Pets are pretty good at keeping themselves clean, but they could use a little daily help from you. Brushing or combing every day helps your pet in many ways. At All Friends Veterinary Hospital in East Islip, we would like to look at how often you should groom your pet.
The Benefits of Regular Grooming
Grooming is more than just making your pet’s coat look nice. This is a great way to check your pet for any new health problems, like a parasitic infestation, cuts or scrapes, and new lumps or bumps. These can be treated by your veterinarian right away before they become big problems. Many pets enjoy grooming, so daily brushing is a great way to bond.
Shorthaired Pets
It is okay not to brush your pet every day since your pet’s coat is unlikely to tangle. However, shorthaired pets do shed more often than longhaired pets. Brushing every day or every other day helps to keep the shedding to a minimum.
Longhaired Pets
That flowing hair may be gorgeous, but that beauty comes at a price. Longhaired pets need to be brushed or combed every day since their hair is prone to tangling. The tangles soon turn into knotted mats, which pull at the skin and can cause infections. It is worth investing in a matt splitter if you own a longhaired cat or dog. Longhaired hamsters need brushing, too. This can be done with a toothbrush made with very soft bristles.
Clipping Nails
Nail clipping should be part of regular grooming. If you walk your dog regularly on hard surfaces like concrete, or if your cat regularly uses a scratching post, you may not have to clip that often. It is still a good idea to check. It is especially important to clip the nails of older pets since they often have balance issues. Long nails make them more likely to fall. Trim your dog’s nails when you hear them click on the floor. Trim your cat’s nails when they appear outside of the paws.
Get Professional Pet Grooming in East Islip, NY
If you have questions about grooming your pet and live in the East Islip area, contact All Friends Veterinary Hospital to learn more or to book an appointment. Call our team today at (631) 277-8700 or reach us through our website by using our online contact form.