Keep Your Pets Clean, Keep Your Home Clean

Many of our clients have pets and ask us for advice on keeping their home clean of fur. So we've consulted with our favorite pet groomer for some tips to help keep your pet clean so you can keep your home clean!

Marcy Belcher is a talented grommer working at Emerson Pet Clinic. She's a talented artis and mom to two fur babies of her own.

Take it away, Marcy!

A subject like this can get very long, so I’ll keep it short, simple and sweet with the three basic things to remember.

• Introduce ASAP!

Practice grooming early in a dog or cat’s life. Introduce them to the brushes, bath and other processes at home where they feel safe with you. Give them praise and/or small rewards to reaffirm for them that the experience is positive, making it more likely they will enjoy future grooming. Many breeds may require professional haircuts throughout their lives to maintain a happy, healthy coat, or sometimes our pets need a little something extra in their groom. Don’t be afraid to take your pets to a groomer. Many places will take them as early as 8 weeks old or sooner! If you have an older or special needs pet, find a groomer that can work with you or offer advice on what would work best for you and your pet. And don’t shy away from shopping around! Finding a good match for your pet can take time, but like a good hair stylist, they’re worth it!

• Brushing: Tangles, Mats & Shedding

All dogs, and many cats, need some home brushing, even if they have short hair! Many coats both shed and can get tangled if not kept brushed out, and if the coat doesn’t do one, it will 100% do the other! Medium-to-long hair dogs will need metal-toothed combs to get through all that length of hair at least once a week (but every couple days is better!) to help work out those tangles and prevent matting; most long-coated breeds will also shed either year around or drop a LOT of coat during fall and spring. Short hair dogs may not get tangles in their hair, but they will definitely shed. To keep any shedding to a minimum, the rubber brushes like the “Zoom Groom” by Kong are the best. They can be used forward, backward, wet or dry. While all cats tend to keep themselves well groomed, keep in mind that the longer or thick-coated cats may still need help keeping those coats maintained. And a cat that is older or not feeling well may not keep up on its grooming.

• Bathing, Shampoos & More!

Unlike us, our pets don’t need baths as often as we do. Outside confirmed medical conditions diagnosed by a vet, dogs should not be bathed more often than once a month, and most cats keep themselves clean enough to never need one! Also be sure to use pet specific shampoos, conditioners and cologne sprays. Human products are not made for use on pets, and can cause irritation, allergic reactions, flaking and dryness, sores, damaged hair, or even hair loss.

And that’s it! That is a great foundation to pet grooming for their happiness and healthiness. As a certified pet groomer, I see all types. My appointments leave my salon excited and feeling super because they’re clean and smelling great, and you can do a lot of these at home for your own babies! Just don’t be surprised when you pets start prancing around because they feel so good!

#pets #bathing #cleanpets