subject: Professional Pet Grooming Is Essential To Your Dog's Health And Happiness [print this page] Most of us can't even imagine not bathing, brushing our teeth or trimming our nails for months or even years at a time. Even a few days without attending to these chores would make us feel pretty awful with itching skin and greasy, matted hair. Being dirty and stinky wouldn't gain us many friends or hugs either. Yet many pet owners fail to understand the importance of proper grooming for their pets and how essential good, regular grooming is to their health and happiness. Dogs don't enjoy being itchy, greasy, or stinky any more than we do.
Pet owners can do many dog grooming chores themselves and, in fact, should attend to regular bathing and hair brushing, nail trimming, and tooth brushing. These tasks will not only keep your dog looking and feeling great, they will contribute greatly to the bond and trust between you. When the dog is used to being brushed and having his feet handled for nail trimming, it will also make it easier and much less stressful for the dog when visits to the vet or professional groomer are needed.
Many believe that only long-haired or specialty type dogs need professional grooming. The truth is that all dogs benefit from regular professional grooming, even short-haired breeds. Professional groomers have the equipment, knowledge, and expertise to prevent and identify many issues that impact your dog's health and well-being. Along with bathing, conditioning and brushing, a professional groomer will expertly trim and smooth the dog's nails, express anal glands, clean the dog's ears and remove ear hair that harbors bacteria, and trim pads. The groomer will detect problems that many owners miss such as painful cracked pads, inflammation, allergy problems, or other signs of health issues.
Regular grooming with the right shampoo and conditioner for your dogs individual needs helps to remove loose hair and reduce excess shedding, especially important for dogs with heavy undercoats. Loose, matted hair increases skin problems and harbors fleas and ticks. Reduced shedding also helps to limit allergic reactions in humans as well as reduce housekeeping chores. Proper hygiene will keep your dog smelling fresh, clean, and cuddly
When choosing a professional pet grooming service, price is only one consideration. More important is the skill and experience of the groomer and the care with which your beloved pet is treated. A visit to the groomer can be a fearful experience for many pets, so look for a pet salon that offers a calming atmosphere with a pet-loving staff that is as dedicated to your pet's well-being as you are.
