From the top of the ear to the tip of its tail, every inch of your pet can be groomed to get it looking good and feeling great
From the top of the ear to the tip of its tail, every inch of your pet can be groomed to get it looking good and feeling great

One area of pet care is its grooming. Sure, you can get a professional to do it for you. But where is the fun in that? Grooming Puss and Fido on your own is a great way to bond, not to mention more economical.

Here are some DIY grooming tips to get you started.

1. Rub a Dub Dub

Like you, your dog needs a bath, though not daily. A monthly bath is about right. For bath time, a brush to apply the shampoo is always handy. There are a variety of them available. The Hagen Dog Easy Shampoo Massage Brush (S$31.03) has soft projections that help to remove the dirt in doggie’s fur and massage in the shampoo. Hagen also has one that works for dogs and cats (Dog and Cat Soft Rubber Glove, S$23.54) as well.

Then, there is the shampoo. People shampoo, no matter how gentle, can cause skin irritation and itches among pets. You can get shampoos for specific fur colour, and even lengths. For example, Yours Droolly has white dog shampoo that comes in Vanilla Cupcake fragrance (S$23.50) to make sure your pooch smells good enough to eat.

Once a week, brush your dog to keep his coat gleaming with a healthy shine. How you brush the fur can make a difference. To open up the fur or for dogs with curly, wiry fur, brush in the opposite direction of the fur. For dogs with long, silky fur, brush in the direction of the fur.

In between, should your dog get dirty or require its paws cleaned after a walk, you can wipe it down with wet wipes (just like baby wipes). Earthbath Puppy Wipes that come in 100-sheet boxes (S$23.54) have extra mild pH balance, is non-toxic, and comes with Vitamin E and a natural cherry scent that keeps your pet’s coat shiny. The wipes also come in green tea, mango, or fragrance-free varieties. Earthbath has cat wipes, too.

Cats are self-cleaning and hate water. But that does not mean they will not benefit from an occasional bath. Once every six weeks to two months is advisable. A bath stimulates the skin, removes excess oil, and hair. Do not forget to get cat shampoo for the occasion. Before the bath, do not forget to brush your cat to get rid of any dirt and untangle matted hair.

2. Hair There Gone Tomorrow

Giving your pooch a haircut is not just for vanity’s sake. Fur on the paws makes it slippery and hard for your dog to get a good grip. Fur in its ears or eyes irritates. If you are a novice, start off simply trimming the fur. A good way to begin is to bring your dog to a professional for a good cut and to do maintenance trimming on your own. That way, you simply need to do follow the contours of the original cut.

The best time to play barber is after your dog has had a good bath and brush down. That way, the fur has been slick and tangle-free. Pet Lovers Centre has a multitude of blades under the Andis brand to choose from to do the trim. Ask them for advice if you are clueless. Otherwise, regular scissors will do, too. As you trim, make sure you do not cut too close to the skin.

Cats do not need a haircut. Their natural grooming behaviour is enough to get rid of excess hair.

3. Nail It

What cats do need, like dogs, are regular trimming of their claws. This is especially if they do not wear out their nails enough with walking and other activities. Long nails make walking difficult and can damage the paws. Long nails can also do major damage to furniture and property.

Again, Pet Lovers Centre has several brands of nail clippers costing anything between under S$5 to over S$200 for cats and dogs. Whatever you use, make sure you do not over-trim. The nails should line up nicely with the under-pad of the paw.

4. Hear Hear!

Dogs love having their ears scratched. So, take the opportunity to check for fluff in their ear which, left uncleared, can lead to ear infections. Healthy ears look pink or skin-toned on the inside. Get ear cleaning lotions from your local pet store and follow the instructions. Make sure you tilt your dog’s head to the side and hold up the ear flap to straighten the ear canal so the lotion can flow properly. Massage the base of the ear with your fingers to get the lotion deeper into the ear canal. Your pet will likely shake its head to get rid of excess lotion. Wipe off the rest.

You cat may also need some ear attention every other month. The procedure is the same.

5. Say Ah!

Pooch and Puss need dental care just like the rest of us. Regular gum and teeth care can keep bad breath at bay. Petosan has a range of dental products from brushes to toothpaste formulated for your pet. Do not use human toothpaste for the simple reason that your pet cannot spit and the product is not exactly edible.

6. Step Out in Style

Pet lovers are divided on the matter of letting their pets (usually dogs) wear people clothes. If your pet has no objections and does not get over-heated, stepping out in style on occasion can be quite fun. Pet Lovers Centre has a wide collection that will have you going ga-ga.

Cleaned, groomed, and dressed to the hilt – there is no reason why your pet cannot be pampered the way you pamper yourself. Help it make a style statement that will show the rest of the pack who’s the top dog.

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