Top Grooming Tips to Keep Your Dog Healthy During the Cold, Wet Months

Top Grooming Tips to Keep Your Dog Healthy During the Cold, Wet Months

Top Grooming Tips to Keep Your Dog Healthy During the Cold, Wet Months

Top Grooming Tips to Keep Your Dog Healthy During the Cold, Wet Months

Many pet owners assume that grooming is not an issue since their dogs are always inside during the wet and cold months. The American Veterinary Medical Society explains that even if dogs stay indoors, they should also have regular grooming. This routine should not stop even during winter to maintain the health of your canine companion. If you want to start grooming your canine during the wet and cold months, here’s what you should know.
 

Bathing in Cold Weather


If your dog has a fluffy and long coat, you should groom your pet more. To prevent doggie smells from taking over, you should bathe your dogs regularly. Make sure to dry your canine companions completely before you let them out again so that they won’t get cold. Small dogs and canine breeds with short, smooth hair are prone to chilling when they get a little wet. They can also tremble from a bath if you don’t dry them thoroughly. These dogs suffer from hypothermia if they experience cold for an extended period. Speed up the process of drying your dog by using a blow drier, especially if your pet tolerates it.
 

Paw Protection


Irritation, infection, and cracked pads from salt, snow, gravel, mud, rain, and cold temperatures can cause problems. Always make sure that you have a dry towel by the door, ready for paw wiping after that winter walk. As you wipe your dog’s paws, inspect for any mud balls, snow, or debris that your dog may not have felt while walking. Also, check for long nails that need trimming. If you leave nails unchecked, they will grow into your dog’s footpads.
 

Proper Haircut


There are dog owners who don’t believe in giving their dogs a winter trim because they think it would decrease their dogs’ ability to stay warm. This may be true for dogs or other animals that live outdoors, but it isn’t for indoor dogs. They usually cuddle with their owners under warm fleece blankets on the couch, in bed, or by the fireplace. If you think about it, your dog does not rely on a thick undercoat or long, flowy fur to keep warm at all. Go ahead and give your dog a good trim this winter. You can always provide a thick doggie sweater whenever you step outside for a quick walk.
 

Constant Brushing


If your dog has an extra thick coat, you should always brush it. This removes dead hair, tangles, and dirt. It also improves natural oil distribution and enhances blood circulation. Your dog’s thick coat can hide sores, lumps, and protrusions. Brushing enables you to inspect your dog’s skin underneath all that fur.
 

Keeping your dog well-groomed during winter can maintain your canine companion’s health during the drastic temperature drops. At Madison Animal Care Hospital, we encourage our pet parents to keep their furry family members well-groomed whatever season it may be. Please visit our clinic in Madison, Alabama, for an in-person consultation. You can also call us at 256-461-7575. That way, we can help schedule your appointment or answer your questions about our winter pet grooming packages.
 

References:

https://dogsguru.ru/other-2/3190-6-grooming-tips-to-keep-your-dog-healthy-during.html

https://iheartdogs.com/6-grooming-tips-to-keep-your-dog-healthy-during-the-cold-wet-months/