The professional grooming sessions provided by different dog salons usually costs every owner around $50 to $60 per session. This sounds a bit expensive right? If money is your concern, why not try to groom your dog all by yourself. You did not just save $50 to $60; you also had the opportunity to bond with your lovely pet.
Here’s how you do it.
1. Be comfortable. Before handling your pet, you must ask yourself, Am I comfortable with what I do? There are a lot of people who love dogs but are not comfortable in giving the proper grooming to their pet. This greatly affects the pet in the long run so try to love what you do and be comfortable as much as possible in providing care.
2. Start cleaning the nails. Most dogs do not like short nails and they often dislike having their paws handled. Do not be afraid to trim it short. Depending on the rate of the dog’s nail growth, it should be regularly trimmed because veins will eventually grow longer in the dead part of the nail. When this happens, there is a big chance that the nails will bleed when it is cut.
3. Don’t forget the ears. Ears can be a good medium for bacterial and yeast growth. Keeping it clean on a regular basis will minimize ear infections. Instead of using cotton swabs, use a cotton ball with alcohol to clean the dog’s ears and do not go deeper as it could hurt his ear drum. If any signs of infections are present such as red ear drums or a foul smelling ear, report it immediately to the veterinarian for possible treatments. Ears are vital organs of the dog to hear so make sure to keep it clean and keep it away from any kinds of infections.
4. Bathe the dog. It is recommended to bathe the dog to keep him clean and to get rid of ticks and dirt. However, it should be done once or twice a week, depending on the veterinarian’s advice. There are also recommended shampoos or soaps for the dog so use only what is advised to minimize allergic reactions caused by the harsh chemicals of it.
5. Brush up. It is necessary to brush the dog‘s hair often to prevent tangling and matting. Regardless of the hair type, brushing helps prevent hair build up and any excess shedding. Do not also forget to brush the dog’s teeth with a specialized toothbrush recommended by the veterinarian. Dogs tend to eat a lot and keeping it clean will minimize bacterial build up and infections.
6. Lastly, give your dog a haircut. Some dogs like Poodle and Shih Tzu have hairs that continually grow. Give him/her a haircut for at least 2 to 4 weeks and style it according to what you desire.
You can make your dog clean and beautiful without overspending. Just make sure to regularly check your pet to a veterinarian to keep him/her away from sickness.
