Every pet parent has observed the fascinating grooming rituals of his or her four-legged friend; cats carefully wash their whiskers, birds delicately preen each feather, dogs lick their paws and fur, even tiny mice and hamsters industriously clean their faces with their tiny paws.  Indeed, pet grooming seems to be an essential part of life for our furry friends.

We know that animals feel and look better when they are clean, but pet grooming is about so much more than appearances. Supplementing your pet’s self-grooming with regular brushing, bathing, nail trims, and the like actually helps your pet to stay stay healthy as well as pretty.

Good Hygiene Is Essential For Good Health

Helping your pet to look and feel their best is an important component of responsible pet ownership. Support your pet’s health through regular grooming in the following ways:

  • Skin conditions – Brushing and bathing your pet gives you or your groomer direct access to his or her skin, allowing you to see or feel any lumps, growths, or other abnormalities. Although many growths are harmless, it’s best to give us a call if you discover anything suspicious.
  • Tangles and mats – For medium to long-haired pets, tangled or matted hair can be more than just an eyesore. Severely matted fur can block airflow to the skin, leading to painful sores and infections. Mats and tangles also make perfect hiding/breeding spots for fleas. Regular brushing and removal of mats is essential to your pet’s overall health.
  • Parasites – Regular grooming makes it easy to spot external parasites such as fleas and ticks, giving you the chance to get a handle on the problems before it becomes overwhelming and hard to treat.
  • Ear problems – Glance inside your pet’s ears as part of your regular home grooming regimen. Red, inflamed ears, or ears that have a foul odor, indicate an infection that will need to be treated.
  • Dental care – Imagine how you would feel if you never took care of your teeth? Make regular tooth brushing and oral inspection of your pet a habit. If you have questions or concerns regarding brushing your pet’s teeth, give us a call.
  • Nail care – Besides being uncomfortable, overgrown nails may contribute to arthritis in the legs and hips by forcing your pet to walk on the outsides of his or her paw pads. Regular nail trimming is a vital part of proper pet grooming.

Regular grooming appointments throughout the year where ears, nails, skin and fur are cared for can be a better value than a once-a-year appointment. Ear infections, skin problems, parasites and other issues that result from infrequent grooming can add up.  

Union Lake Pet Services is proud to employ a wonderful team of professional groomers who not only groom your pet but watch for potential problems. We have over 80 years of combined grooming experience and we love what we do. Give us a call today to make an appointment for your pet.