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Grooming Your Pet As
good pet owners, we all know that proper care of our pets is essential
for their good health and well-being. Visits to the veterinarian,
proper diet and exercise are essential parts of this plan, as is the
grooming of your pet. Whether
you choose to do the grooming yourself or take your pet to a
professional depends on several factors, which include your dog’s breed
and coat type, your lifestyle, and your budget. Breed and coat type: Many breeds, such as the Poodle, the Bichon Frise, the
Maltese, and many others, have high-maintenance coats that truly need
the experience of a professional groomer to stay in top shape. Many a
new pet owner has been surprised at how quickly the coat of one of
these breeds can become matted beyond saving, with the result being a
complete shave-down. These breeds require home maintenance as well as
professional grooming, unless the visits to the groomer are very
frequent, such as every two weeks. Brushing at home is essential for
nearly EVERY breed; as a professional will only groom your pet, on
average, every 6-8 weeks. Therefore, it is necessary to brush the dog
at least a few times per week, taking care to use the proper type of
brush, and brushing all the way to the skin. Don’t forget ears and
tail! Also, the average pet owner is not willing to invest the hundreds
of dollars in equipment that is needed to properly care for one of
these breeds. Professional clippers, shears, and high-velocity dryers
are only a few of the tools we use every single day to transform pets
into beauties! Lifestyle:
“Busy” is a word that describes nearly every family today, with parents
working, kids in school and with activities that take up, it seems,
nearly every minute of the day. But having a pet as a family member
means that we need to consider their health and overall appearance as
well. There are many ways a groomer can lower the daily maintenance
required in the grooming of your pet. First, choosing the appropriate
breed for your family is the most important place to start; but beyond
that, many different styles of haircuts exist to make your job easier,
brushing to a minimum, and shedding under control. We recommend what we
like to call a “medium short” haircut on those breeds whose hair can
grow very long (Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Poodle, Bichon, Yorkie,
etc.). This means that you can still have the pretty coat that makes
these breeds so beautiful, while keeping the upkeep to a minimum. We
are happy to work with you to find a style that suits your lifestyle
and the pet’s appearance and coat type. Also, both short and
long-haired dogs will benefit from de-shedding treatments and frequent
toenail trims. Busy families are the ones who most appreciate the
services of a professional. Budget:
Professional pet grooming can be expensive. However, if you work with
your pet groomer, it will be much less so, as the frequency of the
visits will be much less, and there will be no extra “special treatment
fees” for a pet who may be terribly matted. This involves very frequent
home maintenance, including brushing, bathing, and ear cleaning. Perhaps older children or teens could
be enlisted, with supervision of course, to take over this chore. We
believe it promotes bonding with the child’s pet, and offers awareness
of the responsibilities of lifelong pet ownership. We will be more than
happy to show you the proper brushing techniques for your particular
breed, and to recommend the type of brush and comb you will need. We
also offer between-grooms toenail trims; it would be advisable to call
before coming to the clinic for this, to ensure that the groomer is
available. Grooming
is an important part of pet ownership. Different breeds have different
requirements; but they all must be cared for with bathing, nail
trimming, ear cleaning, and, depending upon the breed, clipping and
styling of the coat. We are here to advise and help you with this aspect of caring for your pet!
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