Regular grooming is advantageous for your pets to help keep their health and well-being, along with their appearance. It involves bathing, brushing fur and teeth, trimming nails, cleaning ears, and other hygienic tasks to help keep them in good shape and clean. However, it is necessary to follow the proper methods to avoid getting injured or being uncomfortable.
How to Groom and Bathe Young Pets Properly
Similar to puppy and kitten care, there’s practically no difference in the steps in grooming them. But you need to know that dogs are often less troublesome to wash and comb than cats due to their fur and the fact that they are not as sensitive as cats.
Here’s a detailed overview of grooming and bathing kittens and puppies:
- Start grooming your kitten at around six months, as they are noise-sensitive and edgy. Younger ones may be too afraid of the process, especially when using a blower. It is also when they’re no longer teething and all adult teeth have come out.
- For puppies, you can give their first proper grooming session after your puppy’s first checkup and vaccinations at the vet. This makes sure they are not in danger of catching any transmittable diseases.
- Gently comb their fur in the direction the coat grows using a soft-bristled brush to remove tangles and dirt. A rubber brush can aid in removing dead hair on kittens and puppies with short fur. Concentrate on their feet, tail, and face to make sure all dirt is removed.
- Bathe them with warm water in a safe and secure container. Use a mild shampoo formulated specifically for cats or dogs and gently rub it into their fur to prevent irritation. Avoid getting suds into their ears and eyes, as the soap irritates them.
- Use a damp towel to clean areas around the eyes, ears, and anus.
- Dry up with a clean cloth and use a blower set on a cool mode to finish off. Make it a habit to give your kittens baths and brushes every 6 to 12 weeks, especially long-haired ones like Persians and British longhair. On the other hand, bathe your pups not more than once a month unless necessary.
- Trim your pet’s nails using a nail clipper or grinder designed for dogs or cats. If you can’t do it by yourself or don’t have time, bring them to certified groomers and discover the benefits of grooming your pet with the assistance of experts.
- Brush your pet’s teeth approximately twice or thrice a week using pet-friendly toothpaste.
Techniques on Grooming and Bathing Senior Pets
11 to 14-year-old pet cats are classified as elderly and geriatric at 15 to 25 years of age. On the other hand, bigger breeds of dogs are considered senior at 7 to 10 years old and geriatric at ten and above. Additionally, smaller breeds are considered elderly at 11 to 12 and geriatric at 12 years old and above. To help keep them in good health, clean, and content, they need geriatric care and additional attention to their grooming. You can also check out this link for more details.
Here’s how you can correctly bathe and groom a senior pet:
- Brush their coat in one direction using a soft-bristled brush to get rid of tangles and dirt. You can use a rubber brush for short-haired pets as these are gentler on joints but still remove shedding hair.
- Bath them with pet shampoo for seniors or elderly pets. Use warm water during bathing, as hot water may cause discomfort and irritation. Use a calm voice and mild strokes to calm your pet.
- Dry up with a clean towel and use a blower set on low heat setting to finish. Make sure the blower is not too close to your senior pet’s face, especially if they have sensitive skin or respiratory problems.
- Clean ears, eyes, feet, and tail with a damp towel or cloth. Carefully take out wax build-up to prevent it from hardening and trapping germs in the ear canal. Check their ears regularly as they may get more vulnerable to infection and ear mites with age.
- Trim their nails using an appropriate nail clipper or grinder made for senior pets.
- Continue giving regular dental care by cleaning their teeth at least two times or three times a week using toothpaste made specifically for pets.
The Bottom Line
Pet grooming is an essential part of looking after the health and well-being of your furry buddy. When doing it in your home, you must follow proper techniques to ensure that it does not injure or cause distress to your pets. You should also customize the grooming routine based on age. This guarantees that all their demands are met and they are given appropriate treatment according to their age group. If unsure, work with a professional groomer to make sure that your pet is safe from injuries or other problems.
