Does your pet have very long or thick fur that’s difficult to manage and maintain?
Whether your pet is an outdoor dog whose activities mean regular baths, or an indoor cat with a long, thick coat requiring brushing and clipping, grooming is essential to their health and wellbeing.
Let’s look at the reasons why pet grooming is so important for cats and dogs, and the risks of leaving their coat unattended. If you’re unable to properly maintain your pet’s coat or fur, it’s best to leave the grooming to the professionals. We’ll also outline the benefits of professional pet grooming for you.
MORE THAN JUST KEEPING YOUR PET LOOKING GOOD
Proper grooming for your pet is much more than just making sure they look clean and neat. Generally, a clean pet is a happy pet. Making sure your cat or dog is comfortable and clean will greatly improve their mood and behaviour, ensuring optimum physical and mental health.
Make sure your pets:
- Eyes are not obscured by fur or hair
- Coat and skin are clean
- Nails are clipped and damage-free – overgrown nails can be very painful, with long nails growing into the paw pads and causing infection
- Teeth are clean and in good condition
- Tail and area around the tail are clean (and clipped, if long-haired) for easy toileting
RISKS OF NEGLECTING YOUR PET’S COAT
Serious side effects can occur when we neglect to groom our pets. If you don’t tend to your pet’s grooming needs on a regular basis, a variety of issues can arise, which can lead to an unhappy, even aggressive pet.
You’ll also be setting yourself up for expensive veterinarian bills due to these issues. Regular grooming will prevent disease and catch many health issues before they become an emergency.
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 this can also load your pet with extra weight to carry and associated heat stress.
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.
Fleas, ticks and mites are some of the most common parasites that can be fatal to your pet and they thrive on unclean, ungroomed coats.
THE BENEFITS OF PROFESSIONAL PET GROOMING
Taking your pet to the vet for professional grooming leads to benefits for their health, wellbeing and behaviour.
These benefits include:
- 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 area
- Increased sociability as grooming becomes a positive experience and easier for both groomer and pet
PROFESSIONAL, CARING VETERINARY CLINIC IN AUCKLAND
If you’d like to find out more information about how to keep your dog or cat well groomed, or book an appointment for professional pet grooming, talk to the team at Normanby Road Vet Clinic.
Is it time for your pet’s annual check-up? Give us a call on (09) 638 8445 or use our online contact form to get in touch with the friendly team at Auckland’s Normanby Road Vet Clinic.
If you are thinking of going away, find out more about our Catmandu Cattery in Whenuapai– your cat’s home away from home.