Summer Pet Grooming Tips from Our Scarsdale Veterinarians

Keeping your pet’s coat clean and healthy is important during the summer months, as your pet’s coat keeps him or her cool while preventing sunburn. Grooming your pet’s coat, however, is not as simple as it may seem, especially if you plan to trim his or her fur. If planning to groom your pet at home, follow these helpful tips from our veterinarians.

• Never shave your pet’s coat. Any time you trim your cat or dog’s fur, be sure to leave at least an inch or two to prevent sunburn. For certain breeds, even two inches is too short. If a dog with a naturally heavy coat’s fur is trimmed too short, it will never grow back properly. The fur will not effectively keep the animal cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
• Bathe your cat or dog regularly and brush with a comb designed to remove loose and matted fur. Bathing will remove any dirt or other summer debris from your dog or cat’s coat, and will also help to prevent problems with parasites like fleas and ticks.
• When bathing your dog or cat, be sure to keep water from getting into his or her eyes and ears. First, wet your pet’s fur. Then, shampoo starting at the head and working your way down the animal’s body. Rinse well.
• Be sure to use a shampoo specially formulated for dogs or cats.

While grooming your cat or dog is okay to do yourself at home, our veterinarian recommends professional grooming to ensure the safety and comfort of your pet.

Prepare Your Pet for Summer with Professional Grooming

Our veterinarians at Central Animal Hospital can help you choose a pet salon for professional pet grooming in Scarsdale. In addition to safely maintaining the cleanliness and length of your pet’s fur, professional groomers also offer nail clipping to keep your dog or cat’s paws comfortable during play. Professional groomers use a gentle, experienced touch when working with pets.

Do you groom your pet at home or have it professionally done?