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December 11, 2020 3 min read
For several reasons, pet owners might want to cut back on visiting the groomer when their pet requires routine care. On one hand, many pets have anxiety when it comes to visiting the groomer. Additionally, pet owners might want to save money for the holidays or comply with social distancing guidelines by limiting trips out of the house.
No matter the underlying cause for avoiding a trip to the groomer, pet owners will be pleased to discover that many pet maintenance routines can be completed from the comfort of home.
Cat owners can usually depend on their feline friends to take care of their own bathing. When it comes to bathing a dog, it may be time-consuming and messy, but it’s not a terribly difficult part of pet maintenance. Do yourbest to keep the animal calm and offer small treats throughout the duration of the bath if your animal is behaving properly. Talk to the pet so that your voice comforts it.
Be sure that if you’re bathing your animal at home, you’re using shampoos and conditioners that are formulated for animals. Also, be careful to avoid contact with your pet’s eyes or getting water inside the ears (which could lead to ear infections).
Again, choose brushes and grooming materials that are made for animal fur rather than human hair. Brushing a dog or cat is relatively easy if the animal is already relaxed. For pets with especially thick or tangled fur, start by detangling the ends of the fur and slowly work toward the body. If available, use a pet-formulated conditioning spray on troublesome tangles.
If your pet has long fur that hangs over his or her eyes, you can trim the fur, but use caution during this home pet care routine. It’s best to work with grooming scissors as well as lifting the fur away from the animal’s eyes. By exercising smart pet maintenance, owners can ensure that sudden movements don’t lead to mistakes or accidents.
If you’re worried about trimming fur near your pet’s eyes,consider styling the fur into a temporary ponytail or top knot.
If your pet gets dirty ears when they go outside, it’s okay to wipe your companion animal’s ears with amoist (not wet) towel or a series of cotton balls. Avoid putting any sort of liquid into your pet’s ear unless it’s a medication prescribed by your veterinarian.
If your pet is showing signs of having an ear infection, it might be time to book an appointment with your animal’s medical provider for an evaluation.
Examine and clean your pet’s paw pads as often as possible. It’s easy for companion animals to get dirt or other debris caught in their paws, so a quick cleaning is recommended. If you decide to wash your pet’s paws, be sure to dry between the toes and in the pads. Moisture in the paw pads can lead to inflammation and rashes.
Fortunately, paw care is a fairly simple part of pet maintenance.
If you choose to trim your pet’s nails, you’ll want to have your vet or grooming professional demonstrate the correct way to do so. Like humans, animals have quicks in their toenails, so trimming too close is going to cause pain and possibly bleeding.
When trimming your pet’s nails,use clipping devices that are made for animals of your pet’s size. The right tools will make the process much easier and safer for you and your animal.
In addition, try to trim your pet’s nails when he or she is already relaxed. If your companion animal is on any sort of medication that has sedating effects after it’s consumed, it might be a good idea to trim once your pet’s medication has taken effect. That way, they will be less frightened and less likely to struggle.
Some pet owners choose to give their companion animal’s small doses of CBD supplements to encourage relaxation before a nail trim or grooming practice. If you have an anxious pet,CBD supplementation might be worth looking into.
If you’re grooming your pet alone for the first time, it might be a challenging process, so try to be patient. Your dog or cat might not understand what you’re doing and as a result, he or she might be afraid or confused. The more your pet grows accustomed to being groomed, the better they will behave during the process.
Be sure to reward your pet when he or she has behaved accordingly during grooming. A treat and verbal praise will usually encourage your animal to behave well in the future, too.