Pet grooming is sometimes seen as a bit of a luxury. Dog owners take their prized show breed to a professional for an elaborate cut and a good clean to make sure that they look their best. This is just one reason why grooming is so important. Regular brushing, bathing and nail trimming help to improve the appearance of the dog – and often the smell – but there are plenty of health implications too. Here are some of the main reasons why you should keep your pet well groomed.
Grooming ensures that a pet’s fur and skin stay healthy
When we thing of grooming, we usually mean the act of brushing, clipping and washing the coats of our pets. This sort of regular maintenance is important to keep the coats looking at its best and to ensure that they stay manageable and free of matts and dirt. By brushing out the fur on a daily basis, you can get rid of dead hair. A more vigorous deshedding process may be required if your dog has a fluffy undercoat and a seasonal moult. With the right tools and shampoos you can get the coat clean, get rid of any fleas and pest that might be lurking in there and protect the natural shine of the coat. The latter is especially important for show dogs.
What some pet owners don’t realize is that this brushing and grooming regime can also help to look after your dogs skin. Bathing and flea treatments can remove irritants that might be causing inflammation and itches – although you must be careful about which products you use – and the act of brushing means that you can perform a closer inspection of any conditions and detect potential problems. Brushing also helps stimulate blood flow in the skin and improve circulation.
Don’t forget about their nails and other areas prone to health problems
The grooming process is about so much more than improving the appearance of your pet and cleaning up their fur. It is also a chance for you to perform a much more through check-up and deal with other issues. The most obvious grooming need after taking care the coat is the dog’s nails. They need to be kept trim and smooth to avoid injury and this means careful clipping or grinding. Watch out not to cut too much or cause further discomfort and work with a groomer if you are uncomfortable using these tools. From there, you can carry out a quick check of other areas where they might need a clean. A pet’s ears and eyes can get dirty and gunky easily – more so with some breeds than others – so regular checks are a must to prevent infection and generally improve well-being.
Regular grooming means a happier, healthier pet
There is a lot to think about when grooming a pet, and clearly a causal brush with a grooming mitt once a week won’t do. Take the time to do everything you can to improve the condition of your pet’s skin, hair, nails, eyes and ears in order to promote their health and well-being and make the most of grooming services. Not only will your pet look better, they will feel better too.
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