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.
May 2009: Brushing Problems
Dear Helen,
I brush my dog every day, but my groomer still says he’s matted and needs to be clipped short. What am I doing wrong?
This is a problem groomers see quite often. The reason your pet is still getting matted isn’t because you don’t brush him often enough. It’s because you’re only brushing the top coat, and not getting him brushed all the way to the skin.
You’re probably thinking “…and how do I do that?” Well, there are two things you can do to get his coat brushed completely, down to the skin.
The first is called “line brushing.” To do that, simply push the coat up with one hand and hold it up while you brush it down, one layer at a time.
The second thing you should do is finish with a comb. This is best done with a metal comb that has both medium and fine teeth. When you’ve finished brushing, go back over your pet with the comb. A brush might pass over tangles you’ve missed, but a comb will not. If you hit a snag with the comb, gently pick it out with the medium end of your comb, and then comb through with the fine end.
This should keep your pet looking well-groomed and mat-free. However, if you run into a mat you can’t pick apart, call for a grooming appointment before it gets any worse.
If you have any questions about the best tools for your pet, or if you need help understanding the best way to use them, I would be happy to help. Give us a call.
Helen