It’s not all about looks – grooming your dog is so much more. Here’s why you should regularly groom your dog
If you’re just grooming your dog so that she’ll look her best, then you might be missing the point. Of course, it’s a bonus that a well-groomed dog looks neat and smells as fresh as newly laundered sheets, but there are many more benefits to the process. Ideally, you should be doing some sort of grooming to you pooch every day (nobody ever said that owning a dog was easy!), but this varies depending on the task at hand. A number of reasons exist why it’s vital that your dog is groomed regularly.
Keeping Her Comfortable
Regular grooming is important for keeping your four-legged friend as comfortable as possible. While this is true for all dogs, it’s especially pertinent for long-coated canines. If your dog has lots of fur you should be brushing her every day to make sure that her coat doesn’t become tangled or matted, which can cause her a good deal of discomfort. Pay special attention to the hair around the elbows, on the tummy and between the legs, as these areas are particularly prone to matting. If you’re not prepared to brush her daily, take her to a professional dog groomer to get her coat clipped regularly. It’s not just brushing your dog that will help keep her comfortable. Make sure that her nails are trimmed regularly and her ears and teeth are kept clean.
Maintaining Good Health
Certain elements of grooming are not only important for comfort and aesthetics, but are also essential for good health. You should be brushing your pup’s teeth every day to help keep them free from plaque. If your dog has poor dental hygiene, this can lead to gum disease and even to more serious infections of the mouth. Cleaning your dog’s ears is also important for their health. If too much dirt and builds up, it can lead to ear infections, especially in breeds with large, floppy ears. Regular bathing is also important for skin health, although bathing your dog too frequently can be detrimental. As long as she hasn’t got herself in a mess, never bathe your pooch more than once every two to four months.
Brushing is Bonding
For you, brushing your dog might seem like a chore, but for her it’s a lovely massage. Even if your dog has short fur, brushing her once or twice a week is a pleasant experience for her and is a good way of bonding. Never underestimate the amount of love your dog has for you, so giving her some extra special attention in the form of a brushing session can be extremely pleasurable for her. This can be especially important if you’ve newly rescued a dog and bought her into your family, as it may help her to start trusting your more quickly or help form a stronger bond between the two of you.
Checking for Abnormalities
Dogs can get all kinds of lumps and bumps of them without you noticing, but when you’re grooming your dog you have a good opportunity to check for these kinds of things and for any other changes. Run your hands over your dog as you brush her and check her gums for any lumps or inflammation. The majority of bumps and knobbly bits that you may find on your dog might get are benign and nothing to worry about. However, it’s always best to check with a veterinarian, just to make sure. After all, it never hurts to be cautious when it comes to the health of your beloved dog.
Lauren Corona is a freelance writer from merry old England. She specializes in writing about dogs and other critters. Lauren lives near Oxford, with her gorgeous Doberman, Nola. When she’s not tapping away at the keyboard, you’ll find her walking in the woods with Nola-dog, raising money for the Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary, cooking vegan food, making zines and writing about herself in the third person.
