Birthday Gifts for Pets

Grooming Tips To Give Your Furry Friend The Spa Treatment At Home

19 May 2017

Madison Adams

You shower every single day, sometimes more than once per day. You get your hair cut monthly, and probably go for a manicure/pedicure a few times per year. What about your fuzzy BFF? How many times as he gone to the groomer to be professionally bathed, trimmed, and have his nails clipped? If the answer is not at all, you're not the only one. Most people don't think to take their dog to the groomer or to a doggy spa, or maybe you have, but can't afford the services. You can give your dog the spa treatment at home by following the tips below.

Bathing 

You can give your dog a bath outside or inside, the choice is yours. If you give him a bath outside, be sure to put a leash on him and try to keep him in one place. Most dogs see the hose and think it's play time, so it may be harder to keep him still. Also be sure if giving a bath outside that the weather is warm enough. That water in the hose is like ice, so if it's cold outside, you're going to freeze your poor pup. Use warm water if bathing inside, and dog shampoo. Never use human shampoo on your pup. Wet his coat, then add shampoo to your hand, then rub it into the coat. Work your way from the top of his back to his belly, then his legs and tail. When shampooing his head, be gentle around his face and ears. Never spray water directly in his ears. When finished shampooing, rinse thoroughly until you no longer see any lather. Use towels to dry your pup, or a blow dryer set to the coolest setting.

Brushing

Use a dog brush to brush out your dog's fur. After bathing your dog, you may notice an excessive amount of shedding. Use the brush to get rid of this excess and other shedding fur so it doesn't come off inside your home. If your dog has longer fur such as a Labrador Retriever or Golden Retriever, you can invest in a special tool that gets rid of the fur beneath the topcoat. If your dog needs to be trimmed, it's best to leave it to a professional groomer. They have the tools to trim your dog's fur the proper way without causing pain or injury to your dog.

Nail Trimming

Trim your dog's nails at home using a nice sharp pair of dog nail clippers. When clipping, be sure to clip them at an angle, and only clip the tip. If you clip them too far into the quick, they can bleed. If your dog's nails bleed, you can create a paste using baking soda and water to apply to the nail to help stop the bleeding. Hold your dog's paw in your hand and gently apply pressure to help steady the paw and to get the nail to extend fully. You may need a helper if your dog isn't too keen on having his nails clipped.

Give your dog the spa treatment at home to make him feel not just clean, but loved and cared for as well. Your fuzzy buddy deserves it. Check out places like Spring Hill Veterinary Clinic for more tips.

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