Regular grooming important for pet's health

BY DR. SHAWN MESSONNIER

Q: I don't get my dog groomed on a regular basis. However, I've heard from several friends that regular grooming might benefit my pet medically in addition to the cosmetic aspect. Is this true? Are there medical reasons to have pets groomed?

A: Grooming, which includes brushing and combing, bathing, clipping nails, and cleaning your pet's ears and eyes, is important for several reasons. Regular grooming can increase the bonding between owners and their pets, which is important for all involved.


There are, of course, medical benefits to regular grooming. Preventing the coat from matting can decrease skin disease. Bathing cleanses the skin and hair, and removes foreign substances, such as yeast, bacteria, parasites and allergens from the pet. Cleaning out the ears decreases the chance of ear infections. Clipping your pet's nails prevents disorders of the feet, including lameness, which can occur if the nail growth is excessive.

I know that many pet owners can't do all of these procedures for their pets, because the pets have not been properly trained to allow grooming and may struggle.

If you'd like to try any of these procedures at home, first ask your veterinarian to show you how to safely perform them. Starting slowly is the key; if the experience is pleasant the pet won't fight you. But, if you don't feel capable of performing them, these procedures can be done by the veterinarian or groomer. I encourage you to get comfortable with as many grooming procedures as possible, however, because it really helps reinforce the bond between you and your pet, and also can prevent behavioral problems.

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via www.fortwayne.com