How Often Should my Pet be Groomed?

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How Often Should my Pet be Groomed?

 

Taking good care of a pet comes with a lot of different responsibilities. Some, like feeding them a healthy diet and getting their vaccinations done, are fairly obvious. Others are easily overlooked. One of the most commonly overlooked aspects of pet care is grooming. Grooming an animal is often misconstrued as being unnecessary and even frivolous. However, it is actually vitally important for your pet’s health and wellbeing.

 

Why is Pet Grooming so Important?

 

There are many different aspects to pet grooming, with each being important for very different reasons. Here are some of the key elements of the grooming process and what they mean for your pet.


 

Brushing your pet

 

Brushing your pet’s coat is essential regardless of their age or breed. It removes dead hair, skin cells, and dirt and will stimulate the natural production of oils that help keep their coat healthy and shiny. As you brush, these oils are evenly distributed for the best effect. Brushing also allows you to check for abnormalities such as dry patches, hair loss, fleas, ticks or unusual lumps or bumps. The earlier these are spotted, the more effectively they can be treated which will help to ensure that they don’t have the opportunity to cause serious consequences for your furbaby.


 

Bathing

 

Many pets have a natural aversion to water, and this can make the bathing process quite stressful. Nevertheless, occasional baths are needed to keep your pet’s skin and coat healthy. You must be careful not to bathe your pet too frequently as doing so can actually dry their skin out and cause irritation.


 

Claw trims

 

Pet claws, like human nails, grow continuously. Most pets will naturally wear down their own claws in their daily activities – walking, climbing, running, etc. However, if your pet isn’t active enough for this to be happening, you may need to lend a helping hand. If you don’t, their claws could grow around and back into their paw pads, causing serious pain and inflammation, and potential infection. Long claws can also cause accidental damage to people, other animals, and property. Unsurprisingly, claw trimming is a tricky endeavor and one that many owners prefer to leave to a professional.


 

Eye and ear care

 

Your pet’s ears and eyes are extremely delicate, and this makes them susceptible to problems such as conjunctivitis and other eye infection, mites and ear infections. Special care must be taken to clean them and, in the case of the eyes, ensure that no hair is growing into them.

 

How Often Does my Pet Need Grooming?

 

Unsurprisingly, how often your pet will need to be groomed will depend primarily on the type of animal that they are, including their species. For example, long-haired pets typically require grooming more regularly than short-haired varieties with some owners ensuring that their pets get a monthly or 6-weekly visit to a professional groomer for some TLC. Meanwhile, short-haired animals may only need to be seen every 3-4 months. In between these visits, you should be brushing your pet as often as they need it based upon their coat type. If you aren't sure how often this should be, speak to our veterinary team.

 

As their owner, it is up to you to gauge how often your pet should visit a professional groomer, in addition to the grooming that you perform at home. If you aren’t sure when your furbaby needs to be seen, our experienced veterinary team at Highland Veterinary Clinic in Evansville, IN would be happy to advise you.