Pet Grooming News

Brushing, Bathing and Bonding with your Pet

January 4, 2008 on 4:19 pm | In Dog Grooming |

There is no better time to “bond” with your furry companion than grooming time. Your dog’s care should include regular bathing and grooming.

Brushing

Your companion will benefit from even a few minutes daily with brush or comb. You can incorporate your pet’s care into your daily routine with these few minutes of brushing and the rewards your reap are twofold:

Bonding opportunity
Checking your pet for any signs of illness, i.e. rash, bumps, cuts, sores, ticks, etc.

You want to make sure that you select the right type of brush or comb for your particular breed. A rubber grooming mitt can be very helpful, it removes loose hair and massages the skin to promote a healthy coat. The most important thing that is happening here is that you are spending time with your pet. You can feel every inch of his or her body to make sure that everything is as it should be. In tick season this is extremely important. You may find one of these “visitors” on your pet and be able to eliminate it right away.

To eliminate a tick from your pet’s coat you can take a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol and squeeze this over the tick as it rests in your pet. This will anesthetized the tick releasing its hold on your pet. Then you can carefully remove the tick with a tweezers. Have an ashtray or other fireproof container handy so that you can then burn the tick you have removed. I usually treat the area with a bit of over-the-counter antibiotic ointment. The ointment will not harm your pet if the tick was removed in a place your pet will lick.

Bathing

You may opt to use a professional groomer for your pet instead of handling the bathing process yourself. This is advisable for your pet’s care if the animal is very large or has a very long, thick or difficult coat to clean. If you are not physically able to handle the bathing process, do take this into account. There are very good professional groomer’s available. Get recommendations from your Vet or satisfied customer(s).
When you do decide that it is time for a bath there is no need to play “tug of war” with your pet. Start planning bathing sessions when the animal is young or when your first adopt him or her. You need to reassure your pet that the bath will be fun. You may have ample space in your bathroom to put your pet in the tub. If the pet is smaller the kitchen sink will do nicely. I am not a fan of bathing the animal in a tub outside. They deserve the comfort and safety of bathing indoors like their human companions. Make this time fun by setting it up with a joyful attitude on your part and offer your pet a cookie or other favorite treat.

Some things to have on hand:

- Good quality pet shampoo
- Clipping scissors
- Lots of clean dry towels (I use old bath towels that I save and launder for this purpose).
- A cup or container to use for rinsing. If you have the type of shower nozzle attachment that has a flexible tubing that is even better, but not necessary.
- A pet dryer or hair dryer if you and your pet like to use this. Otherwise a good rubbing with bath towels will do the trick.
- The pet combs and brushes that you and your pet like to use for your pets coat.

Make sure the bath water is not too hot. As soon as the pet is settled in the tub or sink, gently pour a little water over their back while you tell them “This is fun, this is nice baby”. I talk constantly to my pets while I bathe them, just like I would to a little child. They need reassurance about this strange event. After several baths your pet will just be so laid back about the whole process.

Make sure to “set-up” before the bath. You do not want to be running for towels, scissors (for clipping snags and matting), washcloth, or whatever else you want to have on hand as you bathe your pet. Organization is an important aspect of the bathing process. The key is to have your pet relaxed and enjoying the process, not worried because you are running off for something you forgot. Plus you run the risk of your companion leaping out of the tub or sink and doing harm to themselves. You also want to assure that other pets are o.k. on their own while you are concentrating on this task. Your small children if you have them should be included in watching Mom or Dad give the family pet a bath. The family pet is the family responsibility. You do not want any distractions from the job at hand. This will upset the sense of security you are trying to create for your pet companion.

A top quality pet shampoo is something you should look for. When you visit the Vet you will want to discuss what might be best for your particular pet as regards breed, skin type, etc.

When you are ready to dry your pet off make sure you are careful in helping or lifting the animal out of the tub or sink. I find it helpful to save all my old bath towels. I put these around the floor in the bathroom when I bathe a pet in there. This way they have some traction when they come out of the tub wet. For my smaller breeds I have towels piled by the sink and after they are thoroughly rinsed, I wrap a towel around them and lift them to the kitchen table where I have more towels or an old flannel sheet to stand them while we dry off.

Remember that bathing and grooming need not be chores. Your dog’s care can be opportunities for you and your pet companion to bond and for you to make sure that your pet is in the best of health at all times.

Author: Sharon M. Sottile