Striegel Animal Hospital
Over 50 Years of Quality Medicine
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Something Special Award July 2010 Winner
Melissa
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| Dear Helen... |
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Is it really important to have my dog's toenails trimmed? And how often should it be done? Yes, regular nail trims are important, and overgrown nails can lead to several problems. The most common problem occurs when your dog or gat gets a nail caught in something like carpeting or your clothing. Most of the time they can free themselves, but sometimes they will break the nail, which causes bleeding and pain. If your pet struggles too hard, s/he can get a muscle strain or sprain. Nail that grow too long can also cause the toes to spread into an uncomfortable position. Over time, they can cause deformities of the toes and foot, which can lead to arthritis. As your pet tries to compensate for the pain in his feet, he can put stress on other joints, which will also become painful. Many pets have nails that curl as they grow. If not trimmed regularly, those nails can curl under and pierce the bottoms of the toes. It's even possible for the nail to grow all the way through the toe until it comes out the top of the foot, and they usually become swollen and infected. Nails that have grown into the pad should be cut and pulled out by your veterinarian, who will flush the wounds and prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection. How often nails need to be trimmed depends on a couple of factors, such as how much exercise your pet is getting and how fast the nails are growing. Thus, surfaces like pavement, gravel and sand will help war the nails down naturally, and your pet may not need a nail trim at all. But if the most exercise your pet is getting is a short walk from the couch to his food bowl, a once-a-month nail trim will keep him from developing painfully overgrown nails.
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Just Ask Helen
Our Professional Groomer will begin answering questions for you about professional grooming, styling, showing pets and some of the things you can do if you plan to show your pet. She will also answer general questions about grooming. Of the questions Helen receives each month, she will choose one or two and write about them in her column, located on the homepage of our website. Just drop off your questions at the reception desk or send an email to Helen, c/o striegelanhosp@clearwave.com.
March 2009: How Often to Groom?
I have often wondered how often I should have my pet groomed. Can you give me some insight? Curious Owner
Dear Owner,
There is no simple answer to this question because different breeds have different types of coat. Here are some suggestions:
Dogs with short coats may only require grooming every 3 – 4 months. However, monthly scheduling may be beneficial to you to keep your pet smelling “fresh” and reducing the amount of shedding in your home.
Dogs with double coats (i.e. German Shepherds and Collies) have a dense, wooly undercoat and should be completely brushed out every 6 – 8 weeks to prevent matting and reduce shedding.
Poodles, Bichons and the drop-coated breeds, such as Yorkies and Maltese, should be groomed every 3 – 6 weeks to keep their coats free of mats. Some of my clients have their pets professionally bathed and tidied once a week, with a full groom every 6 weeks!
I hope this helps with your grooming plans. Of course, you pet still needs to be brushed regularly at home and a monthly nail trim is recommended.
Keep the questions coming in! Till next month,
Helen