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Bathing
When most people think of grooming for dogs, they immediately
think of soaping their pup in the tub, but experts say it's
best not to bathe your dog too often. They say a monthly soap-up
in the tub is more than adequate. Most vets recommend puppies
not have their first bath until they are more than six-months-old*.
Too many baths can rob the skin of important oils.
Step
One -- Brush
Since bathing can seal in mats and tangles, it's best to give
your pup a good brush before getting into the tub. Have your
dog lie on his side and brush in layers starting at the feet/belly
working up toward the spine.
Step Two -- Comb
Once you have completely brushed him, go back with a metal comb
and go through to check your work. Any knots will show themselves
with the comb. The sound of the brush going through the coat
will also tell you if there are knots. If the hair is matted
down, the sound will be harsher.
Step Three -- Protect the Eyes
Before you start the bath, rub a cotton ball saturated with
mineral oil around the eye area. This prevents shampoo from
entering the eye.
Step Four -- Soaping Up
Wet your dog down and work the shampoo through the pet’s
hair. If you run out of dog shampoo, do not use shampoo used
for humans on your pet dog. Shampoo for people does not have
the correct pH balance for dogs and may damage hair or skin.
Some dog owners and their dogs are allergic to chemical-based
shampoos. A safe and effective alternative is Murphy’s
Oil Soap. This all-natural product is nondrying to the skin
and does not leave a "wet dog smell" you might notice
after using other dog shampoos.
If your dog tangles with a skunk, the
dog always loses. Here’s a de-skunking recipe from Drs.
Foster and Smith:
Skunk Shampoo
1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
1 teaspoon liquid soap
(This recipe can be doubled for bigger breeds.)
Lather your pup and leave on for three
to four minutes before rinsing. Be sure to throw away any excess
mixture.
Step Five -- Drying and Fluffing
After bathing your dog, thoroughly dry him off with an absorbent
towel. Blow dry for fluffy fur. Keep him warm and out of drafts
until dry. Learn about the ear care needed for your particular
breed of dog. If a dog has lop-ears (ears that hang down) they
should be cleaned with peroxide regularly. Be mindful if your
dog begins to shake its head a lot or if it walks holding its
head at an angle, this is usually indicative of an ear discomfort
and the possibility of an infection or mites.
*(This is general advice.
Some veterinarian/dermatologists say dogs can be bathed as often
as once a week if proper dog shampoo or soap is used).
Trimming & Clipping
Nails
Dog feet require care from the beginning, particularly the nails.
You can clip your own dog’s nails if you know how and use
specific dog clippers.
How-to
Hold the dog’s paw firmly in your hand and speak soothingly
to your pet. (Start this in the puppy stage so they become used
to it.) Dogs with pink nails are easier to clip because you
can see where the quick (the blood vessel) is. Dogs with brown
or black nails are more difficult but using common sense will
help. If a dog’s nails have been ignored for a while it’s
best to have the vet clip their nails a couple of times and
get pointers from him/her.
If you cut the nail too short you will
cut the quick. This is painful and will bleed profusely and
become tender. If you accidentally do this, use a specific type
of powder (ask your vet where you can fin this) and press it
into the vein to stop the bleeding.
A good time to trim your dog’s nails
is when you can hear his nails click on the floor boards as
he walks. Does your dog hate having his/her nails clipped? You
can still get an older dog to tolerate the procedure: feed them
something yummy the whole time its being done. Small tidbits
of a favorite treat will help. It’s easiest if someone
holds the dogs’ collar and does the feeding while you do
the nails. And don’t forget to praise -- but only when
they’re behaving well.
If your dog is the kind that requires
regular haircuts, you may need to watch the hair between the
pads (toes) of his feet. When it is wet or snowy outside this
fur can remain wet and cause a lot of foot-licking and discomfort
that can lead to infection. You can cut the fur there flush
with the pads to keep this from happening. Their feet look cute
with the furry “slippers” but ultimately it’s
healthier to keep it short.
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Get more down-to-earth advice about dog health and grooming
If cats clean themselves, should we groom
them also? There are various reasons, however, why your cat
still needs your grooming assistance to stay healthy and happy.
Grooming accomplishes much more than just making your cat's
coat look nice and shiny. It also stimulates circulation, removes
loose hair and helps prevent matting. How often your cat needs
to be groomed depends upon several factors: type and length
of coat; weather conditions and time of year. Generally speaking,
shorthaired cats should be groomed about twice a week, while
longhaired cats should be groomed daily. After a couple of experiments,
you'll find the grooming frequency that provides the best results
for your cat.
Step One -- Comb
Comb carefully in the direction of hair growth to smooth the
coat and remove any minor knots or tangles. If the coat has
a particularly stubborn knot or tangle, you may have to trim
it off with scissors. For longhaired cats, begin with a wide
tooth comb and follow up with a fine tooth comb. To avoid injury,
if your cat's coat has severe matting, consult a veterinarian
or grooming professional.
Step Two -- Trim & Brush
After combing, use a shedding blade to remove any loose or dead
hair in the coat. Brush in the direction of hair growth with
a wire slicker brush. This will help detangle any matted fur
and remove dead hair and debris. After brushing the coat until
it is thoroughly clean, you can follow with the cat brush. Use
long, flowing strokes to bring out the beautiful luster of your
cat's coat.
Step Three -- Grooming Glove
A grooming glove can also be used after brushing. It will remove
any remaining debris, massage the skin and distribute your cat's
natural oils, resulting in a shiny, healthy coat.
Step Four -- Nail Trimming
Regular nail trimming is important to your cat's health and
well being. Never use ordinary scissors; they may injure the
cat. Use trimmers specifically designed for cats. Hold the paw
firmly and squeeze the paw at the base of the nail. This will
cause the nail to protrude. Cut off the tips of the nail with
a single stroke, being careful to stop short of the quick. (Cutting
into the quick will hurt your cat and cause some bleeding.)
Follow up with the nail file, filing toward the tip to smooth
the cut edge.
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More cat grooming advice
Birds like to bathe frequently. The will
bathe in their water dishes if the dishes are large enough.
If not you can sit a shallow dish of water in the cage occasionally
for their use. They also like to be sprayed with water mist
once in a while. This helps keep their feathers in good condition.
Rabbits, hamsters, ferrets, rats, etc.,
also benefit from grooming. The most important aspects are ear
care and brushing. There are specific products you can get to
keep mites from bothering your little pet’s ears. You can
use a small pet brush available at pet and discount stores to
help your pet get loose hair out and promote healthy skin. A
gentle light touch is a must and you should begin a routine
as soon as you can to get the pet used to it.
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Learn more about special grooming brushes and tools
Caring for pets can be so
rewarding, not only for us but for our children as well. They
need to learn to groom their pets correctly and assume as much
responsibility for this care as their age and maturity level
allows. Pets are a blessing from Heavenly Father. There isn’t
much that’s more precious than seeing your 10-year-old
confiding a problem to his beloved dog, or babying her kitty
like it is her child. People benefit so much from animals; we
need to do our best to keep them healthy, happy and looking
great.
Some images
used were reposted with permission.
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