How to Groom Your Pet at Home?

Some animals never learn. Despite all of your efforts, they’ll continue to roll about on road kill and chase after the occasional skunk. The dog bath is a must-have skill if you can’t afford to take your pet to the groomer regularly (or the cat bath, as the case may be).

Additionally, because dogs cannot use emery boards, it’s a good idea to practice trimming your pet’s nails as well.

Grooming your pet at home may be a lot easier with the following ideas.

1. Keep your cool and keep the treats coming

You and your pet will both benefit from a stress-free grooming session. You may start with short sessions and reward your pet for being quiet with praise or a high-value incentive.

Try to keep your dog or cat as free as possible so that they do not feel stifled. If your pet displays indications of pain or stress, you may need to try again the following day.

2. Regularly brush your pet

It takes just a few minutes of brushing to eliminate dirt and dead hair while also dispersing oils that keep the skin and coat moisturized. Those with long hair and double-coated dogs that “blow coat,” or lose their undercoats yearly, may need more brushing than others.

The less hair you have to vacuum, the fewer lint rollers you need for your clothes, the lower your risk of walking on a damp hairball on your bare feet, and the better off you will be with regular brushing.

For this purpose, you can also use pet anti-shedding gloves for better and faster results.

3. Keep an eye out for hair mats

Hair that becomes matted may cause discomfort and irritation to the skin. Mats are more common in elderly, arthritic dogs because they are unable to extend to reach difficult-to-clean areas.

It is also more difficult for dogs to keep warm in the cooler months because of the lack of insulation provided by matt hairs. Make sure you don’t cut your pet’s skin when removing mats with scissors since it’s simple to inadvertently do so.

The hair should be held between the skin and the mat to avoid the skin from being pulled. Start at the outside of the mat and work your way toward the center using a metal comb.

4. Plan regular baths

Some animals need more frequent bathing than others. Generally speaking, cats do an excellent job grooming themselves. Regular bathing may be beneficial for certain dogs, though, such as those with skin issues.

5. Use pet shampoo

Unlike human shampoo, pet shampoos are formulated to meet the specific pH requirements of dog and cat skin. Your veterinarian may suggest a therapeutic shampoo if your pet has an oily coat, is itchy, or has other skin concerns.

6. When skunked, avoid tomato juice

As an alternative, you might bathe your skunk-scented pet in the combination of 1 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup mild dishwashing detergent, and 3% hydrogen peroxide.

7. Regularly trim nails

Your dog’s nails might be worn down by regular walks on cement roads and sidewalks. You may also use scratching posts to assist your cat get rid of the dead outer sheath on its claws. However, you’ll probably have to trim your pet’s nails at some time.

Cat nails may curl back and penetrate the paw pads if they aren’t regularly trimmed. This can be uncomfortable and lead to an infection.

It’s time to clip your dog’s nails when you hear them clicking on the wooden floor. As soon as your pet seems relaxed, begin touching their paws one at a time and rewarding them with praise or goodies. Afterward, proceed to touch the paw with the nail trimmer and reward it with a treat.

Trim one nail at a time until you’re comfortable with it. Then, as your pet permits, progressively cut the rest of the nails. A clipper is preferable over a dremel rotary, power tool because it produces less noise and is typically quicker.

8. Avoid the quick

To prevent damaging the delicate blood vessels and nerves in your pet’s nails, do not cut the quick. Keep making little incisions until you detect a black dot in the middle of your pet’s nails if they have dark nails.

That’s a sign that you’re getting close to the finish line. If you accidentally cut the quick of your pet nail, use styptic powder or cornstarch to stop the bleeding.

Professional grooming may be necessary if your pet requires an unusual cut or is too stressed out to handle at-home grooming or else our quick guide on how to groom your pet at home would be enough.

Just make sure to use proper tools, one of which is pet anti-shedding gloves to make your life easier while grooming your pet at home.