We all want to be good pet parents and pet grooming is part and parcel of taking care of your fur pal, right? So, it’s essential to know how to groom your pet correctly. What’s more, it’s vital to recognise the pet grooming mistakes to avoid.

Indeed, whether you choose to take your four-legged friend to a professional pet groomer, or you like to take care of it yourself — knowing the common pet grooming mistakes fur owners make certainly makes avoiding them easier!

5 pet grooming mistakes to avoid

Of course, we all have our dog’s best interests at heart. However, when it comes to pet grooming, you want to be certain you’re not doing anything that could potentially adversely impact the health and wellbeing of your barking buddy.

According to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), it’s important for pet owners to be aware of the best practices for at-home pet grooming. PETA also says it’s important your dog has a clean bill of health from your vet. In other words, if your dog is senior or has a chronic condition or other health problem, it’s worth checking with your vet that your DIY grooming practices are safe for your furry friend.

Assuming your dog is healthy and you’re ready to give at-home grooming a go, here are a few pet grooming blunders you really want to steer clear of.

1. Bathing your dog too often

Sure, dogs can get dirty and, absolutely, they can smell — especially when they’ve been rolling in dead fish at the beach (but at least they haven’t tried eating it!). Nonetheless, it’s important to bear in mind that washing your four-legged friend too frequently may damage its coat and even irritate his skin.

Just like humans aren’t supposed to wash their hair daily, as it strips the natural oils from the hair, it’s a similar story for dogs. Your dog’s coat contains natural oils and proteins to keep it healthy. Bathing your dog too often will strip these natural ingredients away. Also, some bathing products can dry and aggravate dogs’ skin, so choose products wisely.

Indeed, the big question is how often is too often. Well, a monthly bath should do the trick to keep your dog clean and smelling sweet. Plus regular brushing will help remove dirt and grime and keep your pooch looking dapper.

Of course, if your dog rolls in mud (like they love to do!) while out on a walk you can totally give him a little hose down in the backyard or a quick bath! That’s an exception.

2. Washing your fur pal’s inner ears

Pet parents should avoid using water or pouring other solutions into the ear canal. Aside from the fact your dog probably won’t like it, you’re likely to do more harm than good.

Excess fluid in the dog’s ear can lead to bacteria and infection. Plus, most dogs don’t need their ears cleaned, unless recommended by your vet.

Furthermore, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC), cleaning your dog’s ears too often or too zealously can cause infection and irritation.

3. Using human shampoo and not rinsing thoroughly

Yes, this one’s a double whammy. Not only is human shampoo not intended for use on our pets, but also it could harm their health. Furthermore, if the shampoo is not rinsed away efficiently, residue will remain on the dog’s skin, which could lead to skin issues.

Now, don’t be too alarmed. This isn’t designed to scare; it’s simply advice on what not to do—if you can help it! Of course, I’m sure using a tiny bit of human shampoo (particularly if it’s a natural one) once in a blue moon will be okay, but it is best to choose a shampoo designed for dogs.

Why? Well, because human shampoo can contain harsh ingredients, which could disrupt your dog’s acid mantle. When the skin’s acid mantle is harmed it can lead to dry, flaky skin and, eventually, other skin irritations.

4. Brushing your dog’s hair when it’s wet

Uh, huh, this is a big mistake. And here’s a tip for you; never brush your own hair when it’s wet, let alone your dog’s. According to expert hairstylists, you should brush your hair when it’s dry, as brushing knots and tangles out of wet hair can cause hair breakage.

Similarly, if your dog has long hair you should dry its hair before you brush it. Brushing dogs’ hair when wet can cause clumping, which can be a nightmare. Certainly, if your dog has short hair, it’s not really a problem as there’s very little risk of tangling.

5. Shaving your dog for summer

Well, I never. It’s a no-no to shave your dog ready for beach season — or so they say! Certainly, we can all understand why a pet owner would feel it necessary to shave their dog’s coat in summer. It will help keep them cool and allow them to feel more comfortable, right?

Mmmn…however, some experts advise against doing this—and for pretty good reason. Their argument is that a pet’s coat is cleverly designed to keep a dog cool in summer and hot in winter. When you shave your dog’s coat you are disrupting his in-built temperature gauge.

Plus, dog’s naturally shed their undercoat in the lead up to summer, leaving their guard hairs. The fact the dog does this suggests there’s no need for human intervention. Also, keep in mind that dog’s can get sunburned — particularly white dogs and those with short hair. So, if you do decide to shave your dog, keep the sunscreen handy!

TIP: According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), it perfectly fine to trim a long-haired dog to help make their coat more manageable during summer. Just hold off on the clippers!

So, there you have it—five pet grooming mistakes that are easily made and commonly made by pet parents around the globe. Now that you know about these blunders you will surely think twice the next time you attempt to clean your dog’s ears, reach for the clippers or call your dog for his daily bath!

 

Happy pet grooming!

 

 

Image source: Unsplash.com