As summer comes rolling in, the grooming salon at Fluffy Tails is bustling with animals because of their long-awaited spa appointment. We’ve seen it all! Clean dogs, dirty dogs, matted and well-brushed dogs. If you’re wondering why your groomer asks that you come in regularly, below are a few reasons why.
1. Regular Grooming for dogs helps to maintain a wholesome coat and skin. Scrubbing, blow drying, and brushing removes dead skin and hair as well as allowing air to circulate through the coat. Brushing also really helps to distribute the pet’s oils throughout the coat.
2. Groomers can inspect your skin and coat during grooming. Regular grooming could even give groomers a chance to find any abnormalities, including fleas and ticks. Frequently, groomers will be the first to find these critters and will find the best possible way to eliminate them from your pet.
3. Matted hair can be handled by brushing or shaving under it, with respect to the severity. Matted or pelted coats are nothing unusual in the beginning of warmer weather, but as a groomer, I advise you never to wait before end of winter to cope with it. Mats are often painful and irritating since it can pinch and pull your skin. Imagine the roots of your hairs being pinched and pulled all day long. Ouch!
4. Ears and nails tend to be overlooked on a pet, especially if they haven’t been groomed in three or even more months. Hair does grow in the ears and between your toes, so if indeed they grow too much time you may well not spot the condition they are really in. Regular nail trimming is important because when nails grow too much time, it can be uncomfortable for your dog to walk, aside from stand. If you’ve ever worn a shoe that’s a size smaller, you might have a concept of how uncomfortable it can be. It’s also standard procedure to pluck (yes, pluck) the hair from your pet’s ear if there are any. Removing ear hair opens up the ear to let ventilation through. When ear hair is left growing, it can attract moisture which can cause ear infections or yeast build-up.
5. Here’s one thing I’m sure your individual hair stylist doesn’t offer at the salon: sanitary trims and poop cleaning! A sanitary trim is when groomers shave or trim surrounding the genital and anus of the pet. That is to keep the area clean, and free from any tangles or unwanted hair. Occasionally I’ll visit a pet client that comes in once or twice per annum with a chunk of poop stuck on their bum. This is not okay! Any feces left on a pet should be removed immediately as it can cause irritation, inflammation, and matting round the bum. You wouldn’t leave poop on your baby’s bum, why might you leave any on your dogs?
6. Grooming will always include a good clean about the eyes. If your pet has a lot of eye gunk in the inner eye corners, it’s better to remove them at the earliest opportunity.
Discharge left accumulating and built up about the eyes can cause irritation. Long-term build-up can be hard to eliminate even by a groomer, and can cause pain and discomfort. If your pet has excessive and/or discolored eye discharge, it’s better to see a medical expert.
7. Frequent and regular grooming is beneficial for most pets who have problems with anxiety. Sometime clients feel reluctant to generate their fur babies for grooming because they simply don’t enjoy being groomed or are frightened. A fellow groomer once told me: your dog that’s groomed every 3-6 months start to see the groomer’s as punishment, while a dog that’s groomed every 4-6 weeks view it as part of life.
A clean dog is a happy dog! I really believe regular grooming should be treated just like a spa day. Each time they come in, they’ll leave looking and feeling beautiful. Pre-booking appointments by the end of the prior groom will ensure an area for your pet in the coming busy months. I anticipate seeing you and your animals in the grooming room!