“The Groomer Called…Again!”
Keep your pet healthy and comfy when the Grooming budget gets pinched!
Most of of are having to scale back on expenses these days. As we look at our budgets and try to space out those routine expenses a bit, we’re all looking for ways to make the services we pay for last a little longer. When it comes to our pets’ grooming appointments, we may feel guilty about putting off their next appointment, or worry about facing a bigger bill (and the groomer’s disapproval!) next time for letting them get tangled and overgrown. There are several things you can do at home with just a little practice to keep Bailey, Beau, Precious, Gizmo, or Fido clean and comfy in the time between professional appointments.
1) Brush!!! As a professional groomer, I find that very few people really know how to brush their dog correctly, and much discomfort to their pets could be avoided if they would do this at home twice a week. If you brush properly twice a week, their coat will stay healthy and clean without bathing at home which often causes matting, itching, and sometimes the icky “wet dog” smell. Invest in a “slicker” brush, which has lots of angled wire pins and an angled handle. Often clients worry that the steel pins will hurt their pet, but as long as you don’t brush for more than a minute or two on one spot, it does not! They key is to get at the skin, not just the outside of the coat. Smooth the coat up and brush a little hair down at a time so that you can see each hair falling down into place. This is pretty easy to do on the back and outside of the legs. Most problem matting we see in even the best cared-for pets is in the armpits, under the ears, and around the private areas. To get these, pull the ears toward the nose and brush from behind the ear, and then lift the legs out, brushing down from the inside of the leg onto the ribcage.
2) Keep the eyes clean of debris and discharge. If you don’t have a “flea comb”, a fine-toothed plastic comb from the drugstore will do. Carefully, from the inside corner of the eye, comb out any dirt or “eye boogers,” smoothing the hair down the side of the snout. Some show-dog owners like to put a dab of vaseline on this hair to keep it smooth and away from the eyes.
3) Nail Care: If your pet is not super-sensitive about their feet, you may want to invest in a cordless Dremel tool, AKA the “mitey mite”. It’s about 20 bucks at the local Wal-Mart. You can keep the “quick” or tissue part of the nail from growing out by filing the end of the nail every two weeks. Hold the base of the nail with your fingers, with the paw in your hand, and run the sander around the edges of the nail tip, much like paring a vegetable. You know when you get too close to the “quick” when you can see a circular pattern in the center of the nail. If you go into the quick, this wiil cause pain and possibly bleeding to the dog. If this happens, apply styptic powder and reassure your dog that it was an accident and they are ok! Just like human kids, they judge the situation by your response, so if you don’t make a big deal about they won’t get too freaked out either. (Ever seen a child skin their knee and look up at you before deciding whether to cry or not? Same thing!)
Many dogs, especially Terriers, and oftensporting breeds like Cockers, are very sensitive about their nails because they need them to do the work they were bred to do. If your pet screams frantically when you try to handle the paws, it may be best to leave this to the professional instead of starting a fight that will damage their trust in you. If you cannot file the nails without a major battle, long walks or playtime on pavement can helpkeep the nails ground down short.
The basic rule for healthy nail length is that you cannot hear the nails tapping when the pet walks across a hard surface. If there is pressure on the nail tips when they walk, it will result in either splintering of the nail or splaying of the foot bones, both of which can eventually cause bigger problems, either from infection or orthopedic problems.
4) Pest Control: Even if only during April through October,DO keep your pet on a preventative such as Frontline. My personal experience has been that each dog responds differently to different products. Some of the combined flea and tick preventatives did not work as well for my pet as the original flea-only solution did. If your current fix doesn’t work, call the vet and get something else! Fleas cause many, many problems. Some dogs itch ony from the bites while others are allergic to the fleas themselves and will chew themselves bald until they get a hydrocortisone injection to stop it. This chewing and scratching causes matting to long hair and irritated bald spots to short coats. When you do get to the groomer, a soothing oatmeal bath can help restore moisture to the irritated skin. In addition to itching and allergy, fleas carry tapeworm which can cause serious health problems and result in expensive treatment. Ticks are also a serious problem in our area and can result in various diseases including paralysis.
5) Reward!: Now that you’ve taken charge and have established a hygiene routine with your canine companion, let them know they’ve done a good job cooperating. A spoonful of peanut butter or a special treat from your favorite pet supply store is definitely in order to reinforce good behavior. Even if they haven’t been a perfect angel, a special treat afterward will let them know that in the future their compliance will pay off, and that you’re still friends.
If you can commit30-40 minutes each week to this kind of hands-on care, you can extend the time between grooming appointments a few weeks. There are other benefits as well, however. My experience with hundreds of my own clients has shown that pet owners who physically handle their pets this way have much better-behaved and happier pets. Handling your dog physically in this way communicates to him or her that you are in charge, and that you care for him or her in all their physical needs. Because dogs are” pack” animals, they have an emotional need to know that you are their “Alpha” dog, and that you are in control and take responsibility for their well-being. While you may start doing these things at home now to save a little time and money, the stronger relationship you will experience with your dog will bring an even better reward.
If you have any questions, feel free to call or email me, Sarah, at Peachy Kleen Pet Grooming.
Good Luck and Take Care!
Sincerely, Sarah.
