In general terms, a clean pet is a happy pet. No hair in the eyes, clean fur and skin, clipped nails and clean teeth all make for a pet that is comfortable and better behaved. It is our responsibility as pet owners to ensure animals are properly groomed as most of them cannot do it themselves.
Over the years we have bred animals for specific aesthetic traits, and some of these traits means that animals are no longer able to keep their fur healthy without help from a groomer.
Issues caused by lack of grooming
Adverse, serious side effects occur when we neglect to groom our pets. If we don’t tend to our pet’s grooming needs on a regular basis, we encourage a variety of issues which can lead to expensive vet bills and difficult or even aggressive behaviour from your pet.
Long hair is the culprit of a variety of discomfort and skin issues. Hair hanging over your pet’s eyes can restrict vision altering the pet’s capabilities and behaviour. When long hair is not brushed and washed regularly, pets often suffer matting and can load your pet with extra weight.
Matting of the hair can be painful and cause many skin conditions. Severe matting restricts blood flow, pulling tightly on a pet’s skin and making a simple pat painful. In some cases, matting can be so severe that it restricts body movement leading to deformity.
Overgrown nails can be very painful, with long nails growing into the paw pads and causing infection. Long nails can cause your pet’s toes to bend and create a walking disfigurement.
Double-coated dogs require regular brushing, even when the hair is short. Undercoat build-up can cause your pet to suffer heat stress.
Grass seeds are not easily detected and requires a hands on approach to identify in a pet’s coat. It is not unheard of for a pet to lose an eye from an undetected grass seed.
Fleas, ticks and mites are some of the most common parasites that can be fatal to your pet and they thrive on dirty and untreated bodies.
Dental disease can lead to bad breath, teeth loss, reduced appetite and if untreated can cause organ damage to your pet’s heart, liver and kidneys. Learn more about dental health.
All of these issues can be detrimental to your pet’s mental wellbeing, due to the discomfort and
Why you should groom your pet
- A pet that looks and smells nice all the time, plus your best friend will be free from discomfort, feel great and behave well.
- Reduced risk of eye, ear, skin, teeth and nail infections, ensuring your pet is free from pain and disease!
- Easy vet checks as your pet will be more comfortable and used to being handled, especially around the face, feet and tail. Less stress for all involved!
- Increased sociability as grooming becomes a positive experience and easy for both you or your groomer and your pet.
- Lower medical bills as regular grooming will prevent disease and catch many health issues before they become an emergency.
Should you groom your cat?
While less common than dogs, there are situations where a cat would require professional grooming services on a regular basis. Cats with medium-long, dense coats prone to matting may not be able to groom themselves for several reasons:
- Due to their age or physical health, they cannot reach all areas to groom themselves.
- Their coat is too dense and thick for them to sufficiently groom themselves.
- They have health issues preventing them from grooming themselves.
- They have skin and coat issues requiring regular attention from a grooming professional.
- Where the fur has matted around the eyes, ears, and sanitary areas.
