Grooming tips for dogs and cats
Brush most dogs and cats once a week, and two or three times a week during the spring and fall shedding seasons, in short 10- to 15-minute sessions. Use a grooming brush on every coat, add a deshedding tool for thick undercoats, and introduce any new tool or motor sound slowly, at your pet’s pace.
These guides are for owners who groom at home, between salon visits or instead of them. Each one opens with a short answer, then walks you through the steps. A few rules run through all of them:
- Groom a dry, clean coat when your pet is calm, for example after a walk or a meal.
- Brush in the direction the hair grows, with light pressure.
- Never shave a double coat. Trim only the paws, face and feathering.
- Stop at the first sign of stress and go back a step next time.
- For mats close to the skin, ask a professional groomer. For redness, bald patches or constant scratching, ask your vet.
