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Basic Home Grooming for Cats and Dogs Basic Home Grooming for Cats and Dogs From "Talking Dirty With the Queen of Clean" episode DQOC-105

Joan Ward, a professional pet groomer, gives tips on grooming pets and pet grooming equipment.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure D
	Figure E

• A universal brush can be used on every type of pet hair (figure A).

• Pin brushes have very soft brushes that work well on breeds such as the Maltese and the Yorkie.

• Rakes remove undercoats and the double coats of double-coated dogs like the Samoyed, Collie and Sheltie (figure B).

• Shorthaired cats can be groomed with universal brushes, while longhaired cats should can be groomed with a rake.

• Bathe dogs with dog shampoo, not people shampoo. People shampoo does not have the correct pH for a dog's skin. Dog shampoos are usually concentrated, so follow container directions for diluting the product before applying to the dog's skin.

• To brush a dog, work the brush through the coat while using one hand to hold the dog's coat firmly in place against the body (figure C). This prevents pulling the fur during grooming. Also, make sure the dog is on a nonslip surface, such as a rubber bath mat, while being brushed.

• Try to groom the animal in an environment that he finds comfortable.

• Veterinarians recommend pulling or trimming hair from a dog's ears. Since pulling is painful to the animal (and the owner), most groomers prefer to trim the hair.

• Remove dirt and wax build-up from the ears by swabbing them out with cotton and a medicated ear cleaner (figure D). A 50-50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water, or a 50-50 solution of alcohol and water, can also be used to clean the ears. Clean only the outer portion of the ear, and to prevent injury to the ear, never push the cotton into the ear canal.

• Nail trimming is an art. Often the nails are black, which makes it difficult for the groomer to see where the nail quick is located (the quick is the vein that runs down the center of the nail). If you cut the nail too short and cut the vein, it ca be painful to the animal, and it causes bleeding from the nail. Trim just a tiny bit of the nail to be safe, and keep the cut flush with the foot. If you are uncomfortable doing this -- and many people are -- have it done by a professional groomer.

• Bad breath in animals is often the result of dirty teeth and tartar build-up. Having the dog's teeth cleaned by a veterinarian should stop the odor. If the teeth are clean and the dog still has breath odor, have the vet check for stomach problems.

  Q: Will anything deter an animal from scratching furniture?

  A: Try turning contact paper sticky-side out and wrapping it around furniture legs or placing on areas that the pet scratches. Pets will dislike coming in contact with the adhesive and won't want to scratch in that area. Also, keeping the nails clipped helps prevent the need to scratch. If the nails are sharp after clipping, smooth the tips with an emery board.
  

  ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
  	Pet Questions
  	Basic Home Grooming for Cats and Dogs
  	Road Trip: Churchill Downs
  	Removing Pet Hair from Furniture