Regular grooming visits for animal health

Posted Thursday, April 07, 2016

Grooming is a vital part in the well-being and healthiness of a dog which can improve their lifespan. All breeds require daily grooming (eg. Brushing and combing), how much depends on the breed, age or health of the dog. Regular grooming helps to ensure the dog is healthy and comfortable.

DE-SHEDDING FOR MOULTING BREEDS

The importance of de-shedding moulting breeds will improve healthy skin and a shiny coat. Moulting can be a seasonal 3 monthly cycle, however it can vary with different breed types eg. Alaskan malamutes or huskies can show clumping areas on the body of dead, unwanted hair. De-shedding with the right tools will slow down the moulting process - regular grooming with tools such as undercoat rakes, combs and de-shedding/sprays, hydro-bathing and high velocity blow-drying will assist in this process. For a de-shed we recommend getting your dog professionally groomed between 4-8 weeks.

Double coated breeds such as border collies, shepherds, malamutes, Pomeranians etc. SHOULD NOT be clipped in general and we would highly recommend not doing so – this can cause damage to the hair follicle resulting in a condition called ‘post-clippering alopecia’. If they do however get clipped due to heavy mats, there is no guarantee the coat will ever grow back to the original condition.

MAIN REASONS FOR REGULAR GROOMING OF YOUR DOG:

• Reduces infestation of parasites on the skin. 
• Removing a build-up of loose, moulting coat. 
• Helps prevent the coat from matting/tangling. 
• Certain breeds require scissoring and trimming to maintain breed style. 
• Shampooing and conditioning will maintain the coat from drying out - wire or course coated breeds eg. Schnauzers, terriers, westies etc. will not require as much conditioning but need to be clipped or stripped out to maintain breed style. 
• Old dogs can be clipped on a regular basis in the hotter months for comfort. 

We recommend getting your dog clipped regularly between 4-6 weeks.