Grooming Tips for Your Dog

Pet Medical Center of Springfield offers a complete Grooming Service for your pets. We have included a useful article on grooming your pet at home. If you have any questions, please feel free to call our grooming department.

Grooming your dog accomplishes much more than just making your pet's coat look nice and shiny. It provides you with the opportunity to spend some "quality time" with your dog -- combing, brushing, bathing and generally bonding with him (or her).

While grooming, you can check your dog closely for any problems. Move the fur aside and examine the skin closely for signs of fleas, ticks or skin irritations. Look for any unusual problems with the coat such as mats, tangles, dandruff, etc. Mats and tangles can be carefully removed while grooming.

Learn where your dog likes to be combed and brushed and where he (or she) doesn't. All dogs have sensitive areas that need to be groomed a little more gently and carefully than other areas. By paying special attention to these areas, your dog will be more comfortable while being groomed and (most likely) will not resist future grooming sessions.

Before jumping right into it, let your dog sniff the brush and comb. As you are grooming, talk to your pet in a reassuring tone. If the grooming procedure is made comfortable, he will enjoy the procedure and begin to look forward to regular grooming sessions.

Healthy Coat Care

Regular grooming is essential to your dog's health and well being. Regular combing and brushing keeps the coat clean and healthy. It stimulates the skin and allows the natural oils to circulate to the coat. It also allows you to carefully check for potential skin problems. Check areas for hair loss, inflammation, unusual tenderness and / or lumps and bumps. Constant scratching in a particular area may also be an indication of a problem. Check with your veterinarian about any unusual problems that you find.

Combing

Comb in the direction of hair growth. It's best to comb small sections of the coat at a time. Continue combing until the coat is tangle free. If the coat has a particularly stubborn knot or tangle, you may have to trim it off with scissors. (Make sure that a piece of skin is not trimmed off as well.) A dematting comb or slicker rake can be used to remove mats. When using a combination comb, begin with the widely spaced teeth, then follow with the finer teeth.

Brushing

Begin brushing your pet at the head, working toward the tail and down the legs. Always brush in the direction of hair growth. Pay particular attention to the legs and flanks, and areas that easily mat. A pin brush can be used to fluff the coat by brushing against the directions of hair growth. Regular brushing is good for your pet as it helps distribute the natural oils from the skin, producing a healthy, shiny coat. Brushing several times a week is recommended for most dogs.

Puppies

Like children, puppies have short attention spans. They require some special attention when it come to grooming. Select a time when the puppy is less energetic. Begin with short grooming sessions - five minutes, maybe even less. Constantly talk to your puppy in a gentle, reassuring tone while grooming him. Your voice has a tendency to keep him calm. Be sure to check his ears, paws, teeth, and underside during the grooming procedure. The more you groom your puppy, the more accustomed he becomes. Eventually, you puppy will appreciate the attention and look forward to each grooming experience.

Frequency

It is important to establish and adhere to a regular schedule of grooming sessions. Schedule these at a convenient time for both you and your dog. A good time to do this is after the dog has been walked, while he is relieved and calm. Select a time when you are generally not interrupted and have ample time to do a proper job. Longhaired dogs should be groomed daily, while shorthaired breeds may require grooming only twice a week. It won't take long to see what frequency your dog requires.

Nail Trimming

Regular nail trimming is important to your dog's health and well being. Never use ordinary scissors to trim your dog's nails. Use trimmers that are specially designed for dogs.

Nail trimming is a procedure that requires patience. The first attempt may only get you as far as touching the paws and looking at the nails. During subsequent attempts, you may get as far as trimming a few nails. Don't push your luck on the first few tries. Make sure that you reassure your pet frequently, and don't turn it into a battle.

Hold the dog's paw firmly, and cut off the tip of the nail with a single stroke. Be very careful to stop short of the quick, the blood vessel inside the nail. (Cutting into the quick is painful and very messy.) Trimming the nails right after bathing often makes the quick more visible. Applying baby oil to the nails serves the same purpose. Follow up by filing your dog's nails with a nail file.

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