Pet grooming is absolutely necessary and if you don’t want to put your pet in the hands of another person, you can groom them yourself! Not only is grooming your pet essential for good health but it is also a good way to bond. Pets, particularly dogs, feel like they’re getting love and attention when you take the time to groom them.

Pet Grooming: Skin & Coat

There is more than one way to tell if the pet has healthy skin and fur. Look for signs of unhealthy fur when you’re trying to make this distinction. For one, unhealthy hair will be dry and brittle and it may be thinning or irregularly falling out. Unhealthy hair will also look thin, dry, scaly or greasy. There will be no shine to it and it will have unattractive appearance.

You can also distinguish unhealthy skin and fur by smelling it. Healthy skin and fur will have no smell to it. If the hair gets dirty, it does not have a unique smell it will just smell like whatever got it dirty. Unhealthy skin and coat will have an oily odor. Skin bacteria that break down the natural skin oils cause the odor. All skin has some bacteria but unhealthy skin has too much of the wrong kinds of bacteria. There are specific types of shampoo that can prevent this type of bacteria and you can find out names from your vet.

Pet Grooming: Ears

Pets generally have sensitive ears so pet grooming needs to be done delicately in this area. Ear problems can arise from soaps, allergies, pollen, bacteria, fleas and a number of other factors. The main source of ear problems in pets is caused by Otitis, an infection and inflammation of parts of the ear. There are a number of different types of Otitis and it can occur on the inside or outside of the ear.

These ear infections can cause pet ears to be inflamed and hot to the touch. Sometimes they will even have an odor and a build-up of wax. Most importantly, it is very uncomfortable for the pet. If you notice anything abnormal in the ears, check with a vet before you do any grooming on the pet in that area. Also, if you suspect any infection in the ear, tell the vet immediately. The longer the infections last the more serious they become.

Be especially careful when you’re shaving ear hairs. Make sure that you keep the blade flat and not on an angle. Cutting near the ears is especially important in pet grooming, particularly if there is any buildup of crust or dangerous bacteria. Cutting the hair prevents it from trapping the problem bacteria and makes it more open for medication.

Grooming Your Pet

If you’re going to groom your pet, coat and ears are very important to pay attention to. There is a lot more to learn and you should not try to do this yourself unless you’re completely comfortable with it. After all, your pet’s comfort and health is of utmost importance.

Before you buy a pet, you want to be comfortable with the basics of pet care. Each individual animal has a different set of needs but there are some general tips to follow for different types.

Dog Pet Care

Dogs are pets that require care. Dogs will give you unconditional love, loyalty and companionship and in return, you should do the same. While dogs count on you for food, water, shelter and exercise, there’s a lot more pet care involved.

Immediately after you get your dog, get a collar and ID tags. If your dog somehow gets out, you want them to find their way home. If someone finds your dog wandering, they have no way to know where the dog lives unless there are tags. On the tags, you want to include your name, address and phone number. Also, put the dog’s vaccination tags on the collar as well. People are sometimes weary to approach a dog without these tags in fear of getting rabies. Not to mention, you need to get your dog vaccinated anyway.

Spay or neuter your dog. Dogs that have been fixed are at less risk for certain diseases and they generally live longer. This procedure also helps with certain behavioral issues like biting and wandering. If you have a female dog that is not spayed, she will be in heat and bleed occasionally. Overall, spaying or neutering is better for everyone.

Make sure that you take your dog in to the vet for regular check-ups. This is absolutely essential for quality pet care. Dogs, just like people need to be examined. If anything was ever wrong with your dog then a vet might be able to find it before it gets too serious. Along with regular vet visits, make sure that your dog eats nutritiously and gets regular exercise. Sometimes owners do not realize the importance of a dog staying at a healthy weight. If you give your dog quality pet care then you will have a companion that loves you unconditionally.

Cat Pet Care

Although cats are slightly more independent than dogs, they ‘re still pets that require care. You still need to provide them with food, water, shelter and more. If you take good care of your cat then you will have a great feline companion.

Do not let your cat be an outdoor cat! This used to be a lot more popular but some owners are still doing this. Cats are very smart and they have a natural instinct to find their way home but you don’t want to take the chance. You should take care of your pet and you cannot do this if it is an outdoor cat.

Take your cat in for regular check-ups and health procedures. Like a dog, spaying or neutering your cat will keep them healthier. Part of pet care for your cat also includes regular brushing and keeping its coat clean. If your cat tries to groom itself, which it will if you do not, it will ingest a lot of hair, thus causing hairballs.

Quality Pet Care

While pet care for every animal is different, these are just some basic guidelines to follow. Having a happy and healthy pet gives you the gift of friendship like no other.

Pets are a part of the family and when you’re boarding your pet, the last thing you want to do is worry about their safety and well-being. When you’re choosing a kennel, you need to have two main goals. One is to make sure that your animal has a safe and happy boarding experience and the second is o make sure that you will be able to have a good time while you’re away without worrying about your pet.

Pet Boarding Kennel

Pet boarding kennels are designed to care for pets when their owners are not going to be around. Most of the time people bring their pets to kennels when they’re going to be traveling. Some kennels provide a variety of services such as boarding, grooming, training and healthcare. Generally people board a dog or cat but some kennels accept other animals as well.

Where to Find Local Kennels

There are lots of different ways to find pet boarding kennels in your area. For one, you can look through the phone book. There are usually ads and if not, there are definitely numbers listed. The best way to find a quality kennel, however, is to ask people you know. Ask your friends for information on kennels that they have used in the past.

Assessing Pet Boarding Facilities

Start by telephoning the pet boarding kennel. The kennel that you want to use may be completely booked, particularly during popular travel times; so check for availability. Next, if your pet has any special needs then you want to find out if they are able to accommodate those needs. Keep in mind that some kennels do not take pets with special needs. If you think you’ve found the right kennel then make an appointment to go and visit. After all, you want to get an idea of the atmosphere before you send your pet there.

When Visiting the Kennel

There are certain aspects of the pet boarding kennel that you want to pay close attention to when you’re visiting. Is the general atmosphere good? Make sure that they have routine cleaning procedures. That may not seem important since they’re animals but you don’t want to take a chance of your pet getting some kind of sickness. Also, see if they will let you see where the pets are being housed. You can see if they seem like they’re well taken care of or if they seem sad or uncomfortable. Observe the size of the housing and their outside areas. Will your pet have enough room to run around and be happy?

Security is of utmost importance as well. You want to make sure that your pet will not be able to get out. Find out about the professionals that will be taking care of them and walking them. Also, ask to see the fenced outside area. Obviously, a yard with no fence is a huge red flag. No matter how well trained your pet is, in an unfamiliar territory, they may try to escape.

Post Pet Boarding

While the kennel is boarding your pet, call regularly to find out how he or she is doing. Not only will you be at ease but they will also be sure to pay close attention to your pet’s well-being. Once you pick up your animal, ask how it went and if there were any problems. Hopefully everything will have gone well and you can use the same pet boarding kennel in the future.