Spa Day for Fido and Fluffy: Grooming Your Dog and Cat

by Tina Knight

Having your dog or cat professionally groomed can be quite costly. Given the state of today’s economy, some people now choose to groom their dogs and cats themselves as a way to save money. This article will give you same basic instruction on grooming your dog or cat at home.

Basic supplies

•    Clippers
•    Blades - #7, #8 and #10 are the ones used most often
•    Blade cooler
•    Combs and brushes
•    De-matting comb
•    Scissors – good quality hair cutting scissors
•    Ear cleaner and gauze/cotton pads
•    Ear powder for dogs with hairy ears that need to be plucked (e.g. Poodles)
•    Nail clippers
•    Styptic powder or corn starch (stops bleeding in case you accidentally cut the “quick”)
•    Liquid bandage (for minor accidental cuts)
•    Shampoo and conditioner
•    Toothbrush and toothpaste (the kind made especially for dogs)
•    Muzzle (not always necessary with your own dog)

All of these items are available online or at your local pet supply store. There may be other supplies such as specific combs or brushes for your pet’s coat type. It may take some trial and error to discover the best products and techniques. When buying shampoo, many pet owners reach for the scented shampoos so their pet smells especially good after a bath. Many of these shampoos contain ingredients that are irritating to your pet’s skin and some can cause allergic reactions. Many vets and groomers recommend oatmeal-based, hypoallergenic shampoos and conditioners.

Shorthaired dogs and cats are easier to groom than longhaired ones. In fact, shorthaired cats require little to no grooming. A weekly or bi-weekly brushing and occasional nail trim will usually suffice. Shorthaired dogs usually require a monthly bath, ear cleaning and nail trim. Teeth brushing should also be a part of your dog’s grooming. Some veterinarians recommend daily teeth cleaning for dogs. Even if you can’t do it every day, you should do it as often as you can. A good grooming regimen that includes teeth brushing is important for the overall health of your pet. Healthy oral care can increase your dog’s life expectancy by 15% (or two years).

Bathing, Brushing and Shaving

Bathing and brushing is the most basic part of the grooming process. This is where it all begins. If you have a longhaired dog or cat, be sure to brush out the coat prior to bathing and remove any mats. Mats can be either gently combed out or removed using a de-matting tool. If they are especially bad, you may have to shave down the area of the mat. Often this is less painful for the pet than trying to comb it out. If you are planning to do a shave-down, do this before bathing. There’s no sense in washing hair that is just going to be shaved off.

When shaving your pet, the size of the blade will determine the length of hair left. For a pet that is badly matted, you will want to use a #10 blade. This will cut the hair very close to the skin. If you want the hair longer, try using #7 or #8 blade. The higher the number on the blade, the shorter the hair will be. When doing a complete shave-down, start at the nape of the neck and shave a straight line down the length of the spine. Then begin shaving down the sides at an angle leaving the legs for last.  Some people opt to leave the hair on the legs and trim the area using scissors. If necessary, the hair on the head and face can be trimmed using scissors, being careful around the pet’s eyes. Also, be careful when shaving in sensitive areas, such as the belly, armpits, genital and rectal regions. This is where you are most likely to cut or nick your pet. Once your pet is combed out or shaved-down, it’s time to get them in the tub.

Nail Trimming and Ear Cleaning

Once they are in the tub, cut their nails and clean their ears first. Do this before bathing in case you cut the quick of the toenail and they bleed, or in case you get ear cleaner on their coat, which can stain if left on, especially light-colored dogs. For many people, even professional groomers, trimming the nails is the most difficult part of grooming. Many pets don’t like it, so it’s a good idea to have someone available to help in case the animal struggles too much for one person. Depending on the pet, you may want to use a muzzle.

The most important thing about cutting the nails is being careful not to cut the “quick”,  the vein that runs through the nail. If cut, it is very painful for the pet and can bleed a lot. In pets with white nails, it is easier to see the quick, but in pets with black nails, it can be hard to find. To avoid the quick, cut the nail just where it begins to curve. If you do accidentally cut the quick, use styptic powder to stop the bleeding. Next, clean the ears using an ear cleaner on a gauze pad. Just wipe out the inside part of the ear. Never stick anything such as a cotton swab into the ear canal. Some breeds, such as Poodles, have hair that grows in their ear canals and needs to be plucked. This is easily done by applying ear powder, which loosens the hair making it easy to remove with your fingers. If you notice an odor coming from the ears, your pet may have an ear infection and need to see a vet.

Bathing

When bathing your dog or cat use warm, never hot or cold, water. Wet the pet thoroughly, and then apply shampoo, from front to back and top of head to feet, being careful to avoid the eyes. Finally, apply conditioner and any specialty products your pet requires. The most important part of bathing is, make sure to rinse the shampoo and conditioner from your pet thoroughly. If any product remains in their coat, it can irritate the skin and  lead to dandruff. After bathing, you can let your pet air dry, towel them off or use a hair dryer. Most cats don’t like the hair dryer, but some will tolerate it on the lowest setting. If you have a pet with a very heavy coat, you may want to invest in a professional grooming dryer. They do an excellent job of blowing out all of the loose hair.

It may take a few times grooming your pet before you are comfortable with it. It is a learning process, but once you have it down it can be an enjoyable experience for you and your pet. You can take pride in the fact that you are able to make your pet look good and, dogs and cats always feel better after being groomed. For more information on bathing your pet, visit the ASPCA <http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/grooming-faq.aspx>.