PET GROOMING BASICS
Author: BettyAnn
The dog owner can do much to help a dog’s haircoat achieve its full potential and to keep it in good condition: feed a good quality nutritionally complete and balanced dog food; keep the dog free of internal and external parasites and maintain a regular grooming schedule with the appropriate pet grooming equipment.
Grooming your dog not only helps him/her look their best at all times, but also helps keep them clean and healthy.
Grooming sessions are an excellent time to assess your dog’s health. Learn what is normal for your dog, what characteristics distinguish him. Changes in appearance or behavior may be signs of illness. If a dog displays constant problems such as itching, sudden loss of hair, inflamed areas, any signs of tenderness or lumps under the skin, a veterinarian should be consulted.
A dog who is accustomed to grooming will be more at ease when he is examined or treated by a veterinarian.
The kind of grooming routine you establish for your dog will depend on how much time the dog spends outside, weather conditions and whether the dog is a longhaired or shorthaired breed.
Shorthaired breeds should be groomed two to three times a week. Longhaired breeds require daily grooming. Many terrier breeds require periodic plucking to remove dead hairs and to give them a trim appearance with careful brushing and combing between pluckings.
If your dog’s haircoat requires complicated grooming, you may want to have it done professionally. However, trips to the groomer’s are not adequate to maintain a healthy, handsome haircoat. Your dog still needs to be brushed and combed regularly between professional grooming sessions.
November 11th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
My German Shephard sheds so much all year long and I finally got tired of picking up hair off the floor, the couch, and everywhere else. My vet told me that if I start a daily combing and brushing routine that it would cut down on the hair all over the house, so I decided to try it. I must say, I was shocked at how much loose hair my dog had when I first starting brushing and combing her! I bet there was enough hair there to make another dog! Finally, after a few days, I noticed a lot less loose hair on her and a big difference in the hair around the house! Daily combing and brushing is a big must for all dogs who shed even a little! If you have a problem with pet hair like I did, why not try daily grooming? First Rate Pets has all you need to get started and you and your pet will be so glad you decided to try it out.