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Regular grooming of all pets can help contribute to longer, healthier lives. The benefits of having your pet groomed regularly can include making your pet more comfortable and clean, as well as having attention paid to often overlooked parts of your dog or cat.

There are many direct health benefits of having your dog or cat groomed. Regular brushing of all pets, despite coat length or type, helps to keep the coat and skin healthy. Most dogs do not require frequent bathing (once a month or less!), but brushing in between bath times helps to keep them clean, removing dead hair, dirt and other debris from the coat. Many cats may only need to be bathed a few times in their lifetime. Brushing is a vital part of pet care, as it works to distribute the natural oils of the skin throughout the coat, promoting a healthier coat, and cleaner skin.

In addition the direct benefits your pets coat, brushing may help to point out any abnormalities in your pets body, such as sores, growths or bald spots. While you may not notice any lumps or bumps that have appeared on your pet, regular grooming can help to detect a problem, and insure that if a lump does appear, you are aware of it sooner rather than later. A veterinarian should check any growth or lump you or your groomer notices on your pet, to rule out cancer and other potentially dangerous conditions. Early detection can be crucial in a positive outcome to an otherwise deadly health scare.

During the course of the grooming process, the groomer will pay special attention to your pets’ ears, eyes, mouth, teeth, pads and perianal region- areas you probably don’t notice much in daily life.

Longhair dogs and even some cats tend to grow hair deep in the ear canal, and this hair can trap bacteria, causing irritation and ear infections. Your groomer will “pluck” this hair, and often do a cursory clean of the ears checking for anything abnormal. If ear discharge or redness is noticed, this can be relayed to you, so that you know that veterinary attention may be necessary to treat your pets’ ear problem.

Many long hair pets tend to grow excessive amounts of hair between their feet and paw pads, as well as around the perianal (anus) area. Excessive hair in these places can lead to hygiene problems, tangling of hair, accumulation of dirt and stickers in the hair, and even cause problems defecating and urinating. Your groomer may trim around these areas, helping to prevent problems before they can develop.

Breeds of dogs such as Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese and Shih Tzu’s will grow long hair on the face, mouth and eyes, and left untrimmed this hair can become matted with food particles and saliva. In addition, studies have shown that dogs with hair that is frequently in their eyes have a greater chance of developing eye infections, glaucoma and cataracts. Strategic trimming of the hair around the eyes is aesthetically pleasing, and helps to prevent health problems down the road.

Most dogs and cats don’t naturally wear down their nails fast enough to keep up with nail growth, and as a result most pets need regular nail trimming in order to keep their nails at the optimum length. Long nails are the most common cause of chiropractic problems in cats and dogs, and can contribute to joint pain and stiffness. Your pets body has been designed to walk with his pads on the floor, not the nails. If your dogs’ nails are touching the ground, his nails are too long. If you can hear the nails clicking on the floor, they are too long. Regular clipping will help to prevent problems associated with long nails.

Your groomer will clip your pets’ nails, and their skill and experience can often get them shorter than you can at home. A dremel tool may also be used, to help further shorten the nails, and blunt the edges to eliminate those sharp, newly cut nail scratches!

In addition to health benefits, a professional grooming can greatly improve the cleanliness and hygiene of your pet. While you may bathe your pet at home regularly, most groomers utilize a bathing system. These systems are specially made to allow water and shampoo to penetrate even the thickest coats of hair, evenly spreading shampoo throughout the coat. Special hoses and water nozzles “massage” the soap throughout the coat, getting the coat cleaner than any hand wash could. In addition, the bathing systems are much faster than traditional bathing, shortening the time your pet may spend stressed out in the tub.

If your dog has long hair, or is prone to tangles or a dry coat, a coat conditioner may be used as a second step to the bathing process. Conditioners can help to manage the hair and make it softer, allowing for mats and tangles to be more easily removed, along with re-moisturizing the coat.

While in the bath, some groomers may take the opportunity to express your pets’ anal glands. The anal glands are two small sacks just inside your pets’ anus, and are filled with a foul smelling “scent fingerprint” that animals use to identify each other in the wild. Routine emptying of these sacs can help to prevent unwanted smells, as well as potential side effects from impacted or ruptured anal glands that go unemptied.

Finally, bathing your pet provides an opportunity for an impartial set of eyes to point out any issues or problems you many not have noticed with your pet. We live with our pets, and often don’t notice right away if they begin to gain or loose weight, or gradually take up new behaviors. Your groomer has the advantage of only seeing your pet occasionally, and as such may notice if Fido has packed on a few pounds, or if Kitty has fleas that need to be treated.

There are many benefits to having your dog or cat groomed. While frequency will depend on your pets breed, coat type or lifestyle, regular grooming sessions will help your pet to remain a healthy, clean companion to you.

Article By: Kelly Marshall
(Photo by ©iStockphoto.com/elliotwestacott)

When you are getting a new puppy, there is bound to be some excitement. In all the excitement, forgetting certain important items is bound to happen. One way to avoid forgetting to buy these important items is to make a list and keep it where you can add things as you think of them. Keep in mind that not everything your puppy will need has to be bought at one time. Remember that not everything is a need, rather a want. Here are a few things that will be needed in preparation for the arrival of your new puppy.

Food and water are definitely a necessity, along with a bowl or two to keep them in. Make sure you choose a food that is specifically for puppies. This puppy food will help your dog grow strong and healthy, and is easier to chew and digest. Water is also very important to a dog, so make sure there are two bowls, one for food and one for water.

Buying a leash and collar for your puppy is also a very good idea. Make sure you get a leash and collar that is the proper size for your puppy. Getting a collar that fits your dog properly is very important. The leash and collar will be important for taking your dog outside to go potty, and go for walks. You don’t want to just let the dog go outside loose, or he may run and get lost. If you plan on going on walks, chances are you will also need to get a pooper scooper, due to the increasing places where it is required that you pick up after your dog.

A way to confine your dog is also something you will want to think about. If you are at work and have your dog indoors or outdoors, either way you will need a way to confine the dog. If you keep the puppy inside, a gate comes in very handy. The gate will keep your dog in one room of the house. A room with hard floor that is easily cleaned is a good choice. If your dog is to be outside dog, a fenced yard is a great idea which can give the dog plenty of room to play. If your dog is an outside dog, some sort of shelter from the weather is a good idea. You can decide on either a dog house, a corner under your deck, or any other option you can think of.

Cleaners for your dog and your carpet will also be needed. Your new puppy is bound to have accidents while the housebreaking is taking place and cleaner will be needed to properly clean up the messes so they don’t stain and smell. Shampoo will also be needed to keep the dog smelling and looking clean. In addition to the shampoo, a brush is used to groom the dog after the bath.

A couple other items your puppy will need are some toys he can chew on and play with. If your puppy does not have toys, he will chew on anything he can get his teeth on. Your puppy may chew on other things even if he does have toys to chew on so beware. A bed for your dog to sleep on is also a good idea. You can buy a dog bed, or use a big pillow and blanket, whichever you prefer.

Article Source: http://animalarticles.com

Kelly Marshall is the author of the Dog Food Recall Guide – a comprehensive report on the dog food scare that answers all your questions. The report is free to the public.

By:Ashley Peach ( Originally Posted at the Animal Pets and Friends Website. ) Photograph ©iStockphoto.com/photojay

Dogs often complete our families and offer plenty of companionship when we need it. There are so many dog breeds out there that it can be difficult to determine which dog is right for your family. You may feel you need a dog for protection, fun, or just someone to talk with when you are alone. There are many reasons for you to adopt a dog, but there are also many things you should learn about that dog breed before you consider adopting them. Below we will look at a few reasons you should be careful in adopting a dog or certain dog breeds for the type of family you have.

There are working dogs, herders, toy breeds, small and large dogs. In order to decide the type of dog you will want to have you have to understand what the dog needs in the way of care. To do this you have to understand their temperament and the type of training they will need. You will also want to learn about their lifespan and certain disorders they may be prone to.

The most important aspect of adopting a dog is going to be finding the information on the dog breeds you are interested in. There are many sites that will help give you a general idea online, but you should really speak with a vet or a dog breeder to determine what type of dog would fit best in your home. You should ask yourself a few questions about the setting you will be bringing the adoptive dog into. Do you and your family work all day, often more than eight hours? Are you living in an apartment, condo, small home, and do you have a backyard? Can you afford the proper care needed for your dog? If you have answered yes that you have the budget you are part way to deciding what type of dog you will want to have.

As mentioned there are several different dog breeds and sizes. If you are living in a small place without a yard you will not want a larger dog breed like a German Shepherd, Alaskan Malamute, Neapolitan Mastiff, or even a Greyhound. These dogs require space to run and exercise. Therefore a smaller breed or toy dog breed like the Papillon will do a lot better for.

If you work long hours you will want a dog that is more sedentary and that doesn’t require a lot of attention from its owner. Dogs that really want attention are going to turn destructive when they get bored or fear you have left them. With dogs you really have to be committed to spending at least an hour a day with them if not more in a general setting.

You will also want to ask yourself how much training you wish the dog to go through. Some dogs are fine with a little obedience training, but others will require socialization, and dominance training as well. This means you will need to find the time for these classes and to keep up with the skills.

Before determining what dog breed you should bring into the home you should do an extensive research session on the dog breed you are interested in. You will also want to spend time with the different dog breeds to see if both you and the dog can get along well. In the final stages of deciding whether you can provide proper training and care for the dog breed you should spend time with one specific dog that has caught your eye. Making an educated decision is very important.

Author’s Resource:

Ashley Peach
Dog Supplies – Dog Training Equipment – Dog Beds

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