At home furbaby care
Hey everyone!!! Sorry for the delay, as I've dealt with some family business. Let's get down to the good stuff! My goal is to share important information with you all regarding pet care, and hopefully help you all if I can. Today I'll be discussing at home coat care and general grooming.
Every pet has a different coat and different needs in caring for it. For instance, a short haired dog will not need the same brush as a long-coated dog. Same applies to cats.
Things you will need:
1. A brush to suit your pet's coat needs
2. Nail trimmers
3. A shampoo that balances the skin
4. An appropriate dryer
If your dog has a short coat, I suggest brushing your baby with a slicker brush, preferably a soft bristle one. You might also consider a coat rake if the pet has lots of undercoat (dead loose hair under the top coat). Some people use a Furminator, which is pretty good at removing dead coat as well. Give a good brush before a bath, it will reduce the amount in your tub, and it will cut down on work later.
If your pet has a long coat, you will need a medium level dematting brush. These brushes allow you to gently remove mats and knots by using a firm tapping technique. As you tap the mat with the bent bristles, the knots and mats are loosened and eventually removed. There's no dragging these brushes through the coat, the gentle tapping protects your pet's skin and can be painless as long as you do not pull the knots and mats. Always check your dogs ears, collar area, and armpits for knots. These areas can become heavily matted on long haired pets and can cause painful sores, hematomas, or hot spots.
To trim your baby's nails, use a nail trimmer and look at the bottom of your pet's nails for the area where the nail seems to "meet" and the quick can be seen. Only trim the tip of the nail to avoid "quicking" your pet. Quicking won't severely injure your pet, but it can be difficult to stop the bleeding if you don't know how to. If you like filed nails there are many options. Hand held files are quiet and efficient, however many people prefer the electric buffer. These are wonderful, but not all pets will allow you to use this device. Just like us, pets can be ticklish, and may not be able to handle the vibration related to the device. Follow your pet's lead on this matter.
The next step in at home care is bathing. You might have a bottle of Oatmeal shampoo or some fruity smelling concoction under the counter. Basic shampoos can be drying, most brands are heavily chemical and do not benefit the coat. Always use a shampoo that is as natural as possible and that doesn't strip the coats natural oils. A pet with dry hair may need a moisturizing shampoo that contains an oil like Emu Oil or Mink Oil. A pet with a long coat may need a shampoo that is light and enhances the coat's natural state. Dogs with skin conditions may need exfoliating washes or if the vet orders it, a medicated wash. A dog that has gotten into some stinky stuff could use a wash in a natural enzyme shampoo to breakdown the scent causing agents. There are many brands out there but I love using Natrelle by Kenic since it's incredibly gentle.
Your final step is drying. It's so very important that your pet is dried appropriately. Allowing a long haired pet to "air dry" almost guarantees knots and mats, these pets need a cool blow drier. NEVER USE HEAT TO DRY YOUR PET. Our fur friends have a higher body temperature than ourselves, using heat can cause your pet to have a heat stroke. If your pet has short hair a thorough towel dry might suffice, but if the shedding is bothering you a blow dry wouldn't hurt. No matter what you choose, always brush again after your pet is dry.
Now your fur kid is brushed and bathed. Most owners choose to forego nail trims and that's perfectly okay. It can be scary to perform a trim and accidentally quick your baby. We professionals completely understand and are here to help you. Grooming a pet can be involved and a full groom at the salon goes so much further. Things that your pet will have at the groomers that you might not be aware of are ear cleaning, anal gland expressions, facials, and even wound care if the pet has hidden boo boos (remember serious wounds will need veterinary attention, groomers are like school nurses).
Keeping your baby bathed and brushed in between appointments keeps them healthy, happy and fluffy!
Every pet has a different coat and different needs in caring for it. For instance, a short haired dog will not need the same brush as a long-coated dog. Same applies to cats.
Things you will need:
1. A brush to suit your pet's coat needs
2. Nail trimmers
3. A shampoo that balances the skin
4. An appropriate dryer
If your dog has a short coat, I suggest brushing your baby with a slicker brush, preferably a soft bristle one. You might also consider a coat rake if the pet has lots of undercoat (dead loose hair under the top coat). Some people use a Furminator, which is pretty good at removing dead coat as well. Give a good brush before a bath, it will reduce the amount in your tub, and it will cut down on work later.
If your pet has a long coat, you will need a medium level dematting brush. These brushes allow you to gently remove mats and knots by using a firm tapping technique. As you tap the mat with the bent bristles, the knots and mats are loosened and eventually removed. There's no dragging these brushes through the coat, the gentle tapping protects your pet's skin and can be painless as long as you do not pull the knots and mats. Always check your dogs ears, collar area, and armpits for knots. These areas can become heavily matted on long haired pets and can cause painful sores, hematomas, or hot spots.
To trim your baby's nails, use a nail trimmer and look at the bottom of your pet's nails for the area where the nail seems to "meet" and the quick can be seen. Only trim the tip of the nail to avoid "quicking" your pet. Quicking won't severely injure your pet, but it can be difficult to stop the bleeding if you don't know how to. If you like filed nails there are many options. Hand held files are quiet and efficient, however many people prefer the electric buffer. These are wonderful, but not all pets will allow you to use this device. Just like us, pets can be ticklish, and may not be able to handle the vibration related to the device. Follow your pet's lead on this matter.
The next step in at home care is bathing. You might have a bottle of Oatmeal shampoo or some fruity smelling concoction under the counter. Basic shampoos can be drying, most brands are heavily chemical and do not benefit the coat. Always use a shampoo that is as natural as possible and that doesn't strip the coats natural oils. A pet with dry hair may need a moisturizing shampoo that contains an oil like Emu Oil or Mink Oil. A pet with a long coat may need a shampoo that is light and enhances the coat's natural state. Dogs with skin conditions may need exfoliating washes or if the vet orders it, a medicated wash. A dog that has gotten into some stinky stuff could use a wash in a natural enzyme shampoo to breakdown the scent causing agents. There are many brands out there but I love using Natrelle by Kenic since it's incredibly gentle.
Your final step is drying. It's so very important that your pet is dried appropriately. Allowing a long haired pet to "air dry" almost guarantees knots and mats, these pets need a cool blow drier. NEVER USE HEAT TO DRY YOUR PET. Our fur friends have a higher body temperature than ourselves, using heat can cause your pet to have a heat stroke. If your pet has short hair a thorough towel dry might suffice, but if the shedding is bothering you a blow dry wouldn't hurt. No matter what you choose, always brush again after your pet is dry.
Now your fur kid is brushed and bathed. Most owners choose to forego nail trims and that's perfectly okay. It can be scary to perform a trim and accidentally quick your baby. We professionals completely understand and are here to help you. Grooming a pet can be involved and a full groom at the salon goes so much further. Things that your pet will have at the groomers that you might not be aware of are ear cleaning, anal gland expressions, facials, and even wound care if the pet has hidden boo boos (remember serious wounds will need veterinary attention, groomers are like school nurses).
Keeping your baby bathed and brushed in between appointments keeps them healthy, happy and fluffy!
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