Tips on Pet Grooming

Regular pet grooming is extremely important to keep your pet, healthy, clean and manageable. It is also very effective in preventing any sort of infections that might be caused due to matted hair, uncared teeth, or poor hygiene. The article below covers important aspects of pet grooming and how to make the process pleasant for the parties involved.

Shampooing Your Pet

For a thorough washing, keeping certain things in mind is extremely essential. The shampoo must be specific for the animal being washed and low-foaming so that it not only rinses dirt but also doesn't strip the coat off from nutrients. Use a washcloth to wet your pet's face and let shampoo set for a few minutes.

Brushing

This should be an enjoyable experience for your pet and for that you must ensure that you use a comb or brush with rotating, wide Teflon-coated teeth. Use a fine toothed comb to brush sensitive areas like face, ears and throat. This will allow you to glide through the coat sans any tugging.

Fight Fleas Naturally

To avoid any fleas wash your pet weekly and keep his bedding clean. Use a flea comb daily. You can kill off these fleas by immersing them into soap water. Daily vacuuming is also a good idea but remember to discard the vacuum bag on a daily basis.

Grooming Wrinkly Dogs

Dogs that have wrinkles or folded skin require special attention. Their grooming must start with wiping them with baby wipes and cleaning between the wrinkles and letting them dry as well. After bathing them make sure you dry them properly using fresh towels or cotton balls.

Brushing Teeth

This requires a lot of patience. You have to let your dog get used to the idea of someone lifting their lips and rubbing their teeth. Start by using your finger without any toothpaste. Pretend that your finger is the toothbrush and go through the motions as you would with a toothbrush. Slowly increase the time and use a real toothbrush.

Skunk Attacks

Tomato juice is quite effective in asking away the odor of skunk spray but it doesn't quite eliminate it. You can use homemade remedies like a mixture of baking soda, 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and a mild dishwashing detergent.

Handling Dry skin

In case your dog has dry skin due to cold weather, simply brushing will stimulate the oil glands and it will also remove the shedder coat. You can also introduce some changes in its diet and add more of fish oil and omega 3.

Feline Dental Health

Always look for signs that something might be wrong with your cat's teeth. These may include drooling, bad breath, and discoloration of teeth, tartar, failure to groom itself or a change in chewing or eating habits. It means it is time you took care of its dental hygiene.

Clipping Nails

To clip your pet's nails use a stainless steel scissor or nail-cutter. The best time would be before their bath. Get them used to nail trimming ritual early so that it is not an alien concept later on.