Pet grooming guide

There are a wide variety of tools available for use when pet grooming your dog, all of which can be bought from local pet stores. The most useful are a curry comb for overall brushing and removal of loose dead hair and skin, a shedding blade to remove coat shed and a de-matting comb to help remove tangles.

Curry comb
Curry combs stimulate your dog’s skin to produce natural oils, which help to keep the fur clean and healthy. Frequent use of a curry comb during pet grooming will ensure a shiny, glossy coat and will also keep the skin clean and healthy too. As well as stimulating the skin, the comb will encourage blood flow and remove flakes of dead skin. If your dog has long hair then the comb can be used to remove tangles and matts, which can be uncomfortable and unhealthy.
The gentlest curry brush is made from rubber or a rubberised material. The rubber is bendable, allowing the comb to flex with the animal’s body.

Shedding blade
A shedding blade is a looped piece of metal with the ends held together by a handle. One side of the blade has small, rounded teeth which catch hold of and remove coat shed and help to minimise the occurrence of matting. Many pet grooming experts recommend getting a shedding blade since it is especially good for keeping dogs with short coats from shedding all over your house. Shedding blades are primarily used in the pet grooming of shorter haired dogs as they are less effective on long haired coats. Always use a light touch when using the blade as it is possible to cause harm to the coat or skin if you press too hard.The first few times you use a shedding blade on your pet, keep a good watch on the dog’s skin. If they seem to show signs of irritation or begin to scratch, you may need a softer brush or a gentler technique with the blade.

De-matting comb
Even regularly brushed dogs develop matts and it’s very important to remove them before they become out of control. There are many styles of de-matting comb or rake and the one you choose will depend entirely on the type of coat that your dog has so, for example, a dog with a thick, curly coat will need a much wider toothed comb than a dog with a long, fine coat. The best method of removing the matts while pet grooming is to put your fingers between the dog’s skin and the matt and to then ease the de-matting comb gently through.

Pet grooming is an important part of dog care. Frequency of grooming will depend on factors such as age, breed and general health of the dog. Some breeds will need daily grooming while others will require significantly less than this, but regular grooming helps to make sure that the dog is clean, healthy and comfortable. While a lot of dogs shed, others don’t and instead their fur grows much like human hair and therefore needs trimming.

• The length of your dog’s coat will dictate how often he needs to be brushed but long haired dogs will require brushing every day. Brushing helps to keep the fur shiny, clean and free of any matting, which can be a cause of irritation. Most dogs enjoy pet grooming and often eagerly await combing.

• Ensure that your dog’s face is clear of long hairs, which can get in their eyes and cause eye irritations.

• Like humans, dogs can suffer from ear infections, especially when they have floppy ears which cover the ear canal allowing bacteria to breed in the warm, damp environment. If their ears aren’t cleaned regularly then they can suffer from repeated serious ear infections. A healthy ear should look and smell clean. Any discharge or excessive scratching should be investigated immediately.

• Dogs frequently suffer from dental disease and so you will need to check your dog’s mouth and teeth regularly to help you spot any problems before they become serious. Dogs often don’t like the pet grooming involved in brushing and so try at least to check for chips, tartar or excessive wear.

• One of the most difficult pet grooming chores is clipping your dog’s nails. Ensure that you handle a puppy’s feet regularly so that they don’t mind you holding their feet when you cut their nails. It is very important that, even if your dog hates having his nails clipped, you trim them regularly so that they don’t suffer the pain of walking on overgrown or in-growing nails.

• Most dogs will need a bath at least a few times per year, depending on its breed and lifestyle. Bathing helps remove oil, dirt and old hair from the skin. Many dogs enjoy their baths and you can use it as an opportunity to check for fleas and ticks. Dogs that enjoy regular swims in canals, rivers or the sea need to be rinsed after every outing.

• Many dog owners don’t ever check their dog’s bottom but it is important final place to check. Faeces can get caught in the hair around the anus, causing an obstruction. Also, the glands either side of the anus can get blocked and painful and a common sign of this is scooting.