Good grooming can help track your pet's health. Here are some basic pet care tips.

By Dr. Tracy Acosta

McClatchy Newspapers

Proper hygiene and grooming have a number of benefits and are important aspects of your pet's overall health. There are definitely certain breeds of dogs and cats that require much higher maintenance than others.

In fact, daily and weekly grooming needs are important factors to consider when choosing a new pet. If you are truly not willing to or able to devote the necessary time to properly care for some of these high maintenance breeds, please choose one of the many other breeds that do not involve such a time requirement.

As a veterinarian, one of the most frustrating things I see are the pets that come in for an examination and are so poorly maintained with basic grooming needs, that it causes an unhealthy pet. As a responsible pet owner you must commit yourself to have your pet properly maintained throughout your pet's life. Most pet owners start off adequately, but often have a tendency to let this significant aspect of their pet's health wane, especially as they get older than 10 years of age. However, it is during those geriatric years that most pets deserve and require proper grooming more than ever.

The dogs and cats that need frequent grooming can often be done at home for routine daily care, but it is often quite beneficial to use the services of a professional groomer at least occasionally to truly keep your pet's grooming needs in check.

Grooming your pet yourself is a great way to keep tabs on what is going on with your pet's body. By establishing a grooming routine early in your pet's life, you will quickly learn what is normal for your pet. Anything unusual will stand out, often allowing you to catch problems such as ear infections, skin disease, parasite infections and skin growths before they become serious.

Following those few concepts produces a lifelong trust between you and your pet and also teaches your pet to be more comfortable about being handled by you, a veterinarian, a professional groomer and all who enjoy your pet's company.

BRUSHING

Brushing is the foundation of good grooming for all pets of all coat lengths. It loosens and removes dirt, dead hair and skin cells, distributes the skin's natural oils through the coat and prevents tangles in long-haired pets. The type of brush you will use depends on your pet's coat. Be sure to brush down to the skin, not just over the surface of the coat. The amount and frequency of brushing depends on your pet's coat and lifestyle. Consult with your veterinarian or professional groomer on what is best for your particular pet.

PROFESSIONAL TRIMS

For those pets whose coats must be styled, clipped, stripped or other complicated techniques, it is often best to leave the job to a professional groomer. The critical areas on all of these pets are considered the feet, face, ears and rear end. One particularly tough area to groom is the area around the eyes. If left unkempt, the hair can start irritating the eyes and cause numerous problems. Another example is the rear end section. When properly groomed, your pet will not bring in the feces that should have been left in the yard.

BATHING

Use a shampoo that is formulated for pets. Your pet's skin has a different pH level than ours, so a human shampoo (even human baby shampoo) will strip away beneficial skin oils. You can find a wide array of pet shampoos available to suit any pet's particular needs. Consult with your veterinarian on what will keep your pet's skin and coat in top condition.

No matter what type of shampoo you use, thorough rinsing is a must. After bathing, you can towel dry or blow dry your pet's coat dry. Regardless, be sure to keep your pet from getting chilled after a bath.

EAR CARE

It is important to check and clean your pet's ears on a regular basis. Obviously, some pets (i.e. spaniels and retrievers) will require more attention than others. Typically, pets whose ears stand erect have far fewer problems than those with floppy ears. Always clean and dry your pet's ears after bathing and swimming. Again, it is important to use a product that is designed for cleaning a pet's ears, since the ear canal and ear drum are very sensitive areas. So, it is preferable that you not use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide because they can be too harsh.

Certain dog breeds also need to have hair routinely plucked from the ear canals. Not properly plucking the hair on a regular basis can cause ear problems and infections.

FOOT CARE

Most pet's nails grow quickly, so regular trimming is a must. Puppies and kittens especially, have super sharp, fast-growing nails. So, keep them trimmed regularly to accustom your pet to trimming and to prevent painful gouges in your skin.

Nail trimming often involves much howling on the part of the pet and flinching on the part of the owner. With care and early training, you can accomplish this task without trauma for either you or your pet. If you cannot stand the fuss your pet puts up, have a groomer or veterinarian do the task.

Both you and your pet will benefit in many ways by keeping grooming an important priority. You will enjoy being around a cleaner and happier pet, while your pet's basic hygiene maintenance will result in better health as well.

Dr. Tracy Acosta is a veterinarian at Biloxi Animal Hospital.