Posts Tagged ‘pet grooming’
Dog Grooming 101
It can be quite costly to take your dog to a salon for its grooming. However, you must not compromise your pet’s hygiene and overall physiological and psychological health by ignoring its need to be well-groomed. Just like people, they also need some pampering and grooming every now and then so that they look and feel better.
Happily, it’s not necessary to spend a lot on grooming your dog. There are various ways in which you can take care of your pet by yourself in your own home. Just buy some pets grooming supplies and read the following tips on how to groom your dog.
The place to start is with your dog’s coat. Cleaning and grooming your pet’s coat is essential if you want to keep pests such as fleas from making their home in it. One very essential pet supply is the soft-bristled brush. It’s important to give your dog a good brushing each day so that its coat doesn’t become matted. Regular brushing will also make the coat shiny because it stimulates and spreads the natural oils found in the coat. By getting rid of the hair that’s dead or dying, it will cut down on the amount of shedding your dog does.
Also, the dog’s coat should be clipped every month or so, depending on the length. If you plan on doing this yourself, you’ll have to get some clippers, scissors, a brush and a comb, all designed for dogs, not humans. You’ll also need a blow dryer and towels.
Next, when it comes to bathing your dog, you need to get a good dog shampoo and soap, towels, comb, and brush. Before the bath, brush your dog’s coat so that it doesn’t become tangled when it gets wet. You have to bathe the dog every month (for dogs with long hair) or every two months (for short-haired dogs). Sometimes it will need an extra bath if it’s been engaged in particularly messy activities. Regular bathing will prevent your dog from getting fleas and other skin diseases. It also keeps the dog smelling nice and feeling clean.
Dog grooming also involves nail clipping. A dog’s nails are continuously growing, and if they’re long they can more easily do damage to your carpet and furniture. They might also break off, which would be painful for your pet. Therefore, you must cut your dog’s nails about once a month. This isn’t like clipping your own nails because a dog’s nails are shaped differently and are much thicker. You’ll need to use a dog nail trimmer. You should also have some blood-clotting powder handy if the need arises.
Every couple of weeks, inspect your dog’s ears to see if there are any open sores or fleas. Then use warm water, mineral oil and cotton balls to get them clean.
Finally, not only people have to brush their teeth. Dogs too can get cavities and other unhealthy conditions on their teeth and gums. You need toothpaste and a toothbrush designed for dogs; use them a couple of times each week.
Today’s Pet Grooming Tips
The exact origin of the breed of dog known as the beagle is unknown but it is thought that this sturdy breed descended from a blend of various English hunting dogs. Beagles are pack animals to the extreme and view a human family as their pack. Beagles come in various colors (and all are accepted in competition by the AKC) but they are most often represented in the tri-colored shades of black/white/tan. A yearly bath and occasional dry shampoo is enough to keep these small dogs clean. Grooming is a way to care for your beagle’s appearance and maintain his overall health.
While it may be true that cats generally do a pretty good job with taking care of their hygiene, your kitten might need a little help with the process. In addition, it is a good idea to start a grooming routine while your cat is still a kitten. Some dogs are fearless and will ferociously defend their owners by sacrificing their own lives if you apply the right pet grooming tips. Eye discharge is a sign of respiratory infection, which is actually quite common in kittens. If your kitten spends any time outdoors, you should also be sure to check its eyes or injuries. If your kitten was abandoned early by its mom or was otherwise removed from its mom at an early age, it may have problems with keeping its ears clean. A simple cotton swab is good for cleaning its ears. Just make certain you do not stick the swab too far into the ear.
Athough there has been a lot of progress in the animal care facilities and grooming standards as well as competitions, as far as ensuring your pooch gets the TLC (tender, loving, care) it may well be a guilt-factor that makes dog-owners consider doggy daycare. For this reason, many pet-owners staying out for long periods prefer to place pets in doggy daycare centers that provide nourishing meals, play and grooming facilities at a cost – after all, who’d like to return to chewed shoes or messed-up homes everyday when Fido is left alone at home – or worse still, have to run after an escaped dog after a long, tiring day? When you notice matted fur on your dog or cat, it’s very important to remove the matted fur as soon as possible. There are several things which can cause matting, but the most common cause is lack of grooming. He’s totally dependent on you to take care of him. If you can’t do it regularly, please take your pet to a groomer regularly. So how do you de-matt your pet’s fur? Well, let’s get this one out of the way first.
Besides the limitations of apartment living, other space constraints can be caused in the dog-master relationship with too many people sharing the open space the pet could have utilized for moving about, other apartment owners complaining about keeping pets or the noise they generate or simply having to share their living space with non-dog lovers. Brushing your Golden Retriever regularly will help prevent shedding (especially important if you have allergies) and matting of his fur. Grooming should be done at least once, preferably twice, ever week.
A Grooming Service Will Keep Your Pet Looking Fabulous
If you have a beloved pet but you just don’t have enough time for its proper maintenance, then you should think about using a pet grooming service. These kinds of services can make your cat or dog look and feel totally pampered and squeaky clean. And they can provide so much more than just a good shampoo.
Your dog or cat can get a massage, have their ears cleaned, their nails trimmed, and their teeth brushed. Sometimes pets will get into a real mess when they’re outdoors. The smell and mangy hair need to be dealt with, and pet grooming services are well equipped to do so. A good shampooing and brushing will make your dog’s hair look shiny and clean.
If you own a dog, it’s especially important for his health that you keep him neat and clean. In the summertime, grooming is particularly essential to keep your dog’s hair at a length where it won’t overheat him.
When you choose pet grooming services for your dog’s upkeep, they will take care of all his needs, including ear cleaning and nail trimming. You might not feel comfortable trimming your dog’s nails yourself. Perhaps you once cut them too close and the nail bed started bleeding. A pet grooming service will keep your dog’s nails neat and trim so they can’t do damage around your house. This will ensure that you don’t injure your pet.
Your dog’s teeth need to be taken care of just like you take care of yours. You may give your dog bones to keep his teeth healthy and strong. However, bad breath can be a problem and you are supposed to brush your dog’s teeth. A pet groomer can brush your dog’s teeth to keep them clean and free of odor causing bacteria. As well, it will keep them strong and in good health.
Show dogs are usually taken to a professional groomer as a matter of course, but your household pet can benefit just as easily. You can pamper your pet easily with a visit to the pet groomer. Plus, your pet will love you for it too when they come home with a fresh shampoo, trimmed nails, clean teeth and ears, and much more.
Professional dog grooming services also provide pet massages if you find that you are away for long hours and unable to give your dog the attention that you should. Dogs love a good massage just like you do and it shows them that you care.
Anyone who has a pet wants it to live for a long time. The key to this is to keep your pet well groomed in order to help it stay healthy.
Four Essential Pet Grooming Supplies
There’s more to pet grooming than simply giving your pet a bath. It’s also about caring for their health and examining their body and fur. Pets can’t talk about their problems. So when you groom them, you will be able to discover any underlying problems.
When you properly groom your animal, you will notice if there are spots on him that look out of the ordinary. It will be easy to discover if he has any injuries, or if fleas and ticks have made their home on him. You’ll find that this is the best way to give your pet the care it needs.
You’ll need to have the right pet grooming supplies on hand before you start tending to your pet. Following is a list of the essentials.
1. Brushes. You will need to use a specific type of dog or cat brush for your pet. Choose a pin brush that has a metal comb and wide spaces. This is ideal for pets that have thicker hair or mats.
After you’ve used a pin brush, follow it up by running a slicker brush over your pet’s coat. They are often somewhat shorter and might have a bend at the tip. You’ll get a more thorough comb through since the spacing is tighter.
2. Combs. With a comb, the distance between pins is as important as it is with a brush. Those that are closer together will give the best comb through. But before using a thin comb, it’s essential that any knots or mats be brushed out thoroughly.
3. Nail Clippers. Look for a good quality pet nail clipper. It’s important that you don’t cut into the skin. If he starts bleeding, try some styptic powder to stop it. Ask your vet to give you a demonstration on how to cut your pet’s nails before you try it on your own.
4. Clippers. You’ll need a well made clipper if you plan on trimming your pet’s coat. You can find them at most pet stores. Look for the right size blade. Keep in mind that the closeness of the cut depends on the size of the blade. You may want to purchase several different sizes.
Your local pet store is almost certain to carry all of the tools that are required for proper pet grooming. They’re also available on the internet. Regardless, you need to buy well made tools that will be long lasting and durable. Take care of them properly, and make sure to clean and sanitize them according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Tips for Grooming Your Cat
Most cats are self-sufficient as far as their cleanliness goes. But sometimes you still have to give them a hand in order to maintain peak cleanliness and health. Your cat will continue to look good if you help to keep her hair clean and tidy. Frequent trimming, brushing and combing of your cat’s hair are the ways to achieve this.
Proper cat grooming helps to ensure that your pet remains free from ticks and fleas. This is also a good opportunity to check for any skin irregularities, injuries or bald patches. Here are some simple grooming tips that will help your cat look her best at all times.
To get the best results from your cat grooming endeavors you’ll need to buy some cat grooming tools. Some of the items you’re looking at are a brush, comb, scissors and grooming glove, all of which should be made specifically for this purpose.
When brushing your cat’s hair, use a brush that has lots of tiny pins. It should also have a small head to ensure easier brushing. Proper grooming requires that you brush your cat in the direction that her hair grows. Otherwise, you might have one furious cat on your hands, not to mention several scratches.
Bathing your cat is another important aspect of good grooming. For best results use a small carrier and a towel with which to keep your cat calm. You need to use a cat shampoo that will work up a good lather. The shampoo should also be effective at relieving dryness and flaking on your cat’s skin.
An important aspect of cat grooming involves ensuring that your cat’s hair doesn’t become matted and tangled. If you own a long haired cat, you must trim it on a regular basis. This means using a good set of scissors and a comb that are specifically designed for cat grooming. Use caution so you don’t prick or scratch the skin that lies at the base of your cat’s coat.
The use of cat grooming gloves will help to reduce shedding. As a means of brushing, it’s simpler and more gentle for your cat. Find a pair that can be easily laundered. Usually, you can also use these gloves to clean up cat hair from your carpet and furniture.
Make sure that you use your pet grooming tools in a way that is soothing and pleasurable to your cat. There’s no doubt that with the proper tools, your cat will avoid bad hair days and appear sleek and well groomed.