The Must Know Guide to Dog Grooming

By Ann Stewart

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One of the unfortunate side-effects of the winter season is the drying of the air. With this comes an increased importance for the proper grooming of of your pet.

If you think through the impact the change of weather has on your own hair, keep in mind it will impact your dog in the same way. As the weather gets colder and the humidity drops, the scalp and hair become drier. This can cause an increase in your dog itching and increased dander around your home and on your clothes.

Adding a regular visit to a professional groomer is as essential as the home bathing and grooming for the health of your pet and for your sanity.

Professional Dog Grooming - An Investment Worth Making

While it is an investment, professional dog grooming can help save both your dog's health as well as your sanity. Consider these reasons to enlist the help of a professional dog groomer:

Your Dog's Health - While the first thing anyone thinks about is how clean good looking a professionally groomed dog is, the primary reason any dog owner should consider professional dog grooming is for the health of their furry companion. Professional dog groomers, like those at Advantage Pet Center, are trained to look for signs of health problems in the skin and on the coat. These can be mild skin irritations, abrasions, lumps, bumps, and patchy baldness, just to name a few. This advanced warning can help save your dog's health, and possible life, not to mention your medical costs when you can address a problem early. This training also helps the dog groomer to identify what kind of shampoos and products are best suited for your pet and his or her particular coat and skin type.

The Right Grooming Tools & Skill - Most of us understand the difference between a friend cutting our hair (who hasn't been properly trained) versus going to a professional hair stylist. While the stylist may be more expensive, they quality of your cut is going to be far superior, and your experience is likely to be more positive. The same is true with your dog. Professional groomers know how to help your dog have a great experience while grooming them, and they're going to look great - all because they've had the proper training and have the right equipment.

Did You Forget The Nails?

The grooming process is more than baths and brushes, and should include attention to your dog's nails as well. While many people think of the nails when they start scratching people or snagging clothes, they actually have a huge impact on your dog's health as well. If the nails are let go too long, they can cause problems for your dog walking, cause sores on the bottom of the paws, and thereby cause infections to start, which can quickly become a serious, if not life-threatening, condition. While you can cut your dogs nails at home, and there are many products to help with it, are you causing your pet or yourself injury in the process while trying to hold him or her for the clip? Are you equipped and trained with how to deal with an exposed blood vein if you cut the nail too short? What seems like a simple task can actually be quite challenging for those who aren't equipped and trained.

Find A Professional Dog Groomer

If you don't have a regular professional groomer, or aren't satisfied with them you can find providers in your area through Yelp or DogGroomerDirectory.com, a directory specific to dog groomers.