Importance of Pet Grooming

Grooming your pet will help keep them looking their best, but did you know that there are many health-related benefits to regulatory grooming? The recommended time between grooming by professional groomers and vets, is four to six weeks for a long coated animal, and six to eight weeks for a short coated animal. Professionally trained groomers and vets have the skill set to appropriately clean and observe for signs of certain diseases. Some experienced pet groomers, to some extent, may help treat certain health conditions or abnormalities. 

Long haired animals such as Shih Tzus, Poodles, and Persian cats are prone to developing mattes throughout their fur. These mattes can work their way to the skin’s surface, and may lead to worsened conditions for your animal. Mattes can cause skin infections known as hotspots if not treated at their beginning stages. Hotspots are usually defined as red, swollen, and moist areas, causing your pet discomfort if not properly cared for. Hotspots left untreated can spread throughout the body, further increasing pain and irritability. Getting your pet regularly groomed helps to prevent these hotspots from happening because groomers or vets will catch a matte forming before it reaches the skin. If a hotspot is found by a vet or groomer special topical ointment or powder is applied to help subside it. Regularly grooming and brushing your animal also helps distribute oils throughout your pet’s fur expelling dandruff and nourishing dry skin conditions. 

Comfortable Grooming Experience and Treatment 

Constipation can happen to any animal, at any age, with any coat type. Constipation can mean that your pet is unable to fully empty their anal gland. One noticeable symptom of this is your animal drags it’s posterior across the floor, also known as butt-scooting. Regularly taking your pet to be groomed, and explaining the symptom and it’s duration to your groomer or vet, will notify them to empty your animal’s anal glad. A vet or a professionally trained groomer will help relieve your pet of their compacted anal gland. 

What to Expect From Your Groomer 

Before grooming, your vet or groomer will most likely examine your animal before and after their bath. Before the bath determines what type of shampoos and conditioners will be used on your pet so their skin may gain the nutrients it requires. This will also determine the health of the inside of the animal’s ears, seeing if they need to be flooded for cleaning and infection protection purposes during their bath. They will also examine your pet after they have been bathed and dried, so they may note any abnormalities noticed during the bath to be careful of during the grooming and to notify you if it may require medical treatment. 

Regularly grooming for a dog or cat also means that they will have regular nail trimmings, which is necessary to keep your pet’s kwik at bay. The kwik is the nerve inside an animal’s nail that will grow as the nail grows if not maintained. If a nail grows too long, the kwik will grow with it, and will cause pain to the animal if the owners ever decides to get their nails trimmed in the future. 

Keep your pet looking and feeling their best by contacting your local groomer today. Your pet will thank you for it!