Keeping a pet is one of life’s quiet joys. The relationship between you and your pet is unique, individual and unassailable in many different ways – to the point that you’ll gladly handle their leavings in your poo-bag-gloved hand, amongst other minor indignities.
Of the many responsibilities you gladly accept over your pet in return for unconditional love and companionship, one important (and often overlooked) one is grooming. Grooming isn't just about keeping your furry companions looking good; it's essential for their overall health and wellbeing too. What are some of the key grooming tasks that you should be undertaking, to ensure the health and happiness of your favourite animal?
Brushing
Let’s start with the most obvious grooming task on the list: brushing. Regular brushing is crucial for all pets, regardless of size, fur type or demeanour. Brushing helps remove loose hair, in turn preventing matting; it also redistributes natural oils around the body, improving the health of the hair itself, and stimulates circulation all the while.
Not any brush will do when brushing your own pet, though. There are appropriate brushes for each pet's coat – from slicker brushes for long-haired breeds to bristle brushes for short-haired ones.
Bathing
Next up, we have bathing – a traumatic event for the 24% of households that count a cat amongst their members… Some pets are, thankfully, more easy-going than others! Never use hot tap water alone, or leave your pets alone when running the bath. Instead, use lukewarm water and monitor the temperature all the time as you fill it. As for shampoos and washing formulas, avoid human products like the plague, as they can irritate their skin.
General Health
As mentioned earlier, grooming goes beyond the aesthetic – and even beyond basic hygiene. Routine veterinary checkups are essential for monitoring your pet's health and catching any issues early on; booking in check-ups on the regular can help you stay abreast of shifts in your pets’ condition or development. You might also consider investing in pet insurance to help cover unexpected medical expenses arising from such check-ups, which can be a literal lifesaver should you ever notice something amiss during your own grooming sessions.
Dental Hygiene
Lastly but by no means least, we come to oral health and hygiene – a factor of grooming that’s easy for owners to forget or dismiss, but which is critical for your pet's overall well-being. Establish a regular teeth-brushing routine using a pet-safe toothbrush and toothpaste; aim for at least three times a week to prevent plaque and tartar buildup, and save your pets from the challenges of gum disease amongst other oral health issues.
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