If you’re a dog or cat person, you probably know what would happen if we left grooming entirely up to them. For dogs, they’d stink to high heavens. The more mud they could roll in, the better! Baths?! Heck no! As for cats, they quietly groom themselves (to the tune of 25 percent of their lives!) for a variety of reasons, including keeping their coat clean, regulating body temperature, and distributing beneficial oil across their skin. But whether we humans bathe our pets or our pets groom themselves, keeping them clean and well-groomed is key to their longevity.
Let’s start with the basics: brushing. With long-haired dogs and cats, brushing is especially important. If your pet gets matted fur occasionally, it’s easily managed with a few snips or a gentle brushing. But extensive matting can, at the least, cause discomfort and infections, and can even lead to painful sores. The best way to prevent mats, which can hide parasites like fleas, is frequent brushing. If it’s shedding season (typically during a change in the season when they go from a thin coat to a thick coat and vice versa), you should brush more often. Brush in the direction the fur grows, and brush a dog’s coat from the bottom up – start at the feet and work your way up the legs to the torso and so on. Long or curly coats should be brushed frequently. If you aren’t sure what brush is best for your pet, talk to your vet or the friendly folks at your neighborhood pet store. There are so many options, including undercoat rakes, rotating pin combs, slicker brushes, rubber curry combs, de-shedding brushes, shedding blade brushes, and more. If you find brushing to be a challenge depending on your pet’s coat, look at after-bath detangling conditioners to help break up the fur.
Speaking of baths, all cats and dogs are different so there’s not one easy answer as to how often you should bathe them. A good rule of thumb is once a month for dogs or, frankly, when they need it. Is their fur getting more oily and a little stinky? Did they take a run through a muddy creek? These are all good reasons! And the same rule goes for cats even though they are far more conscientious about their own cleanliness. If your cat is doing a great job at maintaining their own fur, you don’t need to bathe them. Sometimes, baths cause stress that isn’t worth it! But no matter what you decide about timing, make sure you don’t forget the ears! While you should avoid getting water in your pet’s ears, make sure to check for dark wax or excess moisture that could be a sign of infection. If you don’t see signs of infection that prompt a vet visit, there are over-the-counter pet-safe ear cleaners that you can use at home.
Bathing also gives you an opportunity to really take a close look at your pet’s coat. Look carefully for fleas, hot spots, petechiae (a sign of internal bleeding), skin allergy symptoms, and more. All of these issues should be reviewed by a vet.
Grooming your pets includes more than just brushing and bathing. Pet owners also need to keep an eye on their nails. Dogs that are regularly walked on pavement sometimes take care of their own nails as the pavement serves as a natural nail file. But don’t forget those dew claws! They don’t come into contact with the pavement so they tend to grown unchecked. As for cats, keep their nails trimmed so they aren’t sharpening them on the curtains and sofa! Your local pet store also has a myriad of options to keep nails in tip-top shape, such as trimmers, clippers, and grinders. If your pet’s nails are light, you can see the “quick” and know to avoid cutting too close. But if your pet’s nails are dark, it can be a guessing game that may make a vet or grooming appointment worthwhile so that you avoid hurting your pet.
Grooming your pet is a great way to spend time together, but more importantly, it’s an excellent tool to keep them healthy and happy!