For most pet parents, we tend to think of grooming in terms of what cut we want, clipping back sharp nails to prevent scratches on the hardwood floor, stopping our dog from scooting across the carpet, or getting rid of that smelly dog odor. In efforts to appease our own needs we often overlook the fact that grooming is a crucial component of maintaining our dog’s health, not unlike annual physical exams and vaccinations. Regardless of breed, regular grooming can help to prevent health issues such as skin inflammation/irritation caused by dry, itchy skin, skin infections and hematomas caused by matted hair, gait and posture issues caused by overgrown nails, ear infections caused by hair blocking air circulation, and pain and discomfort caused by impacted anal glands. When we regularly groom our dogs we greatly contribute to their health and wellbeing.
Regular grooming should consist of examining your pet’s skin and coat, bathing, drying, brushing, shaving/scissoring, nail trims, expression of anal glands, and ear cleaning. There are a lot of factors that determine how often you should groom your dog such as breed, coat length, type of coat, style of cut, lifestyle, and age. In general, we recommend your dog is groomed or bathed every 4-6 weeks to maintain healthy skin and coat with nice short nails.
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