Tips for Choosing the Right Dog Groomer

Grooming pets can be an important part of animal care. Most animals can be taught to take pleasure from grooming at any age. Regular pet grooming can help you build and keep maintaining healthy relationships with your pets, and practice gentle leadership skills. Another good thing about grooming is that you might notice a physical change that needs medical attention, something that may not need been clear if you hadn’t been grooming your dog. If you discover any lumps, bumps or soreness, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian for a checkup.

Supplies for grooming pets
Below are a few supplies that you might dependence on grooming:

Shampoo that is suitable for this and species of your dog (kittens and puppies need gentle shampoo; very young animals need products free from harsh pesticides; and ferrets must have ferret shampoo)
Large cup or small bucket containing water, to make a nice lather
Cotton balls
Ear cleaner
Parasite-control products (ask your veterinarian about what is needed locally for fleas, ticks and mites)
Metal comb
Brush (there a wide range of styles to choose from: pin, rake, slicker, mitt or curry)
Nail trimmers (find a very good size for your pet’s nails)
Nail file (some animals will in actuality sleep while their people file each toenail)
Styptic powder (to utilize if you accidentally cut a nail too short)
Ophthalmic ointment (used in the eyes to safeguard them from shampoo and debris)
Detangler or conditioner (great for combing through long hair before a final rinse)
Spray attachment for your shower (very useful for rinsing your pet)
A hair dryer (because some animals can chill easily, but be careful not to overheat your pet)
Toothbrush and animal toothpaste
Safety scissors for trimming hair
Clippers (if you want to figure out how to style your pet)
One caution about clipping your pet: If you change the space of your pet’s natural coat, he/she will require protection from the cold and the sun. (Pets can get sunburned!) Also, some coats do not grow back well, so I recommend that you consult a specialist groomer if you wish your dog to wear an un-natural style.

How to groom an animal
Start the grooming process by gently touching all the animal’s areas of the body. If any parts seem to be sore, stop and schedule a scheduled appointment with your veterinarian for a checkup. If your pet seems uncomfortable with your touch, understand that animals learn positive associations with practice and praise. You will need to be considered a kind, gentle leader but remain firm in your intentions. The plan is to instruct your pet to take pleasure from being groomed and also to groom your pet on a regular basis, not merely when the pet is matted or really dirty.

If you need help, you can start by accompanying your pet to a professional groomer for a lesson. Choose a groomer who is patient, gentle and kind. Most groomers are thrilled to meet people who want to use their animals among professional grooming visits.

Grooming tips
Below are a few specifics about various areas of grooming:

Brushing. Brushing and combing should happen daily or at least many times each week, no matter what kind of coat your animal has. In the event that you plan to give your pet a bath, do the brushing part first. Brushing and combing will feel great to your dog; it removes dead hair and tangles, and distributes natural skin oils. If the coat is thick, be sure to are combing completely to the skin. Be gentle and patient, though; too much pressure on the skin can cause irritation called brush burn, and pulling the tangles will hurt if you make an effort to hurry. A detangler can be utilized on dry hair to loosen any knots.

Various kinds of brushes are used for different coats. A curved wire slicker or pin brush is effective for long, straight coats. Use a normal wire slicker for medium-length hair and coats with a dense undercoat. I love rakes for brushing undercoats through the shedding season. Short, smooth coats can be brushed with a grooming mitt or rubber curry. After brushing, you can use an all-purpose comb to work through small knots the brush missed.

Baths. This should be warm, even in summer, because very cold water can chill animals and leave your dog with a negative association to bathing in general. If you’re bathing small animals, support them in the tub so they don’t panic. Give your dog a complete body massage while lathering in the shampoo, then rinse. If you want, add conditioner and comb through the coat before your final rinse. I comb through long-haired dogs and horses’ tails with conditioner before doing the ultimate rinse. On cold days, all animals should be dried, and incredibly young, old or sick animals should always be dried to avoid chilling.

Nails. Begin by picking up each foot and handling the nails. Then, without clipping, hold the clippers near a nail and squeeze the nail as though you are clipping. Look carefully for the quick – where the blood circulation ends. You’ll want to avoid cutting in to the quick, since it is painful and can bleed. Should anyone ever accidentally slice the quick, don’t panic. Cover the nail end with your styptic powder and put strain on the nail for 30 seconds, until it stops bleeding. Be gentle and patient with your dog. If you start by trimming one nail on each foot daily and rewarding with praise, you will soon have a relaxed, willing animal. Be sure you also trim the dewclaws.  Visit: http://healthyhoundplayground.com/

If you keep pets’ nails trimmed, you will protect their feet from long nails that can become caught and break off, triggering pain. Long nails can also cause permanent harm to toes by bending them into unnatural positions. Animals with hooves need routine foot care by professionals, so get them to getting the care they need.

Teeth. You can gently massage the gums and brush one’s teeth on any pet – from the tiniest rodents to the major horses. If taught with patience and kindness, most animals like a mouth massage. The benefits are healthy mouths and fresh breath. Plus, you’ll become more aware of whenever your pet needs dental work by a specialist, before your dog is in pain. Be sure you use animal toothpaste appropriate for each and every type of pet.

Ears. You must periodically check your animal’s ears. If they’re clean and free of debris, then give your dog a nice ear rub. Again, a gentle massage will give your dog a good association to your touch. In case the ears are dirty, smell bad or look sore, make an appointment with your veterinarian. The physician can look for infection or parasites, and can get you started with a cleaning lesson.

If you’re doing a quick cleaning to healthy ears, start by dampening a cotton ball with appropriate ear cleaner and wipe the folds of skin, starting nearby the head and cleaning up to the ends of the ear flaps. Usually do not use cotton swabs because they can reach too deeply inside the ear and cause damage. Some animals are sensitive to the sensation of the cleaner moving in, so you may want to start with just a tiny amount. Anticipate to “wear” some ear cleaner, though, as most animals shake their heads and send it flying.