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From our many years working with both pet care salons as well as veterinary clinics around the U.S., one thing always stood out to us, which is how connected regular pet hygiene is to good pet health.  It is why our basic packages come with nail and ear treatments as those treatments along with regular bathing are so critical to good health.  In addition, we offer teeth brushing as well.  Learn more below about the importance of regular hygiene to help your pet live its healthiest life!

Skin & Coat

Providing your pet with routine hygiene care will make the biggest impact in ensuring your dog's skin and coat are kept clean and well-maintained. Like humans, skin is the largest pet organ.  Regular bathing, coupled with brushing or combing their coat, serves as a simple yet effective measure to prevent the accumulation of dirt and debris on their skin, which could lead to irritation and infections. In addition, when you are keeping up with their routine hygiene care it’s easier to spot issues like coat matting, irritation, and more, at the early stages and address them.

Matting & Pelting

If your pet’s fur is not groomed regularly, the fur often becomes tangled and knotted around itself, which is called matting. Mats occur frequently in many dog breeds with curly, fine, or double coats. In extreme cases, the dog's coat will become what groomers call "pelted". This is a severe case where the matting is very tight to the skin, preventing proper airflow, cause skin irritation, hides parasites like fleas, restricts the dog’s movement and causes extreme discomfort and pain for the dog. When a pet is “pelted” the groomer will recommend a complete shave down to “start over” as it is nearly impossible to brush out, not to mention painful for the dog. Shaving a pelted pet is challenging when the pelting is close to the pet’s skin. Matting is preventable by frequent brushing at home, coupled with regular grooming appointments, every 4-6 weeks.

Ears

The canine ear canal is more vertical than that of a human, forming an L-shape that tends to hold in fluid. Failure to remove these substances regularly can lead to bacterial and yeast growth, causing painful infections with symptoms like head shaking, ear itching, and discharge.  In addition, hard-to-see ear mites are highly contagious and annoying parasites that like to make themselves at home in dogs’ and other animals’ ears.  The creatures feed on ear wax and oils and can lead to ear infections.  Regular cleaning helps stave off ear infections and keep your dog’s ears happy and healthy.

Nails

Maintaining the correct nail length contributes to their strength and overall health, minimizing the risk of painful nail-related incidents. With regular nail trims, we keep the quick short and reduce the chance for pain by accidentally cutting into the quick.  Curled or overgrown nails can also cause long-term damage, changing the way pets’ walk, run, and stand.  In addition, long nails can harbor dirt, bacteria, and contaminants, increasing the likelihood of various health issues. Consistent nail trimming is a proactive approach to improving your dog's hygiene and reducing the risk of infections and other issues. 

Teeth

A pets’ stinky breath is a sign of potential oral issues.  Poor dental hygiene can result in a host of medical problems. Some of the more common issues are gingivitis, periodontal disease, tooth loss, infection, and difficulty eating. Don’t wait until you notice a bad odor in your dog’s mouth to pay attention to his teeth. As with people, proper dental hygiene begins with brushing teeth.