Justine Lee

After a full body shave down with my vet clippers, my cat Seamus struts around the house like he’s king of the hill – I think he loves feeling completely groomed and fur-free. Grooming is an important part of pet ownership – it’ll keep your pet happier, healthier and more comfortable. It’ll also help eliminate hairballs in your cats (and secondary vomiting), keep your house more fur free, keep the allergen level down (from all that dander), and keep your pet from developing painful, matted hair (think dreadlocks) – these can result in a bigger underlying problem like a moist dermatitis (i.e., “hot spot”) underneath if left untreated.  During these tough times, save your pet the stress and you the costs of going for a professional grooming job – with some elbow grease, the right tools, and some patience, you might be able to do the job at home.
 
Pet products worth buying
I’ve seen a lot of expensive emergency vet visits due to home-grooming – owners who accidentally cut their dog’s skin (or even their tongue) with sharp scissors in an attempt to get mats out or give their pet a haircut themselves. When it comes to your pet, never use any sharp instruments near them! Instead, splurge on a one-time costly, but appropriate, grooming tool instead – it’ll pay off in the long run, and save you an expensive ER visit.
 
If you own a pet, the FURminator™ is the #1 tool you should have at home for your cat or dog – no matter how short or long their hair coat is! This easy to use, ergonomic, sturdy, well-made tool helps reduce shedding by up to 90% by removing the loose, dead undercoat without damaging the topcoat.  This works great for Golden retrievers, Siberian huskies, Labrador retrievers, and short- or long-haired cats. Have the vacuum handy though, as you’ll be shocked (or disgusted) by piles of fur that fly off!

Your other option is a professional grooming clipper (like Oster™) – while these are pricey, they’re great if you want to safely clip off your pet’s hair. I use this for my cats, as I’m too busy to groom them like I’m suppose to (that’s once a week, folks!). Instead, I lazily just shave all their hair off instead (into a beautiful, stylish lion-cut) during those shedding spring and summer months.

Here are a few other grooming products that are worth splurging on. Cloud Star’s™ Buddy Wash pet shampoo works well for my greasy dog, and is pH-balanced for dogs (people have different skin pH, so you shouldn’t be using your own shampoo on your pet without consulting a vet). This shampoo is the Aveda™ of dog shampoos – pure, natural, safe products that make bathing your dog worth it. Also, if you find yourself having to bath your dog a lot, splurge on an adjustable shower head – your back will save you in the long run. Finally, skip the sprays, wipes, perfumes, and conditioners – you’re better off saving your money on proven products and brushing and bathing instead.

The once-a-month Jiffy-Lube
When it comes to your cat, skip the bath – cats are such fastidious groomers that they rarely ever need to be bathed (and they hate it, anyway!). Bathing a dog, on the other hand, is a necessity, and the frequency of bathing is dependent on several factors: genetics, how seborrheic (or “greasy”) the skin may be, underlying medical or skin problems, and how dirty your dog is! Some dogs only need to be bathed every few months, while my dog needs it monthly. In general, adapt this to how high your stink-tolerance is, how greasy your dog’s coat feels, if your fingers are left with a black grime after petting your dog, and on the length of your pet’s coat. I like to do a monthly tune-up: a bath, followed by a gentle ear cleaning, a nail trim, an overall health inspection (making sure there aren’t any lumps or bumps anywhere), and tooth brushing. It’s the only way I’ll consistently make sure to do it – and I follow this all up with the monthly heartworm preventative as a reward.

Breed biases:
If you have certain breeds, you’re out of luck when it comes to saving on grooming. Standard poodles, bichon frises, Portuguese water dogs, and dogs with constantly growing, curly hair need a professional do once every 3-4 months. Your typical dog doesn’t need haircuts – they just need to be thoroughly brushed out and bathed. These specific breeds however, need constant clipping to keep their curls tame and non-matted. Also, if you have a giant breed dog (like a Saint Bernard or a Newfoundland), the splurge for a groomer might just be worth it to save you!

Biography:
Dr. Justine Lee is a veterinary emergency critical care specialist and the Associate Director of Veterinary Services at Pet Poison Helpline. She is also the author of It’s a Dog’s Life… but It’s Your Carpet and It’s a Cat’s World… You Just Live In It.