Grooming Your Dog or Pet Through the Winter Months

Pets still need grooming during the winter in order keep their coats and skin in good condition. Being a groomer of my own dogs for several years and living in Western Kentucky, I know there are many types of problems that pets can have happen during the winter months. There skin has a higher chance of getting chafed or irritated by the harshness of the weather and dryness from the heat within our homes.

Winter is when a dog begins to shed their summer coat and grow a winter one. In order to stimulate a new healthy coat growth and provide for healthy skin, its imperative the winter coat be brushed and combed daily especially during the shedding season, much the same as during the summer months. A regular grooming occasionally also helps to remove dead skin, fur and undercoat. Keeping the coat in good groomed condition through the wintry months helps the coat provide better insulation for your pet. When a dog's coat or any animal is not groomed in the winter it can easily mat and harbor more debris just as in the summer. As well as, causing many skin conditions. Brushing and combing daily can prevent mats, debris and skin conditions.

Another important aspect of grooming is keeping the animals feet in good shape. Most dogs or any animals for that fact are not particularly fond of anything having to do with their feet. Grooming your dog or animal during every season will allow attention to the needs of your pets feet but the most important aspect is to keep the nails trimmed. The nails should always be an appropriate length, long nails can cause the feet to not have stable control on ice and snow covered areas.

Grooming the feet and pads will also keep the hair short. Hair should be removed from under the pads as well as a short length around the paws. If you don't keep your pets feet groomed and well maintained debris and damage can be caused by the winter weather causing irritation and possible foot injury.

Grooming your dog or pet in the winter is a way to guarantee a healthy coat and skin as well as proper provide insulation from the winter elements. Groomers may also suggest a coat or sweater, especially if you have a short haired dog and if your dog will let you boots can also protect the pads of the feet, not only from snow and ice but from other things such as rock salt which could be very harmful to their skin and cause cracking and bleeding of foot pads. Limit your dogs' outdoor time if at all possible during extreme cold weather.

References for this article include: www.bestfriendspetcare.com/bf_grooming_30.cfm
www.fetchdog.com/learn-connect/dog-resource-library/grooming/Grooming-Your-Dog-in-the-Winter/D/300600/P/1:5:55:603/I/AR000010781