Local Value Veterinary

Category: Grooming

  • Pet Grooming Essentials: Keeping him in Tip-Top Health

    Pet Grooming Essentials: Keeping him in Tip-Top Health

    Most pet owners with animals that require regular grooming – especially the hairy ones – tend to assume that grooming their canine friend implies a cute hairdo at the end of summer. And this couldn’t be any further from the truth. 

    Here’s what proper and regular grooming entails:

    1. Keeping the Face and Eyes Area Clean 

    A dog’s eyes, just like the nose, will naturally secrete an amount of discharge depending on a variety of factors, such as the breed of the dog and its health condition. Therefore, don’t be surprised to find collections of ‘eye goop’ at the corner of your poodle’s eyes especially after a heavy nap. That also means that the nasal and ocular folds of brachycephalic breeds – these are animals that require constant grooming – ought to be kept clean and hair free to minimize chances of infection that results from discharge build up. In fact, if you’re not careful, accumulation of this eye goop combined by the matting fur could result in the facial skin just around the eyes become infected and inflamed. 

    2. Keeping Sensitive Areas Clean 

    Just like how fur can mat the areas around the face and mouth of your pet and cause infections, the same could also happen when matted fur mixed with feces covers the anal opening of the dog. And if swift action is not taken, this could easily result in constipation or difficulty in passing waste from his body. Make it a daily habit of getting rid of the mixture of old stool and matted far from your dog’s anus, if you have a very furry barking friend. The same applies to the area underneath the armpits, behind his ears, around and in his feet, the toes area and the pads. If anything, it is quite possible for a dog’s or cat’s feet to become sore and inflamed if his own matted fur got stuck in between his toes for an extended period. 

    3. Incorporating Antibiotics 

    If the situation has deteriorated badly, then it would be proper to make use of antibiotics and disinfectants to get rid of the macerated skin and matted fur to avoid risking further infection. Additionally, it might be likely that the animal at a risk of contracting systemic illnesses as a result of lack of proper and regular grooming especially if he is already debilitated or older. Making use of antibiotics and disinfectants could do an excellent job in staving this off. 

    SOURCES:  Wahl, Best Friends, Cesars Way
    COPYRIGHT: Local Value

  • Common Mistakes in Home Pet Grooming

    Common Mistakes in Home Pet Grooming

    When dog owners attempt pet grooming at home, there are several common mistakes that are made. Pet grooming is a skill, but with the right equipment and patience it can become a household duty that will save both time and money. Trust is loss once pain is inflicted and your pet may not treat you the same afterward.

    The first common mistake is waxing close to the skin while shaving. The clippers can leave a nasty razor burn that can open its way to later infections. If you accidentally give your pet a burn while grooming, stop and apply first aid. Add some anti-bacteria salve and if possible clean the wound. Hug you pet and let it know that you repent and it was an accident. Though they might not understand words, your pet will understand the tone and will react accordingly. The emotional pain is equally as bad as the physical. Watch the wound carefully and if it becomes red or issues puss, contact your veterinarian immediately. If the animal licks or otherwise irritates the wound, you might choose to get a protective plastic collar to stop the behavior.

    Another mistake in novice pet grooming is getting shampoo or other chemicals in your pet’s eye. Either from your mistake or from the animal’s head movement soap can splash. This unintentional act will sting your pet’s eyes and result in an unpleasant pet grooming experience. Wash the soap out with water or saline solution and dab the corners of the eye with a sterile cloth. Soothe you animal and aim to take the focus off their eyes and maybe gain their attention by showing them a favorite toy or ball. Hold the toy up so the animal can check it out. Move the toy in and out. As your pet tracks the toy, look at their eyes for signs of irritation.

    A possible fatal mistake in pet grooming is leaving your animal unrestrained or loose during grooming. Your dog and cat can put themselves in dangerous situations by trying to escape the pet grooming activity. You may even want to put a muzzle on your pet to protect both you and them.

    Pet grooming is best left to a professional. The bonding time with the animal is another perk to grooming your pet yourself.

    When dog owners attempt pet grooming at home, there are several common mistakes that are made. Another mistake in novice pet grooming is getting shampoo or other chemicals in your pet’s eye. A possible fatal mistake in pet grooming is leaving your animal loose or unrestrained during grooming. Your dog and cat can put themselves in dangerous situations by trying to escape the pet grooming activity. The bonding time with the animal is another perk to grooming your pet yourself.