Pets need regular grooming to support their overall health and wellbeing. Some pet owners enjoy giving their four-legged friend poofy hairdos or adorning them with bows and other extravagant accessories. However, flashy accoutrements and hairstyles are not required. An effective at-home pet grooming routine doesn’t need to be fancy, but it does need to be consistent to keep your pet clean, healthy, and feeling their best. Our Star of Texas Veterinary Hospital team explains grooming’s benefits, and shares tips on how to groom your pet at home. 

Benefits of grooming your pet  

Grooming your pet has several benefits, not only for your four-legged friend’s appearance but also for their wellbeing. A grooming routine’s benefits include:

  • Good hygiene — By removing excess hair, dirt, and other debris from your pet’s fur, you keep your pet clean and odor-free. 
  • Comfort — Regular grooming keeps your pet comfortable. Daily brushing prevents their fur from becoming matted, which can cause significant discomfort and skin problems. In addition, regularly trimming your pet’s nails prevents them from curling so much that they become embedded in your four-legged friend’s sensitive paw pads. 
  • Health monitoring — Grooming sessions allow you to check your pet for potential health problems, such as skin issues, fleas or ticks, lumps, or abnormalities. When your pet’s condition is detected before it becomes severe, their treatment will likely be more effective, and their prognosis better. 
  • Disease prevention — Many grooming routines reduce your pet’s disease risk. Daily toothbrushing helps remove plaque that can lead to dental disease. In addition, regular ear cleaning can prevent infection. 
  • Strengthens your pet-owner bond — A regular grooming session provides a dedicated time to show affection and attention to your pet, strengthening your pet-owner bond. 

Grooming is undoubtedly beneficial for your pet. However, developing an effective at-home grooming routine requires patience, practice, and the right tools. 

Brushing basics: How to keep your pet’s hair healthy

All pets need regular brushing to keep their coat healthy and prevent mats. Dirt and oil can accumulate under mats and cause painful skin infections, while a mat’s tangled hair can pull your pet’s skin and cause pain. Brushing not only removes loose hair and tangles but also massages your pet’s skin, stimulating blood flow. Brushing frequency depends on your pet’s coat type. For short-haired pets, a rubber brush or grooming mitt will do the trick. If your pet has medium to long hair, a slicker brush or a rake will work wonders. The trick is to be gentle and make this a relaxing and enjoyable experience for your pet.

Bath-time bliss: Create a positive bathing experience for your pet  

Patience is key during your pet’s bath time. Choose a pet-safe shampoo. Avoid shampoos intended for humans as they can be harsh on your pet’s skin. Wet your pet’s coat thoroughly and begin lathering the shampoo, carefully avoiding their eyes and ears. Rinse well, as residual soap can cause skin irritation. Always remember—after-bath treats are a must! 

Nail trimming know-how: Give your pet a paw-dicure

Long nails can scratch hardwood floors, snag carpet, and leave claw marks on furniture. If left untrimmed, overgrown nails can cause your pet pain. Nail trimming can be nerve-wracking, but with patience and practice, you can successfully keep your pet’s nails at an appropriate length. You should trim your pet’s nails at least monthly, although more frequent trimming is best. Be careful to avoid the sensitive quick, the soft cuticle-like structure at the nail’s center that contains a blood vessel and nerve. To trim your pet’s nails successfully, follow these tips:

  • Use a pet nail clipper, and only trim each nail’s tip, avoiding the quick (i.e., the nail’s pink part), which is sensitive. 
  • If your pet has dark nails and the quick isn’t visible, only trim a little bit at a time.
  • If you accidentally cut the quick, stop the bleeding by applying styptic powder.
  • Make nail trimming a paws-itive experience by rewarding your pet with their favorite treat afterward.

Dental care duties: Polish your pet’s pearly whites 

Periodontal disease is one of the most commonly diagnosed pet diseases. Fortunately, daily toothbrushing with a Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC)-approved pet-safe toothpaste is the most effective way to prevent plaque and tartar buildup on your furry pal’s teeth. Never use toothpaste intended for humans because the ingredients are toxic to pets.

Anal sac expression: Get professional veterinary help 

While you can do most of your pet’s grooming at home, you might want to leave this task to the professionals. Anal glands are two small, oval-shaped sacs that sit inside your pet’s rectum on either side of the anus. The sacs store a thin, foul-smelling fluid that your pet secretes when they defecate. Ideally, your pet’s anal glands express naturally when they defecate. However, pets often develop issues that alter natural emptying, and their anal sacs thicken and distend. If your pet has a strong, fishy odor, is excessively licking their hind end, or is scooting along the ground, they likely need their anal glands expressed. Incorrect expression techniques can cause pets pain or injury, so we recommend you have your veterinary professional perform this task.

The key to successful at-home grooming is patience, persistence, and tons of praise and treats! If you have questions about pet grooming or your pet’s anal glands need to be expressed, contact our Star of Texas Veterinary Hospital team.