Every dog, no matter how long or short their coat is, needs regular grooming. Proper grooming plays an important part in the overall care of your pet. Grooming not only makes your pet look better, it contributes to his or her physiological and psychological health.

Brushing and combing your dog helps keep the coat clean and healthy and stimulates the skin, allowing the natural oils to circulate to the coat. Regular professional grooming also allows the groomer to check your pet for potential health problems such as loss of hair, unusual growths and tumors, inflammation, fleas, ticks and other parasites.

How Often Should Dogs Be Groomed?

Most dogs should be professionally groomed every 4 to 6 weeks. Some breeds, such as Poodles and Shih Tzus, require clipping of the coat and therefore more frequent visits to the Grooming Salon. All dogs should be brushed daily to reduce shedding and help stimulate their skin. Daily brushing also helps keep dogs from becoming matted. Dogs can be bathed weekly with a premium dog shampoo without drying their skin and coat.

Human shampoos or other cleaning products are not formulated for your dog's sensitive skin and may cause drying, flaking, irritated skin and a dull lifeless coat. Continued use of inappropriate shampoos or cleaning products can cause more severe skin and coat problems. Grooming your pet at home between regular professional grooming visits will also provide you the opportunity to spend quality time with your pet as well as ensure healthy skin and a shiny coat.

What Age Should Dogs Be Introduced to Grooming?

Dogs should be introduced to grooming as early in life as possible, especially those with excess hair that will require regular grooming and clipping. All dogs entering a Grooming Salon should be current with Canine Distemper, Parvo, Corona or a combination vaccination package of the equivalent, Rabies, which is required by law in most states, and Bordetella. Puppies should start their vaccination series between 6 to 8 weeks of age.

Exposing puppies to other animals before they have received a complete series of vaccinations can spread disease to not only the puppy but to other pets as well. Ideally, pets should wait at least 2 weeks after vaccinations to be exposed to other animals. This allows the vaccine to get into the pet's system for maximum protection.

You should consult your veterinarian for possible risks if your puppy has an abundance of fur and needs to be groomed before all vaccinations have been completed.

What is Included in a Professional Grooming Service?

A full-service grooming should include a pre-bath brushing. Usually 15 to 30 minutes and included in the basic price, a pre-bath clipping to remove excess hair if needed, an external ear cleaning, a nail trim, gland check, a bath with a premium dog shampoo, a fluff dry, breed standard or customer requested haircut, and a bow and fragrance.

Customers should be involved in the choice of their dog's styling. Most professional Pet Stylists will recommend the breed standard clip or as close to it as possible. There are a variety of very nice clips for mixed breed dogs. Your groomer will help you choose which style best suits your dog. In cases of severe matting, the pet may have to be shaved leaving the coat less than a half an inch long. Hair does grow back, usually very close to the texture it was before shaving. If your pet must be shaved, your groomer will give you tips to keep the new hair healthy and beautiful as it grows back to its desired length.

What About Cats?

Contrary to popular belief, cats, just like dogs need professional grooming on a regular basis, especially long-haired breeds. However, grooming cats can be a challenge. Barking dogs and loud noises tend to make cats more anxious than dogs during the grooming process. Special attention from your groomer will help calm your cat and make the experience easier. Try to book your cat's grooming appointments during the Grooming Salon's quieter times like mid-week and evenings. Cats should also be brushed daily. Brushing and combing your cat every day will not only promote healthy skin and coat but will help your cat become accustomed to being handled.

Your cat's vaccinations should be current prior to entering a Grooming Salon for services. The vaccinations required are Feline Distemper, Upper Respiratory, or a combination vaccination package of the equivalent, Leukemia and Rabies.

With a little patience and regular brushing at home, your cat will soon be used to and may even look forward to his or her visits to the groomer.

Most PETCO stores have a Full-service Grooming Salon that offers a variety of services for dogs and cats including a Full-service Groom or Bath, Luxury Spa Treatments with Pearls Au Lait shampoo, The Works Grooming Add-on Service and much more. Our Professional Pet Stylists can work with you to develop a proper grooming schedule for your pet. Contact your local PETCO Grooming Salon to make an appointment or get more details.