There’s nothing like a freshly groomed pet. Who doesn’t love nuzzling clean and shining fur, hearing the click of short nails on the hard ground, or getting a doggy kiss from a freshly washed muzzle?

Contrary to popular belief, pet grooming isn’t just a luxury; it’s an absolute necessity. Regular grooming keeps pets comfortable, and it improves their health and wellness.

Good Hygiene Leads To Better Health

Besides keeping your pet looking and smelling his or her best, grooming sessions, whether at home or with a professional groomer, can improve his or her health in the following ways:

• By brushing and bathing your pet on a regular basis, you will be able to feel for any lumps, bumps, or areas of swelling, as well as spot any potential injuries or tender spots. Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to follow up on any abnormalities you come across.
• Ticks can pose major health hazards to our pets, including the spread of diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. Grooming gives you the chance to spot and remove any ticks your pet may have picked up while outdoors.
• Longhaired breeds are more prone to matting, which can be painful and even dangerous. Check your pet for mats and burs in the fur frequently, and remove any that you see. Seriously matted fur will need to be handled by a professional groomer.
• Long, overgrown nails can force your pet to walk on the sides of the paw pads, which may contribute to arthritis in the legs and hips and other potential issues, not to mention being just plain annoying. By keeping your pet’s nails trimmed, you are helping his or her joints and feet to stay in good condition.
• Regular bathing helps to decrease the buildup of crusts in the corners of your pet’s eyes, which could lead to uncomfortable sores if not removed.
• Peek inside your pet’s ears as part of your weekly grooming regimen. If the ears are red or inflamed, or have a foul odor, give your veterinarian a call.

Pet Grooming Is Good For You, Too!

Regular grooming can benefit the human members of your household as well. Besides the enjoyment of living with a clean pet, keeping your pet free of ticks and fleas will improve the safety and hygiene of everyone in the home. Regular grooming also helps to rid your pet of dander, which may help ease allergy symptoms.

For pets that are used to it, home grooming can be a time of great enjoyment and relaxation. Following up your grooming session with a relaxing belly rub or some snuggles with your best pal and you have a win-win situation.

How VitusVet Can Help

With the free VitusVet app you’ll never forget to groom your pet! The handy “reminders tool” is the perfect way to remember a professional grooming appointment or to remind yourself when it’s time for your daily or weekly home grooming session. Simply enter your pet’s professional or home grooming schedule into the app and set the reminder to alert you.