Grooming your pet is an important part of being a responsible pet owner. That said, there is more to grooming your pet than simply running a brush over it’s coat. Before grooming your pet you should know what needs to be done and what risks and benefits you may face. Knowing the ins and outs of grooming your pet will help you decide whether it’s something that you can do on your own or if you should enlist professional help.

Grooming Your Dog

Dogs need regular grooming. Granted, some breeds need more grooming than others, but they all have certain needs. For instance, part of grooming your dog entails trimming it’s nails. This is true no matter what breed of dog you have. Basic dog grooming would involve you bathing and brushing your dog, along with trimming your dog’s nails. You should also keep their teeth cleaned and their eyes and ears clear of debris.

To effectively groom your dog you will need some dog grooming equipment. The type of dog grooming equipment you need will depend on the amount of grooming your dog needs. The most basic dog grooming equipment that you will need includes nail clippers, shampoo, brush, toothbrush and toothpaste. For more advanced dog grooming, you will also need scissors, hair clippers designed to cut dog hair, and hair dryers which can be found in almost any pet store that sells pet grooming supplies.

Grooming Your Cat

For the most part, cats groom themselves. This makes them one of the easier pets to own. However, certain cat breeds do require regular grooming such as Persians and Himalayans or other cat breeds with long hair. Also, from time to time it may be necessary to groom even your standard domestic breed. The coat, eyes, ears and teeth should be the primary focus when grooming your cat.

More often than not some pet owners prefer not to bathe their cat. However, you should brush them regularly to remove loose hair from their undercoat. If your cat has long hair you may need to remove mats that form. This should be done gently and carefully, preferably without cutting. In general you may need some cat grooming equipment including a brush, toothbrush and toothpaste.

Benefits of Pet Grooming

There are many benefits of pet grooming, but some are more apparent than others. One obvious benefit is that your pet will look good. Regular brushing will also prevent your pet from shedding fur all over your home, and when it comes to cats, it could help minimize hair balls.

Additionally, there are other benefits to grooming your pet. For one, trimming your dog’s nails prevents and relieves pressure and pain in the paw. Keeping your cat brushed can prevent mats that are painful. Bathing your pet can help reduce infestation of pests that can be bothersome and possibly dangerous to your pet’s health. Furthermore, brushing your pet’s teeth can reduce tooth loss and health complications later in life.

Risks of Grooming Your Pet

There are also a number of risks associated with grooming your pet that need to be mentioned. The risks of grooming your pet can range from mild to serious. For instance, if you are not properly trained when trimming a dog’s nails you may cut them too short. This can cause bleeding, infection and a host of other complications. Other risks of grooming your pet would include cutting your pet’s skin while trimming fur. You could also get soap or water in your pet’s nose ears or eyes. Scalding could also occur if the water is hotter than your pet’s sensitive skin.

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