Through
the winter months your dog's grooming needs remain important.
Clipping
It is sometimes tempting to leave your dog's coat long for the winter,
thinking that he/she needs the warmth, but this is not always the
best thing for your pet.
Long
coats are high maintenance coats, they take longer to dry, tangle
more easily and collect debris. Your pet will more often than not
return from a walk wet, and with mud, leaves, clinging to the coat.
He or she will need to get dry and warm in order to be comfortable.
For the dog that is regularly groomed/clipped, this is not a problem,
a quick towel dry and brush does the job.
Longer coats can take hours to dry naturally so may need
to be blow dried and brushed thoroughly. If the long coat
remains unbrushed it will very quickly form mats, which
in turn trap moisture and dirt and can cause infection and
harbour parasites. A matted coat is a nightmare for a pet,
as he/she will be unable to clean properly, will be itchy
and sore, and suffer restricted movement. Worse still, a
matted coat can hide injuries that need treatment. This
is not the warm fluffy winter's coat which the owner envisaged. |
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So continue the grooming regime as usual, and your dog will be clipped
and clean for the winter, easy to bathe, easy to dry, easy to check
for health issues, and easy to pop a warm jacket/jumper on for walks
in the very cold or wet weather.
Bathing
and Brushing
In the winter dogs require bathing as often as in the summer,
for the health of the skin and coat. Dogs can suffer from
central heating related dry skin, so a conditioning dog
shampoo is a good choice. A conditioner formulated for dogs
will help keep the skin and hair in good condition.
For dogs that are kennelled outdoors, and other dogs that
keep their long coat, daily brushing is necessary to maintain
the condition of the coat. |
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Foot
and Pad Care
The hair that grows between the pads can grow long and matted
if left unattended, causing discomfort to the dog, who may chew
at the foot. Overgrown hair may disguise foot problems such as
long and ingrowing nails and injury to the foot. Regular professional
grooming will help maintain foot health and hygiene for your pet.
We all owe so much to our animal companions, meeting their grooming
needs is a great way to help keep them comfortable and happy all
year round.
Submitted by Sue Gardner of Mutley Makeovers (Tamworth)
www.mutleymakeovers.com
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