Pet grooming and coat care at home

Coat care is often taken for a cosmetic, but it is part of health. Regular brushing, nail and ear checks, bathing at the right frequency and knowing when a professional should step in: this article covers what you can do at home and when to visit a groomer, in general terms. The details change with your animal's breed and coat type.

Brushing: the habit that helps most

The benefit of brushing is wider than people think. A short-haired animal may be fine with a few times a week, while long or double-coated breeds can need it almost daily. Regular brushing removes dead hair, prevents mats (felting) and, because you are in direct contact with the skin, lets you notice fleas, ticks or a change in the skin early; in the Mediterranean climate this matters, see the ticks, fleas and sandflies article for details. Coat care in cats works the same way: a regularly brushed cat swallows less hair, which reduces hairball problems in the gut. A shiny coat is also tied to diet; for a balanced one, the food choice and nutrition article helps.

Nails, ears and teeth: the basics

• Nails. If you hear clicking on the floor or the animal seems uncomfortable walking, the nails are too long. Trimming little by little is safer so you do not cut the quick; if unsure, leave it to the vet or groomer.
• Ears. A short weekly look is enough: if there is redness, odour or dark discharge, ask the clinic rather than trying to clean it. Pushing a cotton bud into the ear canal is not advised.
• Teeth and mouth. The unseen side of coat care is oral health; tartar and odour are caught early. Details are in the tartar and bad breath article.
• Bathing. Washing a dog at home is, for most healthy dogs, needed only rarely; washing too often strips the skin's natural oils and can cause itching. Use a shampoo made for animals, rinse well and dry thoroughly, especially down to the undercoat on a double coat. Cats usually clean themselves and do not need bathing unless necessary.

A professional groomer: when and how

Matting you cannot manage at home, breed-specific clips, nails that are hard to trim or the care of sensitive areas are a professional groomer's job. When choosing one, watch a single detail: prefer a place that works patiently and at the animal's pace, not one that routinely uses sedation to keep an animal still; a healthy animal does not need to be sedated for a groom. The short shave often requested in summer does not suit every breed: in many double-coated dogs the coat actually insulates against sun and heat, and shaving down to the skin can remove that protection and raise the risk of sunburn and heat problems; for hot-season care in general, see the summer animal care article. You can compare nearby clinics and care services in the directory, and read how this directory is put together on the about page.

This page is general information, not medical advice. Decisions based on coat type, breed and the animal's health belong to the vet who examines the animal or an experienced groomer.