We're quite lucky really, all we have
to do to keep clean is undress, hop in
the shower, dry off and voila…. clean
again! Imagine if we had to lick ourselves
clean and dry? No wonder you see cats
grooming for what seems like hours every
day. And what if we were covered in long
hair or just been for a lovely muddy walk?
Some pets will need extra help keeping clean and
looking smart. There are dedicated professional pet
groomers who are fully trained and can get your pet
looking (and smelling!) their best again in no time.
They will be able to bathe (using the correct
shampoo for your pet's skin), blow dry and clip their
fur to a style the owner wishes. They can even clip
their nails, pluck their ears and empty their smelly
anal glands if necessary.
If you are thinking of getting a longhaired cat or dog,
it's worth introducing them to the idea of grooming
early on so they can get used to it. Some older pets
will not appreciate you trying to brush out their tatty
bits all of a sudden, especially when yesterday you
didn't seem too bothered! If you re-home an older
pet, introduce the grooming gradually by doing a
little bit every day; followed by a lovely reward,
they'll soon get the idea.
Even shorthaired dogs need grooming. Labradors
have very thick coats, which need to be brushed
regularly, especiallywhen they are moulting.
Border Terriers can have their coats
clipped or hand stripped; this can
be done by the owners (when shown how) or by a
trained groomer. Please don't be tempted to use
scissors to remove clumps or mats from their coats;
it's very easy to cut their skin.
There are lots of different brushes and grooming
equipment you can buy, some that smooth the coat
and others that can remove the dead hair. It's a
good idea to get the ones that can remove the old
hairs from their coat so when your pet is grooming
itself they don't have so much to swallow (these can
easily turn into hairballs that can upset the digestive
system). There are nail clippers available too, but be
careful if you're going to do this yourself, it's easy to
cut their claws too short and make them bleed.
If you are going to bathe your dog, it’s important to
use a special dog shampoo from your vet, as the
pH will be best suited for their skin. Using a human
shampoo may dry the skin and make it flaky and
itchy. Keep their ears clean by using a good ear
cleaner (ask your vet which is best) once weekly
or as often as is needed. This will help reduce the
chance of them getting ear infections and keep
the wax at bay.
Vets are often asked if owners should be bathing
their new puppy; as a general rule, you shouldn't
need to bathe them, unless they've been out on a
muddy walk or rolled in something stinky and
remember to only use a special dog shampoo.
...Happy Grooming!
Looking Their Best
by
Laura McKirdy
BSc BVM&S MRCVS
Paragon Veterinary Group