By Ganesh D*
Are you a pet parent struggling to groom your pet? Then you are in the right place, read on.
We in “cats and dogs” provide professional services like grooming, training and boarding for pets.
The Well Being of pets – is a serious business that needs care and attention.
Chennai based professional parlour Cats and Dogs Grooming Salon is an established pet parlour for the last six years. Since 2014 we specialize in daily grooming of dogs and cats and have in place a well trained team of groomers.
We suggest a few home based tool to groom your pet – Slicker brush and Nail clipper.
SLICKER BRUSH
Just like human hair, your canine’s hair continues to grow, and without attention, can become easily matted. To keep your pooch looking spiffy, he/she needs regular grooming and daily care.
A commonly used and important tool that can be used for pet grooming, is the SLICKER BRUSH. The Slicker Brush is used on dogs and cats, with the primary purpose of getting rid of any debris, loose hair and mats/ knots in the Besides removing dirt and hair, this brush is ideal for keeping your animal’s coat in good condition, as the bristles help distribution of oil through the fur. This brush is mainly used for thick or curly haired dogs- as they require a more rigorous grooming routine. Slicker brushes are suitable for most coats except smooth haired dogs. Here are some of the dog breeds the brush will typically be used on:
Shihtzu
Lhasa apso
Labrador retriever
Pomeranian
Spitz
Golden Retriever
Poodle
Cocker Spaniel
Bernard
Siberian Husky
Yorkshire Terrier
Schnauzer
There are three main types of brushes to choose between when shopping for your pet.
Bristle Brush
Can be used on all coat types. Wider spaced bristles for long coated animals, tighter packed bristles for those with shorter coats.
Wire-Pin Brush
These are usually used for curly, long to medium hair coats.
Slicker Brush
Ideal for getting rid of mats and tangles.
How to Use a Slicker Brush?
A slicker brush makes a great grooming tool for pets, and when used correctly, can lead to glossier, healthier hair. Below is a method of how you should be using your slicker brush- along with the rest of your grooming routine:
Firstly, you need to prepare your pet’s skin for the use of this brush. Spray a small amount of conditioning spray or water over your pet’s coat; this will act as a protective barrier of sorts against hair damage.
Making sure to be very gentle, use long, slow strokes to brush from the neck to the tail. Here you are working out any dead hair and dirt, so there’s no need to be firm. If your dog has longer hair, lift the brush a little as you work your way down the back.
At this point, you’ll start to hear the odd scraping noise- this means you’ve hit a tangle. To detangle any knots, you’ll need to be gentle. Otherwise, you risk causing discomfort. To start with, try using your fingers to loosen the knot, and if you struggle with this- a metal comb will be the best tool to use.
Once you have loosened the mat with a comb, you can switch back to the slicker brush. To get rid of the knot, brush over it in different directions until you can brush through it. Be careful not to pull on the hair as you do this.
Once you have brushed you pet’s back, continue the same procedure for the rest of the body, legs, and neck. Do not use the slicker brush on the face.
Once the body is done, you can use the soft bristle brush on the face and ears, and then brush over the whole body to get rid of those last bits of hair. At this point your pet will probably be pretty fed up, so give them a treat and set them free!
I would suggest using Andis Slicker brush which helps to reduces shedding up to 90-Percent, Removes dead hair, safe and comfortable and cost effective.
Nail Clippers
As a pet parent, when you spy a dog’s paw, with its soft fur and spongy paw pads, your first thought is probably, “awwww, paws – so CUTE!”
Dog Toes
Dog toes do not “wiggle” the way yours do, but they serve the same basic function for balance and movement. Their most important job is walking.
Dogs, contrary to popular belief, don’t actually walk on their paw pads or on their nails. They walk on their toes.
Dog paw nails, too, have their own important job to do – they help with gripping.
Many dogs have what is called a “dewclaw.”
In most canines, this dewclaw thought to be the remnant of a thumb only grows on the front paws. But some dogs have dewclaws on both front and back paws, and some breeds even have double dewclaws on their back paws.
I am going to tell you how to trim your pet’s nail without hurting them. Trimming your dog’s nails can be intimidating. It can also be stressful for your dog or cat. While active dogs that run outside a lot naturally wear down their nails, other dogs need a routine trim. Whether it’s once a week or once a month, you can trim your dog’s nails at home
How Many Nails Does a Dog Have?
So now that you have a basic working knowledge of the major parts of your dog’s paws, let’s talk dog nails. Dog nails, often called dog claws, are very similar to human fingernails and toenails.
They are made of cartilage just like your nails. The ends are dead, but a blood supply comes from a small blood vessel called the “dog nail quick.” This blood supply is what keeps your dog’s nails growing continually.
Nearly all dogs have four toes, each with its corresponding nail, on each paw.
For dogs with dewclaws, the small claws located higher up on the paw, this can bring the total toenail count to five on each paw.
And of course, for dogs with double dewclaws on their rear paws, this would mean those two paws have six nails each.
But dog paws are actually surprisingly sophisticated. Even better, an individual dog paw is specifically designed to best serve that specific breed’s historical needs.
For example, some dogs have no dewclaw, while others have only one and some breeds have two. However, dewclaw or no dewclaw, each paw has five basic components with specific functions.
What to Do Before You Trim the Nails?
Some dogs have sensitive feet, and don’t like them to be touched. Ideally, you want to start getting your dog used to it when they’re a puppy. Touching your dog’s leg and pressing on each toe before you start clipping can help with this. Remember to reward them with a treat.
How Long Should Dog Nails Be?
If your dog lives his life outdoors and working dog that helps with the herding chores daily, you may never need to learn how to trim dog nails.
All that running and chasing over rough terrain probably keeps them naturally well-trimmed.
But most canines today don’t have to work nearly as hard for their supper. One glance from their soft liquid eyes and dinner appears as if by magic!
Here, the ultimate goal and challenge for you as a pet parent is to keep your dog’s nails trimmed. The target length is as close to the “quick” — the vessel supplying blood to the nail for growth purposes — as possible without actually cutting the quick itself.
Why this length? The colorless, clear nail tip is “dead” and your dog won’t feel anything if you clip it off. It will just grow back again.
For inside dogs, this may mean you do dog nail trimming once per month. For more active inside-outside dogs, you may find yourself trimming dog nails less frequently.
How to Trim Your Dog’s Nails?
Hold the first toe with a firm but gentle grip. Take your trimmer, and hold it at a slight angle to keep with the existing curve of the nail. You don’t want to cut side to side. When you make the first cut, only cut a very small length of the nail.
As you continue to trim, make small cuts until you see the beginning of a nail-colored circle. Do not go past this circle. There is a vein that runs through the nail, the quick, which will bleed if it’s clipped. The nail-colored circle is near the quick. When you’ve reached that point, move onto the next nail. If your dog has black nails, the quick is harder to locate. Be extra careful when trimming black nails.
If you clip the quick, use styptic powder or corn starch to stop the bleeding. Use a bit of pressure when you apply the powder to the nail. If the bleeding continues after a few minutes, contact your veterinarian.
Once the nails are all cut, smooth them out with an emery board.
How to Stop Your Dog’s Nail Bleeding?
The best thing is to be prepared in advance and have emergency supplies within reach. You will be able to quickly stop the bleeding, relieve the pain, save your carpets from stains and greatly lessen the chance of a nail infection.
The easiest and most effective way to stop dog nail bleeding is with styptic powder or a styptic pencil, which can be purchased at most major pet stores and pharmacies. Be cautioned, however, that styptic powder will provide an initial sting, so be prepared to hold onto the dog firmly while applying. Other option is corn starch.
* The author is Professional Groomer & Dog Trainer at Cats and Dogs Pet grooming parlour, Anna Nagar
