With a new season here, I’d like to remind everyone of the importance of keeping our dogs well groomed. Some may be great self-groomers BUT let face it, most of our goofballs need our help. Besides, any chance we get for a perfect “wet dog” IG moment is great!
The ASPCA recommends bathing your dog at least once every three months, but some may require more frequent baths if he or she spends a lot of time outdoors or has skin problems. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Brushing – Regular grooming with a brush or comb will help keep your dog’s hair in good condition by removing dirt, spreading natural oils throughout her coat, preventing tangles and keeping her skin clean and irritant-free.
Bathing – Give your dog a good brushing to remove all dead hair and mats. Dogs with loose facial skin or wrinkles will need special attention. To prevent dirt and bacteria from causing irritation and infection, clean the folds with damp cotton. Always thoroughly dry the areas between the folds.
Shedding – Although shedding old or damaged hair is a normal process for dogs, the amount and frequency of hair shed often depends upon their health, breed type and season
Ear Care – Keeping the inside surfaces of your dog’s ears clean will not only feel good to your dog, but is good way to help prevent ear infections
Paw and Nail Care – Since dog’s nails grow in a curve, allowing them to get too long will cause the “fingers” and “toes” to splay or twist when the dog walks. This can be very uncomfortable and can ultimately lead to broken fingers and toes.
Dental Care – Regular teeth cleaning will save you vet expenses and eliminate the stress of having your dog anesthetized for the cleaning procedures.
***Please note: There are some dogs who do not tolerate being groomed. If your dog fights the grooming process, and there is some potential that injury could occur to your dog or yourself, please make an appointment with a professional groomer or a veterinarian to have your dog groomed.***
If you’re looking for someone who’ll go bananas every time they see your dog or cat, knows them so well they notice one hair out of place, speaks their language, knows their favorite treat AND movie and most of all become their second favorite human in the whole world, then you’ve found the right person! Lisa resides in Westerleigh and is a Dogtec Certified Dog Walker, NYC Certified in Animal Care and Handling, FEMA Animals in Disasters Certified, a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and Feral Colony Care Specialist and Red Cross Pet First Aid Certified.