Grooming and Care Tips

dog-getting-bathNow that flea season is over, the next issue to keep in mind for your pet’s health is their skin. Over the winter months, your pet’s skin my get very dry and flaky. If you let it progress too long, sores may develop under your pet’s hair due to excessive itching and biting the area. To prevent this, you may use a medicated shampoo especially formulated to soothe and treat dry skin. If you don’t have access to such a shampoo, we offer a medicated bath at the salon! You can click here to make an appointment.

Another thing to keep in mind in the colder months is the ever-so-problematic shedding. In order to keep this to a minimum (and keep your floors hair-free) bring your dog in for their normal grooming regimen as you would in the summer months. We blow-dry your pooch after their bath with a high-powered grooming blower, which blows out a lot of the undercoat that would normally remain on them after brushing. We also have the “FURminator” at our salon. You can bring your pet in anytime solely for a Furminator session if you feel your pet is excessively shedding, but doesn’t need a bath. Click here to make a Furminator appointment!

Also, we all love of our dogs and cats. So make sure you express your love at least once or twice a week by giving them a thorough brushing with a “slicker” brush. After time, pets acquire “matts” on their hair. This is from not brushing them, and it is very painful for your pet. The best (and least painful) way for groomers to remove severe matts are by shaving them out. If you have a short-haired dog or cat, you’re not exempt from brushing! You can use a natural-bristle brush to stimulate the skin and remove unwanted hair. The benefits of brushing your pet are endless. Brushing removes dirt, dust, debris, dead skin, excess hair, etc. The end result is a cleaner, more comfortable dog! And your pet will enjoy the one-on-one bonding time with you!!!!

Let’s not forget those pearly whites! Dogs and cats, just like humans, can get cavities. Unfortunately, the most common dental problems for a pet are loose and abscess teeth. If your pet has bad breath, chances are they may have a periodontal issue. If this issue is left untreated, it can escalate into a bacteria infection which can spread to your pet’s bloodstream, causing kidney or liver damage or failure. You should be brushing your pet’s teeth at least twice a week. Another way to ensure your pet’s dental health is by giving them dry food. Dry food creates less plaque build-up than wet food does. And don’t be afraid to give your dog or cat hard treats, chew toys, bones, etc. This helps keep their teeth clean as well. Just make sure you use an enzymatic toothpaste for pets. You CANNOT use human toothpaste on your pet- they do not spit, and human toothpaste is not edible.

Lastly, remember to trim your pets nails at least once every week or two!! This isn’t just so their nails won’t get long and injure you or your furniture. Animals have a vein inside their nail called a “quick.” When you don’t regularly trim your pet’s nails, the quick inside grows longer, which over time makes the nail longer and harder to trim. If the quick is snipped, this is painful for your dog. Make sure you bring your pet in for a nail trim once every 2 weeks to prevent a potentially painful problem! You can make a nail appointment by clicking here.