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Today I saw this picture of a fake cat made out of the fur of the real cat it sat beside. The picture really drove it home, as if the hardwood floors I have all over my house hadn’t already: summer is here, and that means so is grooming season.
I hate grooming. It’s always just such a trial in my house. But I’m cheap so I hate paying for it more, and because none of my animals do much more try to walk away a little and guilt me a lot for brushing them, I don’t have a great excuse besides laziness for not doing it myself.
It might not seem that way, but some grooming-related issues can actually be minor health concerns for you or your pet, so all of us who hate the process need to either take the time or pay up: grooming is important, and we need to do it, or have it done. These tips from the Modesto Bee should help us get through the summer.
First off, let’s get the health concerns out of the way. If you have anyone susceptible to allergies in your home it’s a good idea to keep your pets regularly groomed. You can purchase products to put on your pet that help temper the allergens in their fur. If you’ve got a long-haired cat you also want to keep an eye on their fur; nasty things might get tangled inside, so make sure you pay attention to your cat’s hair.
Regular grooming can be important for your pets’ health in other ways, especially those that go outside. They’ll be shedding a lot in the hot sun, so you want to brush them well to help them get rid of the fur. That’s their winter coat they’re trying to shed, so help them along with a good brush.
There are some other grooming-related safety concerns to keep in mind when thinking about your pet’s coat this summer. Don’t shave your dog just because you think it’s hot: that coat can actually protect your dog from the sun’s rays, and shaving it unnecessarily could lead to sunburn or even skin cancer.
Check with a vet or with experts on your breed (including in books about your breed) to see if shaving is a viable option. Take your pet to a groomer to have them shaved, rather than doing it yourself; the professional will know the right amount of hair to leave on your dog.
Dogs with really lightweight (light in fur, not necessarily in color), thin coats still run the risk of getting sunburnt if they’re out in direct sunlight for too long. Try applying pet sunscreen if this is a concern. Also remember to give baths regularly to the pets that go outside and tumble around a lot. Clean coats protect animals better than ones caked in dirt or oils. Also if your dog or cat has been playing in some poison ivy, you want to get those oils out before letting them spread the oils around the house.
Most of this is common sense: keep your pet bathed and well groomed so that it can fully enjoy the summer.
Related Articles:
Dog Days of Summer: Pets on Vacation
Flaky Cats and What to Do About Them
What’s Best for a Cat: Inside or Outside?
*(This image by IrisDragon is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)
