Pet grooming guide

How to clip your dog’s nails.

Nail clipping is a very important pet grooming routine that needs to be carried out a couple of times per month. If you don’t clip the nails then your dog could start to suffer from in-growing toenails and infection, which would then require expensive medical treatment.

A dog’s nails should be long enough to just about reach the ground but without making a clicking sound as they walk.
Start by purchasing some specialist dog nail clippers from a pet store. They will be able to give you good advice on what to look for and how to use them.

Trim a very small piece from the end of the nail and keep trimming until you can see the quick of the nail (this will be the pink bit on a dog with white nails but you will need to look more carefully on dogs with dark nails as the quick can be difficult to see). Once the quick has been seen then use a nail file to smooth the edges.

If you do accidentally cut the quick then be warned, it can bleed quite a lot. Use some cotton wool to stem the flow and then leave any clot that has formed.

Don’t forget the claw that is slightly up the back of the dog’s leg, though this will need trimming during pet grooming much less often as it doesn’t get worn down very much.

How to get rid of ticks.

Ticks are a severe irritation to animals as they cause redness, swelling and itching. It is very important to make tick removal a regular part of your pet grooming routine as, as well as the above mentioned problems, they also introduce harmful bacteria into your pet. When removing a tick it is very important that, as well as the body, the head is also removed.

There are a lot of myths surrounding the removal of ticks from animals, such as covering it in petroleum jelly to stop it breathing or holding a hot needle to it to make it withdraw its head. These methods are more likely to cause the tick to release more bacteria into the wound.

It is very important that, when removing the tick, you don’t squeeze the body at all as this will push the bacteria into your pet. For this reason you need to start with the appropriate pet grooming equipment for the job. Proper tick removers are a better option than tweezers which may squeeze the body if you are not very skilled!

The tick needs to be grasped right where its head is entering your pet (this way you won’t accidentally squeeze the body) and pulled straight out. Do not twist as you pull unless you are using a special tool that specifically tells you to twist.

The final part of this pet grooming process must be to check that the head is completely out and to then apply plenty of anti-septic lotion.

A horse’s mane is one of its most important features, one that everyone will notice. If it looks straggly, unkempt and dirty then it will detract from any good characteristics that the horse may have. Conversely, if you follow a strict pet grooming regime on the mane, then your horse can always look at its most beautiful.

Aiming to brush the mane at least once a day is good horse care and this way you won’t need to put in much effort as it will always be at a reasonably high level of condition. Start by hand picking out any grass, burrs or twigs and then run your fingers through the mane to find any tangles which hopefully you will manage to tease out.

Specialist mane combs have large, widely spaced teeth which will minimise any damage to the hair. Start your horse gooming at the tips of the mane, gently combing out any tangles, and gradually move higher and higher to the base of the mane. When all snags have been removed carefully brush down from the skin at the base of the mane all the way to the tips. This brushing will help to remove any build up of dirt or oil and will help to produce a lovely shine.

The frequency of washing during pet grooming will depend a lot on the season and your horse itself. If you leave too long between washes then the horse may become itchy and start to rub. This will make the mane tangled, break the hairs and may even cause bald patches. During warm weather try to do a good clean every 1 to 3 weeks with a pet shampoo and rinse after any workouts. Washing helps to reduce any oil build-up and removes harmful bacteria from the skin. If bacteria aren’t removed then they can cause skin infections that require veterinary attention. After shampooing and rinsing through add a conditioner which will help to make tangles easier to get out and will make the mane shiny and thicker looking. Some horse conditioners need rinsing out after application while others can be left in.

When the weather becomes colder you will not want to make your horse wet but luckily there are a variety of dry shampoos on the market which can still kill the bacteria and remove oil. These don’t need to be rinsed out and so there is no risk of your horse getting a chill.

The final important thing to remember is that though pet grooming is essential to maintain a healthy mane and tail, a good nutritious diet is also vital in producing the luxurious mane that you desire.

Horse hoof care is one of the most vital pet grooming routines in horse care as if the hooves are damaged or unhealthy then you won’t be able to ride your horse. It doesn’t take long to pick out the hooves and should be done at least once a day and preferably before and after riding out. Don’t forget that even if you don’t ride your horse its hooves will still need cleaning out.

The most important tool for this job is a hoof pick which is a hooked instrument which can be used to remove stones, mud and manure that has become imbedded in the hoof. Most horses have been trained to raise their hooves for cleaning if you stand beside them and run your hand down their legs. Ensure that you clean the area around the frog thoroughly as this is where infection is most likely to begin.

Apart from the discomfort and bruising that can occur if a stone becomes lodged in their hoof, the biggest risk from infrequent picking out is that of horse thrush. If left untreated for long enough the thrush will make the horse lame. The bacteria that cause thrush thrive in the warm, moist environment produced by a hoof filled with mud or manure. You will recognise a case of thrush by the nasty smell produced. If the case is only mild then you will be able to use a shop bought lotion to help get rid of it but more severe cases will require a visit by the vet.

When the picking out has been finished then you need to move on to the next pet grooming exercise. This is the dressing of the hooves with a special oil to help increase the amount of moisture in the hoof. By doing this you will help prevent common problems such as cracked hooves, sore feet and loss of shoes.

Every 6-8 weeks you will need to have the horse shod as leaving them on for a long time can cause damage to the hoof and lameness. While the farrier is shoeing the horse ask him to trim the ever growing hooves. This keeps them in good shape and stops the horse from becoming unbalanced, which can lead to lameness. Make sure that you always get an experienced person to perform this procedure and don’t risk damaging your horse by attempting this yourself.

One final pet grooming exercise that people who are showing their horse may carry out is to add a black or clear polish to make a nice, shiny finishing touch.

All these horse accessories can be bought at a local pet store.