Grooming is essential in pet care. Cats and dogs need different levels of grooming. In the animal world, grooming is an activity that strengthens bonds. As the primary care provider for your pets, grooming them only makes your bond stronger.


The American Pet Association says that grooming frequency depends on the length of coat and the species of pet that you have. If you want to find out how often you should groom your pet, here’s what you should know.

 

Grooming Your Cat

Cats can find grooming relaxing and enjoyable. For long-haired cats, daily brushing is important. This keeps the cat’s fur loose and matt-free. You can do this with a fine-toothed comb or grooming gloves. Brushing or combing in the direction of the fur is soothing. To check for flea dirt and fleas or remove loose fur, go against the fur’s direction. For cats with medium or short hair, brushing once a week is fine.

 

Remember that cats do not need constant bathing. This can be stressful to your feline. If you do not have a reason to bathe your cat, do not. Only do so if it is necessary for your cat’s health. Only a handful of cats can tolerate or even like bathing. Forcing your cat to have a bath may cause stress and injury to you and your cat.

 

Grooming Your Dog

Grooming your dog depends on your dog’s breed, length of coat, or type of coat. Below are some pointers straight from experienced professional dog groomers:

 

Short-Haired Dogs

Brushing your short-haired dog should be every week. This distributes the skin oils throughout your dog’s body. Giving a short-haired dog a haircut can even be harmful to your dog. If your dog has an undercoat, brush every other day to remove loose hairs.

 

Long-Haired Dogs

If you intend to keep your dog’s long fur flowy and loose, groom your dog two times a day. You must bathe your dog every four to six weeks. A haircut every 10-12 weeks is also necessary. Brushing your long-haired dog daily can give you a longer gap between professional grooming visits. If you cannot do this daily, bringing your dog to the groomer more often can maintain your dog’s coat health.

 

Dogs with Thick Undercoats

An undercoat rake can help you groom your dog better. Groom and remove the undercoat every 10-12 weeks. This will help your dog’s skin breathe better without losing good insulation.

 

Dogs with Silky Hair

You should comb and brush your dog’s silky coat every day. If you want to give your dog a regular haircut, this can happen every four to eight weeks. All dogs with silky hair tend to have oily skin and no undercoat. Bathing more often is an order. The water should have some baking soda to balance out the pH.

 

Curly-Haired and Wire-Haired Dogs

If your dog has curly hair, bathing should happen every four to eight weeks. You should bathe your dog every six to eight weeks. For wire-haired dogs, a haircut should happen every four to eight weeks.

 

Regular grooming ensures your pet’s optimal health. At Highland Veterinary Clinic, we encourage our pet parents to bring in their pets for regular checkups and grooming. Please visit our clinic in Evansville, Indiana, for an in-person consultation.

 

Learn more about pet grooming packages, contact Highland Veterinary Clinic in Evansville, IN at (812) 710-4300 if you want to schedule an appointment.