Grooming

Dog Grooming Basics

From the smooth-coated boxer to the magnificent collie, all dogs need some help from us to look their best. Grooming sessions can be a relaxing time for you to bond with your dog, and your reward is a cleaner house and a healthier dog.

Trimming Your Dog's Nails

You are many things to your dog: provider of food and shelter, manager of his health program, best friend, entertainment director andideally every 2 to 4 weekshis manicurist. Not only do regular nail-clipping sessions help strengthen the bond between you, they give you a chance to check for torn, ripped and ingrown nails

Are you ready for a new dog?

Adopting a new pet requires a daily investment of your time, energy and patience. Careful consideration should be given when selecting the new member of your family as the commitment could last ten years or more. Here are some things to consider when choosing a new dog:

Breed

What breed best fits with your lifestyle and personality? If the dog will be around children, make sure the dog will be a good match. If you are on the go a lot, size may be a consideration for you as well as how much living space and exercise the dog will require.

Grooming basics for your cat

It seems like cats spend a lot of time grooming themselves, but they still need some help from us to look and feel their best. Grooming sessions can be a relaxing time for you to bond with your cat, and your reward is a cleaner house and a healthier cat. Grooming also gives you a chance to examine him for flea infestation, lumps, or other signs of disease.

Grooming for dogs

From the smooth-coated Boxer to the magnificent Collie, all dogs need some help from us to look their best. Grooming sessions can be a relaxing time for you to bond with your dog, and your reward is a cleaner house and a healthier dog.

Nail trimming for dogs

You are many things to your dog: provider of food and shelter, manager of his health program, best friend, entertainment director and ideally every 2 to 4 weeks his manicurist. Not only do regular nail-clipping sessions help strengthen the bond between you, they give you a chance to check for torn, ripped and ingrown nails.

Nail trimming for cats

The upkeep of your kitty's ten tiny tools is an important job. Your pet needs her nails for scratching and climbing, and they also serve as her main means of defense.

If left untrimmed, however, her super-sharp claws can accidentally scratch you while she's on your lap or hard at play. And badly overgrown nails can grow into a cat's paw pad, potentially leading to infection.

Cats and shedding

Cats shed to get rid of old, damaged, or extra hair. Changes in the length of daylight hours trigger the shedding process. With the arrival of spring, many cats shed their winter coat, and you may notice hair everywhere – especially on your clothing, carpets and furniture.

Cats who are kept indoors may not wait for the seasons to change; they shed all year round. It is normal for cats, both those who go outside and those who live indoors, to shed regularly.

Dogs and shedding

Dogs shed to get rid of old, damaged, or extra hair. Changes in the length of daylight hours trigger the shedding process. With the arrival of spring, many dogs shed their winter coat, and you may notice hair everywhere – especially on your clothing, carpets and furniture. Dogs who are kept indoors may not wait for the seasons to change; they shed all year round. It is normal for dogs, both those who go outside and those who live indoors, to shed regularly.

Grooming your bird

Birds really know how to keep up appearances. As your pet draws her beak through her plumage, she removes the sheaths at the base of her feathers, allowing for new growth. Depending on her species, she may have a gland at the base of her tail that produces oil used to condition the plumage. Your companion delights in daily grooming, but every now and then she'll need an assistant to keep in tip-top condition.

Grooming hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, mice and gerbils

Talk about fastidious! Guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, mice and gerbils are extremely meticulous, and keep themselves looking good by grooming their coats from paw to tail several times a day. Should your pet's fur need extra attention, however, he'll appreciate some help from you to look his best.

Guidelines to keeping your hamster clean

As a responsible pet parent, you want to do everything you can to keep your little critter happy and healthy, and looking (and smelling!) good. But when it comes to your hamster's hygiene, there's no need to break out the shampoo and head to the bathroom sink.

Cats and hairballs

Why do cats cough up hairballs?

As your cat goes through the business of daily grooming, it's normal for her to swallow some loose skin and hair. These usually passes through the digestive tract, some of it can remain behind in the stomach. As it accumulates, it eventually forms a wad known as a hairball. And when your cat has a hairball, she'll do anything to get rid of it - this means gagging, retching and hacking in an attempt to vomit. Luckily, this is one problem that sounds worse than it really is.

Grooming your cat

By nature, cats are fastidious. You've probably seen your pet washing herself several times a day. But if she's like most cats, she'll appreciate, and sometimes needs, a little help from you.