Basic grooming of animals There are so many different types of animal coats that the selection of appropriate brushes and combs becomes a complex issue. For this reason a selection of different grooming items will be shown along with their application. This will allow you the opportunity to make an informed choice when selecting the brush or comb to use for each animal. Things to consider when selecting a brush or comb are: the length and thickness of coat the condition of the coat, eg is it matted or full of burrs? the sensitivity of the animal. Some breeds are very sensitive and do not appreciate a hard brush on their coat the outcome expected, eg do you wish to thin the coat out, improve condition, remove dead hair or fluff up the coat to make it look thicker? Grooming equipment In the photos below is a selection of brushes that are suitable for grooming. From left to right: Stiff bristle brush for thick coated pets, double sided comb for long fine hair, slicker brush for removing burrs from thick coats and a flea comb for removing fleas from the hair shaft. Basic grooming 1
Pictured is a range of combs suitable for use on dogs and cats. Brushing animals Remember that the animal must be restrained safely and, if necessary, a muzzle or sedative used to avoid injury to the groom. It is also worth considering the comfort of the animal you are grooming. Avoid pulling at knots, instead, separate large knots into smaller knots making them easier to remove. Don t use harsh brushes directly on the skin, you may cause infection, discomfort or encourage the animal to become aggressive. Select the correct brush to suit the type of coat. Follow the fall of the hair when brushing. Use long-toothed combs on long haired animals. If appropriate, shampoo and blow dry the animal before brushing to loosen mats and dirt. Only brush for short periods of time, several short sessions are more productive than a long arduous session. It also helps prevent the animal from becoming sour. Great care must be taken when trimming dogs and cats with scissors as it is very easy to cut the skin. Always lift the scissors away from the body before cutting. 2 Basic grooming
Bathing an animal Animals may be bathed for several reasons including for aesthetic reasons of making them look and smell nice, for medical reasons (often with medicated shampoos), for hygiene reasons or for removal of gross material, such as mud, faeces, etc. For the wellbeing and safety of yourself and the animal, it is best to be well prepared prior to commencing the bathing procedure. This includes having all equipment ready prior to the procedure. To bath an animal, follow these steps: 1 Restrain the animal correctly before commencing. 2 Select the correct bath and shampoo to suit the individual animal. 3 Have all items needed for bathing and drying ready before you commence. 4 Water temperature should be similar to a babies bath. An animal s skin is more sensitive than ours. 5 Wet the animal thoroughly with warm water before applying the shampoo. 6 Avoid getting water into the animal s eyes, ears or nose. You may choose to plug the animal s ears prior to the bath using cotton wool. This will prevent excess water entering the ear canals. 7 Add a small quantity of water to the shampoo before applying to assist with penetration. 8 Lather the animal thoroughly covering all areas of the body, including belly, anus, feet, and tail. 9 Leave the shampoo on for the length of time recommended by the manufacturer. Have a look at the directions on the shampoo for the specified time. 10 Rinse off thoroughly with warm water. 11 Remove excess water with hands. 12 Remove the animal to a safe area to dry. 13 Towel dry as much water as possible. How to clip toenails Assume that a struggle will occur as most animals resent having their toenails clipped. Ask an assistant to restrain the pet firmly. Apply a muzzle if necessary. Hold the paw out straight, to allow you to see the nails clearly. Basic grooming 3
Select the appropriate sized clippers. Look closely at the accompanying diagram this indicates the correct place to cut without hitting the quick and making the nail bleed. Cut the nails one at a time once you are confident that you understand the difference between the nail and the quick. If you do happen to make a nail bleed, apply either soap or a powdered coagulant to cauterise the nail. When clipping the toenail cut below the quick to avoid making the nail bleed. With clear toenails, as in the photo above, it is easy to see the pink quick so it is best to practise on these first before attempting to do black toenails. This way, you will have an idea of how long the quick is in a normal dog or cat. Eyes These are very sensitive organs and if poked or investigated incorrectly could result in any one of a range of serious problems. The greatest risk to the eyes would be ulcers created by scratching the surface of the eyeball. Depending on which area of the eye and how deep, a total loss of sight could result. Infection is very difficult to control in this area because it is very moist and the animal is inclined to rub it continuously. Flies and dust can also perpetuate the problem. Take great care when clipping or trimming around this area, it is easy to slip and lacerate the eyelids, conjunctiva or the eyeball itself. Be aware that some breeds of poppy-eyed dogs can pop their eyeballs out if scruffed excessively eg Shihtzu, Pekinese or Pug. Be careful when applying any chemical around the eye, products such as shampoos, flea treatments and tear stain remover can all irritate the eyes and cause discomfort. 4 Basic grooming
To clean around the eyes, you should restrain the animal; you may need an assistant to help. Then, moisten a cotton swab with water and gently wipe around the eyes. Avoid touching the eye or tear duct area. This Pug has protruding eyes. Great care must be taken with a dog like this, as they can easily injure the eyes. This cat has bright, clean eyes. Tear stains are apparent at the corners but this is a natural reaction, if excessive, trim the hair away to reduce the level of irritation to this area. Ears Animals are very sensitive around the ears so great care should be taken when handling the ears, particularly if removing excess hair from the ear canal. The animal may resent the intrusion and snap at you. Basic grooming 5
It is common practice to pull the excess hair out of the ear canal to reduce moisture in this area. Remember, when you are doing this activity, your pets ears hurt just as much as your own. If they protest you are probably hurting them so don t punish them more by giving them a smack. Try to reduce the pain by only pulling a few hairs at a time and doing it as quickly as possible, perhaps only pull a few out at a time over a period of days. When bathing animals, avoid pouring water into the ear canal, this is very irritating and can cause great distress. A good way to avoid this happening is to either put cotton wool into the ear canal or hold your hand over the opening before running water over the head. The ears of this cocker spaniel are very neglected. Removing the heavy matts and excess hair in the ear canal will greatly relieve the discomfort to this dog. The skin on the ears can be paper thin. So be very careful when clipping or trimming with the scissors as it is very easy to nick the ear if you aren t aware of where the hair ends and the skin starts. Pulling knots out of the hair on the ears can cause many arguments between the groom and the pet. The skin on the ears is very sensitive and it is extremely painful when it is pulled. Try to reduce the size of the knots by splitting with the scissors before pulling them out with a comb. 6 Basic grooming
Inspecting the cats ear canal while it is sedated is the safest method. Look for ear mites or dirt. These are evident by dark brown lumps of dirt. Veterinary treatment is needed to control ear mites as they are contagious and cross-infection between clients could occur if strict hygiene protocol isn t adhered to. To clean an animal s ears, moisten a cotton swab with water or a specified ear cleansing liquid. Hold back the pinna of the ear and gently wipe the ear. Do not penetrate the ear canal; just wipe the outer surface areas. Ear cleaning equipment Basic grooming 7