Nails and Ears

It has recently come to my professional attention how important it is to maintain nails and ears in dogs and cats.
Recently I have had many people come in for nail trims and ear cleanings who have not routinely checked these areas on their pets.
It is simply not acceptable to suggest that a groomer hasn't cleaned ears or trimmed nails when that groomer hasn't seen the particular pet in months.
Pet owners need to have a reliable ear cleaner that they use once-a-week (drop or 2 in each ear) and swab the outer area for excess wax.
Nails need checking every 5-10 days and if unable to do the trim oneself then consider seeing your groomer once-a-month for a naim trim.
Nails are constantly growing and therefore it is difficult to shorten them if the vein or quick in the nails has lengthened with time.
it`s important to the pet because ear infections are painful and there is just so much rubbing a groomer can do before the skin in the ear becomes red and irritated. We cannot take care of a medical problem, but we can with experience identify the problem.
With nails, I hear alot of people say that they do alot of walking and therefore keep their dog`s nails short. Well if a person really realized just how much walking it takes to shorten those nails they would dust off the nail clipper much faster or visit their groomer more often.
Long nails on a dog can cause the foot to spread and the toes to splay out making it difficult for the dog to maintain a proper gait walking or running. Also, some nails grow naturally like a hook, they are the worst for dogs because eventually they grow into the pads of the foot and cause infection as well as a temporary lameness.
CATS have mainly the same problems, but they, on average don`t have a ready build up of wax in their ears. This is not to say that a routine home examination isn`t necessary or routine cleaning is less important. Cats ears need attention every 10 days.
Cats nails need to be seen to at least every 4-6 weeks. Some cats have very thick nails and some nails readily grow into the pads of their feet.
ALL THIS CAN BECOME VERY PAINFUL AND EXPENSIVE AT THE PET`S VET. ALL THE PAIN AND EXPENSE CAN BE AVOIDED WITH A LITTLE EXAMINATION WHILE HAVING THAT LOVELY HUG AND PAT.

winter dog

Hey its winter and here are a few tips
Don't wait for warm weather before you see a groomer - matted hair exposes the skin and the dog can become cold.
Paw Protector is very important in protecting the skin between the pads. It can also keep pads supple and prevent cracking.
A winter hair cut can consist of a thorough brush out, bath/blow dry and light trim, rather than a radical removal of hair.

Welcome to The Blogging Dog!

Hey Cyberpets,

Over the summer I will be entering tips and info on grooming, health and living with your dog and/or cat.

I'm a professional pet stylist on Queen W. in Toronto with my own grooming salon.

I look forward to your interest and would be pleased to answer any queries.

Bye for now!

Linda