Keep Your Furry Friend Well-Groomed With DIY Home Care

Everyone likes their pooch to look shiny and smell fresh every day, but grooming them can be tiresome and time-consuming.

With our busy schedules, we usually rely on professional groomers—a trusted grooming van or a pet salon—to bathe and groom our furry friends. However, in the long run, this can turn out to be quite expensive. Therefore, it’s best to make a one-time investment in at-home grooming tools to keep your pet clean and well-groomed, right at home. Here’s a handy checklist for you.

Shampoo & Conditioner

Choose a quality anti-microbial and anti-bacterial cleanser that helps prevent skin infections, keeps ticks at bay and makes the coat healthy and shiny. However, make sure it does not cause skin irritation. You can either pick a shampoo, which comes with conditioning agents such as aloe vera, vitamin E, or buy the two separately.

Grooming Gloves

A pair of massage or grooming gloves can help you deep-clean your pet—you can remove excess hair and dead skin from their coat easily with these. Buy one with a good grip and massage the coat while bathing your pet with shampoo or even before you brush them down every day. This will help improve their blood circulation.

Dry Bath Spray

An anti-bacterial dry bath spray is a must-have. Regular use will keep your pet clean and germ-free. As soon as your pet is back from their walk, use the anti-bacterial spray to wipe them down—especially the face, paws, hind and stomach. This will make sure they don’t get tonnes of bacteria, grime and muck, they may have picked up, inside your house and on your bed. Pick one with ingredients such as tea tree or any essential oil to make sure it does not have a drying effect.

Anti-bacterial Wipes

These come in handy after a dry bath spray. While you may use a towel, anti-bacterial wipes make sure that your pet is thoroughly clean, and unlike a towel, you do not have to wash them all the time. Most anti-bacterial wet wipes come with moisturizers. They are also great to carry while you are travelling with your pet.

Hair Brush

Pick a brush to suit your dog’s coat. While a light coat doesn’t require a detangling brush, you would need one if your pet is very furry. Make sure you brush your dog at least once a day. It’s not only relaxing for the pet but also helps remove dead hair, dirt, dandruff and keeps their coat shiny. This can be a great bonding time.

Nail Clipper

This can be tricky, especially if your dog does not like it. Make sure your dog is calm before you try clipping their nails. Dogs have blood vessels in their claws, trimming them too short can cause them discomfort and may lead to bleeding. Choose a clipper that will fit your pet’s nails comfortably. Make sure you have a good grip on the clipper while you’re at it.