Downtorn Doggie

From the Greenville News, July 13, 2007

---

Groom Your Pet with Care

By Angie Campbell
STAFF WRITER

Gayle McCallum makes it a practice to set aside the animals she grooms before she ever pulls out the clippers.

“I talk to the owner first and educate them so that they can make the appropriate decisions when it comes to grooming their pet,” said McCallum, owner of Downtown Doggie in Taylors.

One of the biggest myths, she said, is that it’s good to shave pets during summer months.

“We’re humans, so we think logically,” McCallum said. “We think, ‘OK, it’s hot outside. When I’m hot, I wear less clothing, so when my pet is hot, he needs less fur.’

“With pets, that’s not the case at all. They don’t sweat through their skin like humans do. They pant.”

Lisa Parker, department head of animal studies at Greenville Technical College, said grooming myths such as this can lead to serious health problems for dogs and cats. Everything from brushing to bathing can harm pets if not done properly, she said.

“An animal’s fur is actually their insulation against the heat and the cold,” Parker said. “They need it. To remove the undercoat and to keep them well-groomed is what keeps them cooler. Plus their hair protects them from sunburn, and dogs can get sunburned very easily.”

McCallum said some breeds, such as poodles and Shih Tzus, require frequent shaving, but it’s not because of the heat. It’s just that some breeds grow fur continuously, she said.

“One reason why I would keep pets clipped is if the pet is matted,” she said. “Unfortunately, that happens, and mats and tangles occur more frequently in some breeds.”

Both Parker and McCallum said there’s a proper way to brush an animal.

“If you don’t know how to brush properly, you can brush-burn them,” Parker said. “Brush burn and clipper burn come if you brush a dog very aggressively, over and over again in the same spot. It will cause redness and can irritate its skin.”

She said biting, itching and scratching soon after grooming are signs of bad brushing or clipping.

“When a dog’s skin is irritated, their natural instinct is to lick and bite at it,” Parker said. “By licking and biting at it, it makes it worse, and again, it can lead to infections if it’s not treated properly.”

McCallum recommends that owners use a greyhound comb or slicker brush for brushing.

“If you can’t get a comb through down to the skin, then you’ve got tangles or mats,” she said. “You’ve also got an undercoat that needs to come out. Don’t just brush the top layer and expect to have done a good job.”

Parker said matting can be problem that seems like it has a simple solution, but it doesn’t.

“What can happen is that a dog will have a matted-up clump of hair, and a person will think you can just use scissors to cut it off,” she said.

“They’ll grab the matted fur, pull it up and cut, not realizing that when you pull that mat away from the body of the dog, the skin comes with it. A lot of times people will cut and think they’re just cutting the mat because it feels so thick, but they’re actually cutting the dog’s skin, too.”

When it comes to bathing an animal, Parker said owners should always start by wetting the head.

“You should never start from the middle or tail,” she said. “If an animal has fleas, the fleas are going to run to the head and get in the ears, in the corners of the eyes, or up in the nose to avoid the water.”

Reasons such as these explain why Parker says that grooming is best left to professionals.

“Unless someone really knows what they’re doing, I wouldn’t recommend anyone groom their dog at home,” she said. “You can cut or hurt a dog very easily if you don’t know what you’re doing.”

McCallum agreed, but she said in some cases, owners can and should groom their animals.

“I understand finances can be a factor,” she said. “If you’re trained properly, there’s no reason you can’t do it yourself. If you don’t know if you’re doing it wrong, contact someone for help. Contact a professional groomer or a veterinarian because there are proper tools and techniques you should be using to keep your pets healthy and comfortable.”

Parker said home grooming can actually be more expensive than using a professional.

“If you’re using cheap clippers, the blade can get hot and you can give them what’s called clipper burn, which can develop into hot spots, infections or sores,” she said.

“Simply giving your dog a quick haircut can seem such a good way to save money, but it can actually cost you a lot of money if you don’t know what you’re doing.”

 

 

 

© 2007 Downtown Doggie