The importance of dog grooming

Taking your dog to the local groomer has many benefits.  As well as your pet being tidied up, bathed and smelling sweeter, your groomer will have been able to check your dogs skin for any impurities, ticks, fleas, cuts, thorns, grass seeds.. there are many things hidden in your dogs coats.  They will also check ears, some breeds need the hair plucked from within the ear as this can cause a blockage and wax build up which can lead to an ear infection.

Dogs have two big drops of coat in a year, mainly at the end of summer, after a hot spell and at the beginning of the winter, when we have all switched on the heating.  It is important that he/she has regular brushing at this time, as the hair drops it lays next to the skin and when it gets wet will take a long time to dry, this is one of the main causes of flaky skin and smelly dogs.  Dogs should never be bathed without a full brush out to prevent this.

Your groomers would have a big dryer which blows all this dead hair away from the skin and out of the coat, not only brilliant for their skin and well-being, but does wonders for the amount of hoovering in the home :-)

Claws will also need checked over throughout the year, your vet or groomer will be able to clip them if required, some dew claws curl around the pads and can sometimes grow into the pads, these should always be checked on and this is very common in Lhasa Apsos and Shih-tzus.

Grooming at home in between visits to your groomer is very beneficial to your pet and the earlier you start the more pleasureable an experience it can be for you and your dog.  Incorporating grooming into puppy training is the best way forward.  It is better if you can get your dog on a raised surface so you are at the same height as them.  Puppies will always try and make a game out of it by mouthing the brushes, rolling around etc.  But a patient and determined manner asking pup to stand and just positioning them in the position will eventually pay off.  A soft slicker brush and metal teeth comb ahould be all that you need at this stage, be careful not to brush too hard against the skin incase you cause "brush burn" try to always brush over your hand on long-coats, and tease knots out with the comb.  A de-matter or matt-splitter will be needed for underarms, trousers etc on long coats these are very good if used correctly.

Flaky, smelly skin: caused by damp thick hair lying next to the skin, the skin cannot breathe properly and this can lead to more serious conditions.

Matts under arms and underbelly: these large tight knots can cause a lot of discomfort, they pull on the skin, causing red and sore skin, tight knots on ears when clipped off can bleed with the rush of circulation going into the end of the ear, proving that there has been a serious tightness and discomfort. Matts underneath and around the trousers can get soaked in urine and not only smells terribly can cause rash and soreness and urine burn.

Ticks and fleas: at this time of the year rife, Dogs should be Front-lined/other preventative flea and tick repellent, you will see these when you groom your pet before there is an infestation in the home.

Grass seeds: Can get between the toes under knots, grass seeds work there way into the skin and can cause infection and inflamation if they are stuck in knots, regular grooming prevents knots and also means you are brushing out seeds before they get into the skin.