Grooming your pets is an essential pillar of pet care that can often be overlooked. It’s often thought that the only benefit of grooming your pet is to make them look nice and clean, but there’s much more to it. Not only are there benefits of grooming your pets related to appearance but also physical health, emotional and psychological, and behavioral benefits all of which can help extend your pet’s life as well as increase their health and happiness. It’s suggested to have your dog fully groomed every 6-8 weeks with either daily or weekly brushing depending on the coat length. Cats require less brushing but more for long-haired cats as excessive grooming of themselves can lead to furballs (and no one wants that). In this blog, we'll explore the key benefits of grooming your pet and why it's necessary for their happiness and longevity.
Pro Tip: Double-coated breeds like Huskies and German Shepherds need their coat blown out during the warmer months to keep them comfortable.
1. Physical Health Benefits
Preventative Care
Pets that don’t undergo regular grooming are more likely to develop skin issues , as grooming helps remove dead skin and dandruff while promoting a healthy coat and preventing matting. Matting is very uncomfortable for dogs and cats, potentially leading to painful skin infections and making it harder to move. While cats don’t require as much grooming as dogs, it’s important to regularly brush longer-haired and senior cats who may struggle to groom themselves, reducing matting and shedding, especially in warm weather months.
It also prevents other health issues that can arise as a result of poor grooming. Long nails can result in joint pain, bone deformations, and poor posture. Dirty ears can lead to ear infections and poor dental hygiene can often cause dental disease. Cats can usually keep their nails trim by scratching but they can still benefit from a quick clip if needed. If you can’t trim your dog’s nails, a professional groomer or vet can assist. Keep ears clean from dirt, debris, and wax with natural ear cleaning wipes, and ensure those teeth shine bright with dental wipes.
Early Detection
On top of all of this, regular grooming can help with the early detection of health issues, whether by you or a professional groomer. Professional groomers usually give pets a quick exam for things like lumps, rashes, moles, inflammation, lesions, and more which can give you a jump start on proper care.
2. Emotional and Psychological Benefits
Bonding
Bathtime and grooming is a perfect opportunity to bond with your pet, although your dog may be up for bonding a bit more than your cat who likely just wants out of the situation. Give them some extra love and attention while working to build trust. The HICC Pet® Grooming Gloves Wipes were created to create a better grooming experience with your pet as they allow you to clean them while simply petting them to make that process even easier.
Reduce Stress and Anxiety
Pets who enjoy the grooming process can let go of their stress and anxiety during their spa day. The warm water and brushing can calm them, plus in the end, they’ll feel better at the end of the process whether they’re a fan of it or not!
If your pet isn’t a fan of the grooming process, you should work on positive reinforcement and association while desensitizing to the various aspects such as water, a nail dremel, and a brush.
3. Behavioral Benefits
More benefits of grooming your pets are the behavioral benefits. For one, pets who are better groomed often feel better overall. Their fur is lighter, not matted and their nails are nice and trimmed. Pets who are exposed to regular grooming whether it be by you or a professional make them more comfortable with being touched and handled which can be a benefit at the vet as well as translate into other situations. Just remember to provide treats for positive reinforcement for being so good!
Regular grooming provides multiple behavioral benefits for your pet. For one, pets who are better groomed often feel better overall. Their fur is lighter, not matted and their nails are nice and trimmed. Pets who are exposed to regular grooming whether it be by you or a professional make them more comfortable with being touched and handled which can be a benefit at the vet as well as translate into other situations. Just remember to provide treats for positive reinforcement for being so good!
4. Aesthetic and Practical Benefits
It’s obvious that regular grooming will not only make your pet feel better but also look better. A shinier, fluffier coat, nice and clean eyes, ears and fur. A great looking pet also reflects on you as an owner who obviously cares about their pet enough to keep them properly groomed.
Plus, there’s a myriad of practical benefits which include less fur and dander around your home, fewer claws in furniture, fewer odors, and more. Keeping pets clean on a regular basis presents your home from becoming dirty as well. This can be done by wiping down their paws after a walk or even their booty with anal gland wipes for those dogs who make a little mess back there.
Conclusion
The benefits of grooming your pet go beyond having them look good, it’s a vital part of their overall health and well-being. It can prevent and catch certain health issues such as skin issues or new lumps but it can also create a better bond between you and your pet while promoting better behavior and even contributing to a cleaner home environment. By incorporating regular grooming into your pet care routine, you can ensure a happier, healthier, and longer life for your beloved friend.
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