Why is grooming one of the foundations of a pet care routine?

Grooming is not just for dogs. Professional grooming is important for other animal species besides dogs. Long-haired cat breeds and older and overweight cats, who no longer pay enough attention to their coats due to their characteristics, need human help with fur care. As a result, the fur becomes matted, pulls the skin, and loose fur can cause hairballs that are dangerous to the digestive tract when swallowed. Long-haired rabbit breeds such as Angora or Lion's Mane rabbits also need regular brushing and trimming, as swallowed hair is life-threatening for rabbits. Long-haired guinea pig breeds such as Peruvians or Shelties also need regular care, whose fur must be regularly cut and cleaned to keep the skin clean and prevent skin infections caused by congestion. Who needs grooming ? The need for fur care directly depends on the structure of the animal's fur. Short-haired and single-coated breeds require primarily simple brushing, while other coat types require regular and technically correct grooming to maintain good health. Double-coated breeds, such as the Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Husky, Spitz and Shetland Sheepdog, have a double coat, or undercoat and topcoat, that requires constant combing. Long-haired, curly and woolly-coated breeds, such as Poodles and Bichons, require regular brushing and clipping, as their coat grows continuously and can easily become matted without care. Wire-coated terriers and schnauzers require special trimming to keep the pores on the skin clean and the new coat healthy. Undercoat combing and skin health One of the most important grooming procedures is the thorough combing out of loose undercoat, which is especially critical during seasonal hair changes in spring and autumn. Loose undercoat remaining on the surface of the skin mixes with body fat, moisture and dirt, forming a dense layer over the skin. The layer does not allow the skin to breathe and creates a moist and warm microenvironment, which is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. The result can be acute wet dermatitis or hot spots , other skin infections or, in milder cases, simply unpleasant itching. In addition, a shaggy undercoat disrupts the animal's natural thermoregulation. Other benefits of grooming Regular grooming has other benefits. Because the groomer works thoroughly on the animal's entire body, he can detect skin tumors, ticks and parasites, wounds, ear infections and even joint problems early on. Equally important is nail and paw care, because nails of the right length keep the paw position healthy and protect the joints from early wear and tear. In addition, shaggy and long hair is removed from between the paw pads, which accumulate salt and ice in winter and burrs in summer. The specialist can also notice the fullness of the anal sacs and clean the ear canals. Salon vs. home care: which should you prefer? Daily and weekly care tasks such as brushing, cleaning the eyes and ears and cutting the nails can be successfully performed at home. However, this requires having the necessary tools and being familiar with the animal's care procedures. A visit to the salon is indispensable if the coat is already very shaggy, if the breed requires specific trimming or scissor and machine cutting, or if the animal requires the informed approach of an experienced specialist. Specialists have professional baths, ergonomic cutting tools, a wide range of suitable hair care products and effective hair dryers that blow loose undercoat safely away from the skin. Sources The article is written based on the preventive medicine and hygiene guidelines of the European Society of Veterinary Dermatology and the American Veterinary Medical Association.