Grooming dogs and cats: brushing, bathing, nails, ears and teeth

Caring for your pet's coat, skin and nails is not only about looks. It keeps the skin healthy, prevents matting, and gives you a weekly chance to spot problems early — ticks, wounds or lumps under the skin. Calm grooming sessions also strengthen the bond between you and your pet.

Brushing

How often depends on the coat:

• Short coats: once a week is usually enough to remove dead hair.
• Long or thick coats: several times a week, sometimes daily, to prevent mats.
• Shedding seasons: in spring and autumn, brush more often.

Work from head to tail in the direction the hair grows, using a comb or brush suited to the coat. If you find a mat close to the skin, don't cut it with scissors — it's easy to cut the skin. Ask your vet or a groomer for help.

Bathing

• Dogs: a bath every one to two months, or when the dog gets dirty, is usually enough. Bathing too often dries the skin.
• Cats: cats mostly clean themselves and rarely need a bath unless they get into something harmful or the vet recommends it. Older, overweight or long-haired cats may need help with brushing.

Bathing tips:

1. Brush before the bath to remove tangles.
2. Use lukewarm water and a shampoo made for pets — human shampoo has a different pH and can irritate the skin.
3. Keep water and shampoo out of the eyes and ears.
4. Rinse thoroughly; leftover shampoo causes itching.
5. Dry your pet completely with a towel, especially in winter and between skin folds, and keep a hot hairdryer away from the skin.

Nails

Nails usually need trimming every 3 to 6 weeks, depending on activity and the surfaces your pet walks on. If you can hear the nails clicking on the floor, it is probably time.

• Use clippers made for pets.
• Trim only the tip and avoid the pink part, which contains blood vessels and nerves. On dark nails, take off tiny amounts at a time.
• Don't forget the dewclaw on the inside of the foot, if there is one.
• If a nail bleeds, press a clean cloth on it or use styptic powder. If you're unsure, ask your vet to show you how.

Ears and eyes

• Check the ears every week. A healthy ear is clean, with no strong smell.
• Clean only the visible part with cotton wool and a veterinary ear cleaner. Never push cotton buds into the ear canal.
• See your vet if you notice a bad smell, redness, discharge, or frequent head shaking.
• Wipe eye discharge gently with cotton wool dampened with clean water, and see your vet if the discharge is yellow or green or the eye is red.

Teeth

Dental and gum disease is very common in dogs and cats after two or three years of age. Regular brushing reduces tartar and bad breath.

• Use a toothbrush and toothpaste made for pets. Never use human toothpaste: it can contain ingredients that are harmful if swallowed, such as xylitol and fluoride.
• Start gradually and gently; ideally brush daily or several times a week.
• Strong bad breath, red gums or difficulty chewing need a vet check.

Should I shave my dog in summer?

The double coat of breeds such as Huskies and German Shepherds helps insulate against heat and protects the skin from the sun, so shaving them down to the skin is usually not recommended. Regular brushing to remove dead undercoat is better. Breeds whose long hair keeps growing may benefit from a trim. Ask your vet or groomer about your pet's breed.

See also heatstroke and summer in Egypt and fleas.

Frequently asked questions