Four Grooming Habits to Start Now
Working four basic grooming habits into your pet-care routine is all you need to get your pet looking sleek and feeling fresh—not to mention keeping your house fur and scratch free! Since you and your pet are building your lifelong routines now, this is the perfect time for the two of you to find your grooming groove. Remember to make grooming a positive experience by going slowly if your pet is nervous and using treats, toys and encouragement to get your pet used to their grooming routine.
Brushing:
Brushing removes loose hairs and dead skin cells, keeps the coat free of dirt and debris and distributes natural skin oils along the hair shaft. Plus, it feels good!
Pets with long, silky or curly coats require daily brushing to keep their fur from becoming tangled or matted, especially around the ears, in the armpits and along the back of their legs. Pets with short hair coats may require less frequent brushing.
If your pet sheds a lot, daily brushing will also dramatically reduce the amount of loose hair and pet dander floating around your home and will cut down on the amount of hair that your pet swallows in the course of self-grooming.
Bathing:
Bathing is a great way to remove dirt, debris, dander and even allergens from your pet’s coat. Dermatologist-formulated shampoos and conditioners are also helpful to maintain a healthy skin barrier and glossy coat. Check out our tips and tricks to learn how to bathe your pet here.
Cats are fastidious groomers, so they rarely need baths. Dogs, on the other hand, aren’t quite as particular about their hygiene (think: rolling in something gross or romping in the mud), so they may need baths more frequently.
Despite its great benefits, bathing too often can dry out your pet’s skin. However, pets with allergies or other skin conditions may require more frequent bathing. Your pet’s bathing needs will depend on their unique lifestyle and grooming habits. If you aren’t sure how often you should bathe your pet, talk with your veterinarian.
Ear cleaning:
Just like their human counterparts, pets can accumulate wax in their ears that may require spot cleaning when it starts building up. How often this occurs varies greatly for dogs based on breed, lifestyle and health. Cats accumulate much less ear wax than dogs, so they don’t need frequent ear cleanings.
To clean the ears, simply soak a cotton ball with a veterinarian-approved ear cleaner and use the wet cotton ball to wipe away any visible wax. Do not use Q-tips and never put the cotton ball into the ear past what you can see.
If you find that wax builds up again very soon after a cleaning, or if the ears are red, inflamed or painful, be sure to consult with your veterinarian, as there may be an underlying problem, like allergies or an ear infection.
Nail trimming:
Our pets’ wild ancestors were always on the move over rough terrain, which helped grind their nails down to a healthy length. Our pampered pets, however, don’t get this same effect living in our homes, so their nails can easily grow too long, becoming uncomfortable and potentially problematic.
Regular nail trimming every few weeks helps correct this problem. However, this important grooming skill takes a bit of knowledge and practice to master, so the best way to learn is to ask your veterinary team to give you a demonstration and teach you how. Like everything else you do with your pet, keep nail trims a positive experience by using lots of treats, taking play breaks and giving pats and scratches.
