Oakland Park Vet Stresses Home Pet Grooming

Is your dog's fur a little tangled? Has your long-haired cat's coat grown a little unmanageable? Not only does proper grooming make your pet feel and look better, but it's healthier for them, too.  You may bring your pet to our veterinary hospital for grooming, but we also recommend supplementing your trips to the vet by doing routine pet grooming at home. 

Tips for Pet Grooming at Home

Grooming at home doesn't have to be stressful for you or your pet. To start, you should have the right equipment. These items don't have to be expensive, but basics include hair clippers, a good brush and nail clippers. Keep your equipment sharp and in good working order. Dull nail clippers can be painful for your pet and difficult for you to work with.

If you're bathing your pet and clipping his nails, do the nails first so that you don't get scratched at bath time. You'll also want to brush your cat or dog well before bathing him. Brushing will loosen any excess hair and bathing will wash that hair away. 

How often you bathe your pet depends on his activity level and breed. Dogs need to be bathed more often than cats as cats have a regular self-grooming routine, but don't ignore bathing your cat altogether. There are places that are difficult for the cat to clean himself.  Use a special dog or cat grooming shampoo only. If your pet is experiencing a flea infestation, we recommend choosing a flea shampoo designed for treating the infestation. 

Always towel dry your pet. The blow dryer may be too loud and may scare your pet.

Pet Grooming at Oakland Park Animal Hospital

To augment your home grooming routine, our Oakland Park veterinarians offer an array of grooming services for your cat and dog, including pet bathing, nail clipping, teeth cleaning, brushing and other detailing. We stress proper pet hygiene as part of a total wellness program for pets. If you're unsure about how to home groom your pet, let us show you the proper way to do this.

Do you regularly groom your pet at home? Did you learn how to do this from your veterinary hospital?