his ‘itch’. This can quite often cause him a lot of skin irritation, even to the point where he will scratch until he bleeds. If this happens,  the skin can become infected and cause other problems.

It is important to use a brush or comb made especially for dog grooming.  Some ‘people brushes’ may be too soft to do the job properly, or others, like a wire brush, may be too harsh to use on your dog’s skin.

It is a good idea to brush your dog at least once a week, and more often (even daily if necessary) during the shedding season. This should keep his hair tangle-fee, as well as get rid of any of the fur he is shedding.     You also want to keep claws trimmed to a manageable length, and be sure to keep the area around the eyes trimmed so that a) they can see, and b) you lower the risk of something swooping in and scratching your dog’ cornea.

Bathing your dog is another part of dog grooming, and it is important to bathe your dog regularly as well. How often you bathe him depends on a number of factors.  You need to consider what type of dog he is, as well as how active he is.  One indication that your dog may need a bathe is how he smells, and your nose will tell you this. It is possible, however, to bathe your dog too often. If you do, you may strip his skin of all the natural, protective oils it contains. This can result in him having dry, itchy skin. 

When bathing, you should only use products that are made especially for dogs. Other ‘people’ shampoos or detergents can cause excessive drying and flaking of your pet’s skin.  A dog’s skin is much more sensitive than that of a human, and human shampoos can cause skin irritations.  There are many good dog products on the market. You can also ask your veterinarian for recommendations. It is a good idea to find a product that includes a good moisturizer in it. This will not only help your dog’s skin, but will help you when you are trying to brush him afterwards.    If your dog has long hair, it is advisable to follow up with a separate detangling conditioner.      If you let any mats dry before detangling them, you and your dog are in for a very tedious, and painful process.

Using a flea shampoo to help get rid of fleas may also be a good idea. Again, there are many flea shampoos on the market and your vet may be able to help you decide which is best for your dog. Be sure to rinse the flea product out of your dog’s fur well, as the harsher ingredients may again cause skin problems if left in.    Also, a soothing conditioner will help protect your dog.

A good tip about bathing your dog is to brush him first before putting him in the bath water. Brushing all the matted fur and tangles out of his hair will enable the shampoo to get closer to his skin to clean it.

When you are bathing your dog, be careful when washing his face and ear areas. Instead of simply pouring water over his head, gently scoop water around this area trying not to get water or soap in his eyes or ears. You can gently rub his ears with your wet hands and massage the dirt out.   If your dog is one of the dog breeds that is prone to ‘tearing stains’ around his eyes, it is advisable to use one of the many products on the market today to help remove the discolorations.

Be sure to rinse your dog well after his bath.  Any remaining soap may cause your dog to have irritated, dry, itchy skin.

Another tip when bathing your dog is to have him stand on a rubber mat in the bathtub. This will help him not to slip and will help him feel more secure.

It is a good idea to get your dog used to being brushed and bathed from when he is small. If you start brushing your dog from a young age, it can become a ritual that you both enjoy together.   You should probably bathe your dog at least once a month.     The bonding experience that you receive by grooming your animal will make you both look forward to your scheduled home spa sessions.

CATS

Although cats are naturally very tidy animals, and will spend a very large part of their day grooming and cleaning themselves, some require a litter more help from their owners than others.  Longhaired and semi-longhaired cats,  can run into problems such as dirt, twigs or other materials becoming matted in their fur, which can become very uncomfortable.  The grooming process is important, and can be a pleasurable, bonding and rewarding experience for both the cat and the owner.  Extra combing/brushing helps good health, as is simulates the blood vessels below the skin and improves muscle tone.  Grooming your cat regularly will also help you to determine if it has fleas or any other parasite.   This is more prevalent in cats that spend time outdoors, or cats that live in multi-pet households.

Although they don’t need to have a bath as often as dogs do, cats should still be bathed as needed to keep their coats manageable.   Un-spayed/neutered cats tend to have more oily coats need more frequent bathing.

Nails should ideally be trimmed weekly. This will protect furniture from being used as a scratching post or damaged during play by sharp claws. Nail trimmers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Either a cat nail scissors or human fingernail clippers works as well. When clipping nails, take the paw in hand and take one toe at a time and squeeze the toe between the thumb and the finger, making the nail extend out. Locate the pink area which is called a quick. You do not want to trim back to the quick, but right in front of that area is ideal. Take the trimmers or nail scissors and clip the nail back. If the quick can’t be seen, then clip the nail before where the underside of the nail starts to curve down since this is generally right before the quick.

If the quick is accidentally cut into, take a cotton ball and hold on the nail for a few minutes, or you can use a styptic pencil (for shaving cuts) to stop the bleeding.

Have plenty of scratching posts available to your cat to keep your pet from clawing at your favorite chair. These help in keeping nails trimmed down too.

You should take note of changes in your cat’s grooming habits.  If you notice that Fluffy has stopped grooming herself, then it could be a sign of illness, and she needs to be seen by a vet as soon as possible.

Most cats will enjoy being groomed, as it is like being petted, but make sure to do it when the cat is relaxed.    A stressed or tense cat will not enjoy the grooming and may develop a fear of you or the comb.

BIRDS

Grooming is an essential part of maintaining the health of a companion bird. In the wild, birds can keep themselves properly groomed because they have access to open water and rough surfaces.  Companion birds rely almost entirely on their owners to provide the materials needed for their grooming.

The most important part of the bird to keep well-groomed is the beak. A bird’s beak is its most important tool for navigating in the world. It is used for eating, climbing and playing. It is crucial that the beak stays trimmed and sharp. In order to keep your bird’s beak healthy, you must provide it with a beak conditioner or mineral block. Beak conditioners provide minerals and calcium needed to help maintain the keratin in the beak. Birds can trim their beaks by gnawing on them.

Another important part of bird grooming is nail trimming. Overgrown nails make it hard for birds to perch and pose a safety hazard. Long nails are more likely to get caught on carpets, sweaters, upholstery and other fabrics. This can cause bleeding and pain. To trim your birds nails, shop for specially designed clippers or scissors and nail files. Nail clipper kits offer a great value as well. For birds that don’t like getting their nails clipped, consider buying a grinder to save time. Also, purchase some styptic powder to help with bleeding if you clip the nail to short.

The final part of grooming a bird is bathing. Birds love to be bathed, and you can either give them a bird bath in their cage or use a bath spray or mister. Baths and misters are not only cleansing for the skin and feathers, they also provides supplemental moisture, which is essential.