As pet owners, grooming is a part of our everyday life. From bathing to nail clipping, grooming your pet can be a great chance to strengthen your bond and get up close and personal.
Pet grooming isn’t always a relaxing experience, though. Lots of pets find grooming stressful and can get super anxious when we begin. So how can you make the grooming experience for your pet — and you — more enjoyable.
The Importance of Dog Grooming
Grooming your dog can vary depending upon its breed. Some breeds will need regular visits to a professional grooming parlour to keep them looking and feeling in top shape. If you own a long-haired breed such as a Shih Tzu or a very curly breed such as a poodle or Bichon Frise, knots and mats in their fur can be very uncomfortable and sometimes painful. Dogs such as Huskies, Malamutes and German Shepherds need constant upkeep to reduce unwanted shedding. Terriers, such as Cairn Terriers and some Jack Russels, can benefit from hand stripping to keep their coat healthy-looking and cool in the summer.
But it’s not just the longer-haired or double-coated breeds that need grooming; your canine companion will need his nails, teeth and general cleanliness maintained regularly. It’s important to ensure you keep on top of these things to avoid any medical issues arising and to get your dog used to being groomed so that when it does come to the dreaded nail clipping time, your pooch remains calm and content.
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The Importance of Cat Grooming
If you have a cat that enjoys being groomed, then you are a lucky owner! Most cats prefer the DIY approach and don’t appreciate being brushed or bathed. However, there are benefits to daily grooming if it doesn’t cause too much stress to your feline friend. Breeds such as Persians benefit from daily brushing to avoid matting, but even short-haired cats will benefit. Brushing removes dust, dead skin and loose hairs from your cat's fur and allows you to closely monitor its health and skin condition. Take a look at this great guide to spotting an allergy!
Cat Grooming Tips
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The Importance of Horse Grooming
Grooming plays a huge part in horse ownership and most horse owners will tell you, it’s no easy feat! Basic grooming involves brushing the entire body to remove dust and mud, grooming the tail and mane and picking out the hooves. This routine benefits the skin condition of the horse and helps to avoid rubbing caused by riding tack if dirt and debris are between the saddle and skin. Grooming also provides bonding time and an opportunity to check your horse all over for any medical conditions or lumps and bumps that shouldn’t be there.
How and When to Groom a Horse
If your horse lives with other horses, they will often groom each other, so you will only really need to groom just before riding. You just need to make sure the tack won’t rub, but if your horse enjoys being groomed, then it’s fine to do this as often as you can!
If your horse lives alone or is rugged, it must be thoroughly groomed every day. Horses cannot groom themselves entirely and dead skin and hair can build up and cause serious skin issues. Each day your horse needs to be thoroughly brushed down with a stiff-bristled brush and finished with a softer brush.
Grooming your pet provides an excellent opportunity to monitor their health and provide the best care you can. Vetscriptions is a UK stockist of pet products and medications for dogs, cats and horses. You can also save 40% on veterinary prescribed medications by ordering online.