Grooming tips for pets
Grooming is an essential part of your pet care routine. It is a huge consideration as to what breed of pet you get. I underestimated the amount of grooming involved in owning a Border Collie - Toby is one hairy dog! I brush him diligently and he still sheds piles of fur all over my house, my car and my clothes. Lucky I love him so much!
No matter what type of coat your pooch has, he/she will need regular grooming and bathing to remain comfortable and healthy, as well as look good for you.
Here are some tips…
- There are a huge variety of coat types in the canine world - short hair, long hair, non-shedding and double coats. All have different grooming requirements but all dogs benefit from regular brushing. It removes surface dirt from the coat, helps prevent tangles and also helps spread natural oil across the skin. Brushing allows you to feel your dog over from head to toe and is a great way to check for lumps and bumps or any sores.
- It’s best to start brushing your pets from an early age to get them used to it. Reward with treats when they sit patiently and start with just a short session, say 2 minutes and then build up to longer times.
- Dogs with short, smooth coats such as Staffordshire Terriers and Boxers are known as ‘wash’n’wear’ dogs because their coats are easy to care for. A rubber brush used against the lie of the fur, will usually do the trick. A little tip… a chamois cloth rubbed over the coat actually polishes it and gives the coat a shine.
- Dogs that have a long coat with a protective undercoat (like my Border Collie, Toby), need thorough brushing every couple of days. Otherwise, the hair will matt and become extremely uncomfortable for the dog. A wire slicker brush will help get all the loose hair out of the coat.
- Gently comb out matts and tangles with a wide-toothed comb and make sure you trim the hair between his toes.
- Some dogs such as Poodles, Schnauzers and Bichon Frise have hair that grows continuously like wool and doesn’t shed. This makes them ideal dogs for allergy sufferers but they still need regular bathing and to have their coat trimmed with clippers every 6-8 weeks. It is easiest to get a professional groomer to do the job, but you can do it yourself provided you purchase a good quality pair of clippers available from most pet stores. This will save you money in the long run.
BATHING
- It is very important to use a pet shampoo, not a human shampoo as there is a difference in the pH of the products. Dogs have more sensitive skin than humans and the wrong shampoo may strip the oils out of the coat and burn the skin.
- Be sure to brush your dog thoroughly BEFORE you bath him/her and then again after he/she is completely dry.
- Place a cotton wool ball gently in your pet’s ears to prevent water from entering and be sure to gently dry ears with a towel after bathing. Don’t forget to remove the cotton wool!
- There are many ways to bath a dog depending on your circumstances. If bathing in a tub, place a rubber mat on the bottom to prevent slipping. Ideally have a helper to hold your dog while you do the washing.
- Use luke-warm water if possible and have the water run over your pooch, rather than having him/her stand in the water. Detachable shower nozzles are a great way to be able to control water flow over your dog.
- If you keep one hand in constant contact with your dog, you are less likely to have water shaken all over you.
- Be sure to rinse shampoo thoroughly as residue can cause irritation.
- A dog must be dried well after a bath. If it’s a warm, sunny day, a long, brisk walk will do the trick… otherwise towel dry and use a hairdryer if coat is particularly thick.
Bath time is perfect time to do some other routine checks.
EARS- The ear canal of a dog is shaped in such a way that it is easy for dirt and debris to build up inside. This is especially a problem for dogs with pendulous ears like Cocker Spaniels because the ear flap hangs down and helps to create a nice warm, moist environment inside the ear canal - which is the perfect condition for bacteria to thrive. Ears should be checked weekly at grooming and any dirt removed by using cotton wool. You can get special ear cleaning products from your vet. It is important never to stick cotton wool buds in your dog’s ear as you can easily damage the ear drum.
TOENAILS - A lot of people assume that a dog’s toenails are naturally worn down but this is only the case for dogs that do a lot of outdoor activity on hard surfaces. Most dogs that live the cosy indoor life will need to have them trimmed. You can use guillotine-style clippers for large dogs and scissor type clippers for small dogs. There is a blood vessel that grows within the nail called the quick and this can easily be seen in dogs with pink nails. It is trickier with black toenails, so consult your vet or groomer before attempting to trim them yourself.
Toby and I use and endorse Oakwood Pet Care products. They are high quality Aussie made grooming products. I use the Oakwood Aussie Shine shampoo and the Oakwood Aloe Vera conditioner. His coat is clean, shiny and always smells terrific! (I just have to deal with hair!)
For more information on Oakwood products go to
www.oakwoodpetcare.com
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