Grooming

Grooming is an important part of preventive medical care, and regular grooming at our Bethesda pet spa will help prevent serious medical problems—not to mention make your dog look, smell, and feel better. By having your dog groomed regularly, you can help detect skin infections and growths before they become a problem.

 

Coat

Dogs require regular bathing to keep their skin and coat healthy, and brushing between baths will get rid of tangles and mats. Mats on dogs are painful and can cause skin infections, and matted hair around the hindquarters is especially painful and dangerous. Take a peek at your pet's bottom every now and then to make sure it isn’t matted or infected. A foul smell signals trouble. With dogs, scooting is often a sign that there is a problem.

 

Nails

In general, your dog's nails are too long if you can hear his tap-dancing on your floor. Long nails can get caught in carpet or cause them to slip. On some dogs, nails curve around and grow into the feet, causing pain and infection.

 

Ears

Ear cleaning is important in preventing ear mites and infections, and dogs with hairy ears need extra attention. Healthy ears do not have an odor and look clean, and anything different should be examined right away.

 

Eyes

Keep the hair around your dog's eyes clipped short enough so that it can see properly. Long hair that dangles into the eyes can cause irritation or damage the cornea. Also, the matter that collects in the corners of eyes should be cleared away regularly (for some dogs, daily) so that the debris doesn’t create sores.