Clean, well-groomed pets are healthy pets

Posted on January 23rd, 2023

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A complete grooming does more than make your pet look pretty and smell fresh.  The health benefits for well-groomed animals are:

1. Nails cut more often.  Long nails can lead to feet deformity, and to extended quick growth; once the quicks are long, the nails can't be cut short again.

2. Healthy ears.  Many dog breeds need to have the hair plucked from inside their ears.  Hairs trap debris, moisture, and ear wax inside the ear, which leads to infection.

3. Healthy teeth.  80% of dogs get periodontal disease, an infection which can spread throughout a dog's body.  Bad teeth hurt your dog's ability to chew, and poorly chewed food means poor digestion.

4. No matted fur.  All dogs can get matted, especially dogs with an undercoat.  When dogs with undercoat shed, the dead hairs can get tangled in the living coat and create mats, unless brushed out.  Matted fur sits against the skin, trapping moisture and leading to skin sores and other skin problems.  Your dog's skin and coat need to breathe, and they can't breathe when they're covered in dirt and dander.

5. Sparkly eyes.  If the hair isn't trimmed around your dog's eyes, it can become a constant irritation, and eventually a health hazard.

How often you groom your dog should depend on how you like his or her fur cut, how fast it grows, and how much upkeep you as the owner do at home (bathing, brushing and combing). Each animal has unique needs.  We recommend that most dogs be groomed every 4-8 weeks.