Why is pet grooming important? Whether you have a cat or dog, pet grooming is an important part of the hygiene and emotional well-being of your animal.
Doesn’t it feel good when you get your hair cut or nails done? Imagine not having the luxury of choosing how and when you clean yourself. Your pets don’t have that advantage.
Sure, they groom themselves with their tongue and paws, but without an opposing thumb they cannot grab a scrub brush and wash their back or the ability to reach hard to get at places. They need the care and love of their caregivers and pet grooming lets them know that they are getting their needs met.
Even when you get a new puppy or kitten, pet grooming is an important way to develop bonding practices. As you brush or wash your pet, the constant touching and soothing gives the young animal a sense of well-being.
The relationship between caregiver and animal becomes stronger as more attention is given to the pet. The early interaction of pet grooming also prepares the animal for a professional pet groomer as hair or nails become too unmanageable for the untrained owner.
The pet will have more of a sense of security as they are left at a pet groomer for a day and will deal with less stress as they are touched and groomed by a stranger.
Pet grooming at a young age also allows the animal to get used to the tools and apparatus used in the pet grooming experience. Scissors and brushes can be scary things to a novice puppy or kitten.
The initial reaction of the animal is to bite or claw at the brush. They have a strange tool of pulling and brushing their hair and their natural reaction is to defend themselves.
By going slow and using soothing sounds, the owner can slowly introduce the new animal to the process. As the grooming goes on and the animal feels more comfortable, stronger strokes can be applied. As confidence and bonding build the entire pet grooming process can be utilized.
Another aspect of pet grooming is cutting or trimming the nails of your animal. Especially for inside pets, if the nails are not trimmed properly, they will have a tendency to grow around within themselves and be painful for the animal to walk upon.
Also, the nails will split easier if left unattended leaving unsightly cracks and an irritating feeling in their paws. If proper pet grooming is initiated early enough, the pet will grow in emotional maturity and you will have a stable animal that will have the benefits of good hygiene and good health.
Pet grooming will become a habit that both the pet and the owner will anticipate their time together on a daily basis. The importance of pet grooming will spread to be a family experience as spouses and siblings will pick up a brush and spend time with the family pet.
The emotional security will spread throughout the family and pet and family will become one.
