Grooming
Brushing and combing your dogs coat is an important part of general pet care. Brushing helps to keep your dogs coat in good condition by removing loose hair and preventing hair mats and knots. Brushing also helps to distribute healthy natural skin oils over the hair shaft, promoting a shiny coat and helping dirt to slide off the hair.
Brushing should be a pleasant and comfortable experience for dogs and owners. For puppies it is important that we take time to gradually train our pups to feel comfortable about being handled and brushed on different parts of their body. Not grooming your dog as often as required can have an influence on their health. Mats and knots can worsen as moisture that is trapped underneath a matted coat. Lack of airflow can predispose your dog towards skin irritations, infections and high levels of discomfort. Grooming is therefore a preventative activity.
Here is a short guide to coats and the grooming requirements
~ Smooth, short-coated dogs like kelpies or Labradors can generally be brushed once every few weeks to remove loose hair. Dogs with short coats can still shed hair at times, so gently brushing them can help to remove loose hair.
Short and dense furred dogs like Spaniels and Wire coated breeds can generally be brushed once a week or fortnightly.
~ Long fluffy breeds such as Pomeranians and Maltese Shih Tzus require brushing every day if their coat is kept long, otherwise they end up in a knotted mess!
~ Long-coated or double-coated dogs such as Border Collies or Huskies can generally be brushed every few days to prevent mats and to remove tangles as they appear, but these dogs require daily brushing in shedding season, which typical commences towards the end of winter.
~ If there are mats, knots or tangles these may need to be carefully trimmed off with a pair of scissors, taking care not to accidentally cut the dog. Placing your fingers between the dogs skin and the knot can also help in guiding the scissors and allowing for as clear view of where to cut.
We also need to check the following regularly:
Paws: Check the paws and footpads regularly for any cuts/abrasions or knotting of the coat
Nails: Check the condition and length of the nails including any ‘thumb’ nails, also known as Dew Claws, higher up on the front and at times on the back feet.
Ears: Monitor your pet for signs of an ear problem such as head shaking, ear scratching/rubbing and consult with your vet if they show these symptoms. Some breeds need ear plucking, which can be done during a grooming appointment!
Teeth: Provide suitable chew items for your dog on a regular basis such as dental chews and chew toys. Look for any tangling of hair around the teeth
Eyes: If you notice any problems such as discharge, redness or squinting, consult your vet as soon as possible, eye problems can worsen rapidly.
Leanne also checks and empties their anal glands if required. By having regular grooming appointments, Leanne can also keep an eye on and monitor changes, growth or any new lumps or bumps that may appear. A good bath, brush and clip by Leanne will help keep those lumpy bumpys under a watchful eye!