A simple attempt at a bath brings up both stress, a fight, bruises on my part and fear on his.  My finding a professional dog grooming service was a relief for both of us.  I love my dog, but when he’s dirty, he stinks.  That smells just permeates the house but fights of bath time made me decide the smell was the less of two evils.  The professional dog grooming service I found got in contact with the veterinary service that they maintain close ties with and spoke with the vet about my “baby” and received advice and a prescription for me.  Now my unsmelly, clean dog and I no longer walk around each other in avoidance for a few days after bath time.

While I keep my dog with the necessary medications, I don’t want the fleas and ticks that abound in our area to come into my home.  My choices used to be, a treatment that didn’t seem to cover his whole body, or an ongoing search for ticks after each trip outside.  The professional dog grooming service made this a thing of the past.  The dog dip covers his entire, huge body with the necessary repellent, and he doesn’t object to a dip like he objects to the sprays and other treatments.

While pet grooming used to be something I thought was really only for those silly accessory dogs that some women carry around, a professional dog grooming service has become invaluable to me.  However, a professional dog grooming service has been a amazing benefit to myself and my “baby” in caring for him without the huge trauma it used to entail.  Not to mention that a bath time was an all day Saturday event, and the time savings for me are another nice benefit.

The Costs Of Professional Dog Grooming Service Is Not What You Think

One reason that I avoided a professional dog grooming service was the cost, but in saving a full Saturday and trauma, the costs were not bad.  In fact, they were down right reasonable, usually around $100.00 for my 150 pounds “baby”.

Since I allow my cat to go outside, I refuse to de-claw him.  We live in a rural small town and there are still critters that eat cats for snacks.  As such, I don’t want my cat to be defenseless as de-clawing him would cause, but I also hate to have him scratch up my furniture.  A professional cat grooming service can keep his claws trimmed and blunted and with the scratching post he loves, my furniture is off the hook.

Cats with long hair can easily get matted and their coats require extra care.  Its not always easy to find the time to provide that care for you cat, no matter how much you love them.  A professional cat grooming service can keep the coat clean, conditioned, un-matted and not shedding hair everywhere.

Care for your cat’s ears, eyes, and teeth need a touch of experience and knowledge.  You can injure your cat if you are not careful with these grooming areas.  A professional cat grooming service is trained to do all of this and avoid the mistakes that can injure your cat.  It is easy to injure your cat’s eardrums when cleaning them, so using a professional can make sense.

The Kitty Massage

I laughed very hard the first time I saw the list of services for the professional cat grooming service, as it included a kitty massage.  How silly, I thought.  While I like a massage, I couldn’t quite bring myself to spring for one for my cat. Yet, I talked to one of my friends and she has one of those cats that are just hyper-active.  She tried the kitty massage and found it calmed her cat down.  She has begun to give him little mini-massage when they sit and watch television and he has begun to calm down.

All in all, the proliferation of professional cat grooming services have brought the price to a reasonable level for the average consumer, and the time, care of your cat, and need for grooming services have made this service a reasonable one/

Keeping your cats ears and eyes clean is important for their health, and you can damage your cat if you are not careful and they are fighting you.  A cat grooming service has trained personnel to avoid this problem, and usually close contact with a veterinary service in case more is needed.

While you love your cat, it is impossible to be unaware that a dirty cat will smell.  A cat grooming service can minimize this odor by keeping your cat clean and deodorized.  This keeps the odor from getting into your furniture, carpet and bedding.  My cat loves the bed, especially when then afternoon sun hits it from the big bedroom window.  I hate having a smelly bed spread, so the cat grooming service is a great help on this.

I cannot say that my cat coughing up a fur ball in anyway was a fun experience for either of us.  I want at all costs to minimize the return of this experience.  While I know its unavoidable, I want it to happen as seldom as possible.  My answer for that is to keep my cat washed and cleaned of the shed hair as much as possible.  I do not always have lots of free time and so a cat grooming service can avoid much of the problem for me.  I drop my cat off and run my errands, by the time we are both done, I’m not stressed over trying to keep my cat still why cleaning him up and he is clean and smelling wonderful.

I need my cat to have an un-matted coat, because sores can hide under a mat in the coat.  They can go untreated and injure your cat.  The cat grooming service cares for my cat’s coat and keeps its in good condition.

A Word About Pests

A cat, can and does, pick up pests such as fleas, ticks, chiggers and they are often in the company of mosquitoes.  These pests carry diseases that will shorten your cat’s life.  A cat grooming service can provide a cat dip that will keep these pests away from your cat.  That in and of itself is a great point for a cat grooming service in my book.

The self service dog grooming facility has several grooming stations with a wash tub and a hose that comes from the top to best wash your pet.  They have shampoo, conditioners, treatments and other products designed specifically for pets, and they have a variety.  Trying to keep all that variety in your home is cost prohibitive and can lead to the waste of products that don’t suit you or your dog.

Benefits of a Self Service Dog Grooming Facility

The raised wash tubs available in a self service dog grooming facility can help save your back from the aches of bending and holding your dog in place while trying to get them washed.  The raised wash tubs allow you to stand upright and wash your dog in comfort for both of you.

The water hoses in the self service dog grooming are mounted above your dog, to allow you to have the water come down over your dog, thus avoiding spraying water up their nose, which can be very dangerous.

If you use a self service dog grooming the water for your dog’s bath is warm.  For dogs who hate bath time, the warmth usually helps eliminate some of the fight.  I don’t find this strange at all, as I hate cold showers myself, and certainly don’t want to subject my dog to a cold shower, especially during winter.

Industrial blow dryers are another wonderful aspect of the self service dog grooming facility.  The blow dryer necessary to remove unwanted shed hair and dry your dog completely is too expensive for most people to purchase for their own use.  However, most of the self service dog grooming centers have these blow dryers available for use.  It is a definite benefit for those areas that have winter, or the owner who wants a dry dog.

Doggie deodorizer, in several scents, is usually available in most self service dog grooming centers.  While I can see not wanting your dog to smell like strawberries, or whatever other scents are available, there are some gentle scents that can help to eliminate the odor of having a pet in your home.

For cats, more than dogs, the removal of shed hair is important, as it keeps down the hair balls a cat will have to expel.  A cat can choke on a hair ball if it becomes lodged in their throat, and there are medications and natural remedies which can help a cat to get rid of a hair ball, but it is easier to minimize the need by using a pet grooming service.  You cat is going to clean himself, but if the hair is not there to ingest, it saves everyone.  While dogs do not bathe themselves as carefully as cats the also pick up too much hair in the cleaning them do.

A clean pet causes less odor problems in your home.  There is no way around the fact that a dirty pet smells.  That smell can get trapped in your home furnishings, carpet and linger in the air.  Using a pet grooming service provides a way to avoid this.  Not all animals react well to being bathed, and using a pet grooming service with people trained to accomplish the cleaning with a minimum of fuss is best for everyone.

The clean skin and the removal of pests is important for any pets, and a pet grooming service can provide this service for your pet.  Fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, chiggers, and numerous other pests can cause your pet discomfort and even disease.  It is important to remove any of these pests and avoid their return.  A clean pet helps to keep the problem under control, and the pet grooming service can in do a pet dip to keep your pet a protected as possible.

Keeping your pets claws clean and trimmed can keep them from damaging your family, themselves, your home, or having difficulties maneuvering with too long claws.

Diseases Can Be Abated With A Pet Grooming Service

To often the pests we listed above can cause diseases that will kill your pet.  Heartworm is only one of them, and it is caused by mosquitoes.  To give your pet his best protection give him medications and make sure the pet grooming service keeps him free of pests and keeps him protected with pest repellent products.

The first is time, and no matter what we like, we cannot make more time, we can only use what we have the best way possible for us.  Caring for a family, a home and a dog are all time consuming, and using a dog grooming service can save you time for other things you have to get done.  In fact, if you don’t have the equipment of time to completely dry your dog after a bath, it can become a problem during winter.  During winter their coat is thicker and its takes a good deal longer to dry.  A dog grooming service has dryers that are designed to keep the coat free of shed hair and dry them after a bath.

Some dogs will fight a bath with everything in them.  If you avoid grooming your dog to avoid a fight, a dog grooming service may be just what you need.  The dog grooming service is trained to deal with dogs and are often in close contact with your pets veterinary service that can provide some type of medication to calm your pet for the necessary grooming.  If your dog is fighting you when you trim his claws you can damage their claws by cutting to deeply.  This will only increase your dog’s fear of grooming.

Dog Grooming Service Pest Dip Can Provide Benefits

Often when you treat your dog with repellents to keep away pests such a fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, chiggers and the like, you can miss areas which these pests love.  One such spot is between the toes of your dog.  This area is a common one in which pests love to hide as there is little hair to keep them from the skin and protection for them from being forced off. A dog grooming service can provide a pest dip which gets all over your dog with the repellent products, even in those places the pests love.

What to Expect from Pet Grooming Help

Proper professional pet grooming help should provide your pet with a soothing grooming experience that is as stress free as possible. Pets going in to be groomed for the first time can be nervous and skittish and to help alleviate the fear, some salons use videos and music as a way to make the environment more pet friendly and to put the pet at ease. The pet grooming help that is provided should include brushing and combing of the coat, removing mats and tangles from the fur, bathing and conditioning the coat, cleaning of the ears and clipping nails. They may have extras that can be included such as scented soaps, shampoos and conditions but be sure you have checked with your veterinarian concerning any allergies your pet may have before having them groomed.

Pet Grooming Help Pricing

Check the prices for grooming and be sure of what is included in the cost of the grooming session. Pet grooming help can be expensive depending on the way the service structures their prices. Be sure to ask beforehand how the price is determined and whether it’s by the size of the animal or the condition of their coat. Animals that have extensive matting and tangling of the fur and require additional time may have an added cost to the basic grooming price. Be sure to check your pet before leaving to ensure you were not charged for mat removal and that there are no mats hidden under the long hair of the animal’s coat.

Necessary Pet Grooming Help

If you have a pet with serious matting, let professional pet grooming help address the situation and do not try to cut the mats away from your pet yourself unless you are an experienced groom. The cost is worth the extra expense to know your pet will not inadvertently be cut and caused undue pain due to your inexperience.  In some instances, it is not only necessary but better that the animal be shaved so new fur can grow instead of subjecting them to a long clipping session especially if your pet does not have a patient temperament.

Pet Grooming Information for Cats

Cats like to groom and be groomed and even though they spend a good part of their day grooming themselves, they do need help in areas such as brushing and combing for medium and long haired breeds, have their ears cleaned, their teeth examined, their nails clipped and eyes checked. Pet grooming information for felines can be found on websites that cater to specific breeds along with general information regarding techniques used and supplies needed. Some websites are created by individuals while others are created by members of cat societies and clubs, publishers of cat magazines and retail pet supply stores. Check the local listings for pet supply stores as many offer in-house cat grooming salons.

Pet Grooming Information for Dogs

The same sources used for pet grooming information for cats can also apply to dogs. In general, dogs do not groom themselves the way cats do so having a standard grooming program in place that includes brushing, bathing, combing, ears and teeth cleaned, eyes checked and nails trimmed should be part of their daily health care. Your veterinarian is an expert when it comes to your pet and can provide you with information and in some cases, literature, for grooming your dog. Your veterinarian is also a source for grooming as many have their own boarding kennel on site and offer basic grooming services. They can also provide nail clipping at any time. Also check with local pet supply stores as many have professional dog grooming services available.

Pet Grooming Information for Birds

Even birds need grooming and general pet grooming information for your feathered friend includes providing adequate access to clean water in a separate container inside of their cage so they can bathe. Birds love water and this is a grooming technique they can do on their own. It’s also acceptable to use a mister with warm water to lightly mist the birds. This allows them to flap and flutter their wings and then groom themselves.

Additional pet grooming information for birds includes clipping of wings, nail trimming and beak care. Pet grooming help is available from your veterinarian and also from reliable pet stores that sell birds and have knowledgeable staff. There are a variety of products available at the pet store to help with your birds grooming time that covers their feathers, nails and beaks such as cuttlebones bones, mineral rocks, specialty perches, nail clippers, bird bath spray, feather conditioners, misting bottles and bird baths.

Online Free Dog Grooming Tips

If you have access to a computer, then you have access to an abundance of free dog grooming tips. These tips come from professionals who groom dogs for a living along with pet grooming information from individuals who have learned on their own by trial and error. There are many websites set up that are dedicated to individual breeds or are set up for general information purposes concerning dog grooming. Many of these sites offer free dog grooming tips and instructions, free do-it-your-guides, videos and free catalogs on grooming that can be downloaded, ordered or printed.

Free Dog Grooming Tips from Pet Supply Stores

Another source for free dog grooming tips is at your local pet supply store. Not only do they have the supplies needed such as shampoos, conditioners, brushes, combs, clippers, ear wipes, teeth cleaners and flea repellents they also have knowledgeable staff that can provide you with basic instructions on how to use the products safely and effectively.

Free Dog Grooming Tips from the Veterinarian

When you take your dog in for a check-up or visit, free dog grooming tips are readily available from your veterinarian. Since the doctor is familiar with your dog and its history, they can suggest what specific types of grooming your dog might need in case your pet has sensitive skin and might have allergic reactions to over the counter brands of shampoo, for example. Your veterinarian can also take care of trimming and clipping your dogs nails versus you doing it yourself and they can prescribe any medicinal shampoo or ear treatment medicine that is needed.

Free Dog Grooming Tips at the Library

The local library is a great source for free dog grooming tips. Check the pet section for books with detailed instructions and pictures and ask about available video sources on DVD or on tape to see how grooming should be done. Most libraries have computers available for public use and if you don’t have a computer at home, sign up to use one at the library to tap into additional free dog grooming tips from online websites.

Health Advantages of Good Grooming

A specific dog grooming tip to address is skin issues. Some dogs suffer from allergies ranging from pollen to flea bites and it’s necessary for them to be bathed and treated with medicinal shampoo and medicine. A proper grooming regimen will help keep a dog that suffers from allergies much more comfortable.

Long haired dogs that are not regularly brushed and combed can have their fur become matted and tangled in a short period of time. This becomes uncomfortable as the knotted mats pull at the dogs skin. If the dog is an outside pet, thorns and burrs become matted along with the fur. A dog grooming tip to follow if the matting is extensive and requires a lengthy grooming session is to have a professional groom the dog which may include the need to clip and shave the dog.

Short haired dogs won’t have the matting issues of a long haired dog but they do shed and another dog grooming tip that will help with excess shedding hair is to brush the dog regularly. Not only does the dog enjoy it but it removes the shedding fur buildup.

An important dog grooming tip is to regularly check their teeth. Dogs suffer from dental problems which can range from a broken tooth caused by gnawing on items to a tooth that is deteriorating due to the age of the pet. Not only are deteriorating teeth painful for your pet, but the cost of dental surgery for you dog can be expensive making this dog grooming tip one that should be incorporated into your pets everyday program.

A final dog grooming tip to follow is to be sure to include having your dogs nails trimmed regularly and to also check their ears for any dirt that can cause a buildup and infection. If your dog is continually scratching at their ears, there is a possibility they have ear mites or there could be an underlying condition or infection. Take your dog to your veterinarian for a professional diagnosis and any necessary treatment.

There are several grooming techniques along with numerous supplies to use with a good grooming program and if you’re a new dog owner and not sure about how to get started, free dog grooming tips can be found online, at your local pet supply store, from your veterinarian and at your local library.

Establishing a daily program of exercise for you dog is a very good dog grooming tip to follow especially as your pet gets older and starts to slow down. Providing quality food that has the vitamins and nutrients your dog requires along with plenty of exercise and a good grooming regimen will help to ensure your dog has a shiny coat, healthy skin and ears along with strong teeth and nails. A healthy dog is a happy dog.