Give Your Pet a Spa Day

Is your pet’s coat a little lackluster, or are their nails getting a tad too long? An at-home grooming session may be in order to help your pet look and feel their best. Our Santa Monica Pet Medical Center team understands that you may consider some grooming practices daunting, so we’re offering tips to help you throw your pet a luxurious and much-needed spa day.

How to bathe your pet at home

Bathing can help your pet smell fresh and keep their coat healthy. Bathing considerations include:

  • Frequency — Each pet’s bathing frequency requirement is different. A cat typically doesn’t need a bath unless they have a skin issue, such as an allergy or dermatitis, or they have difficulty grooming themselves. A dog generally should be bathed about once every one to two months unless they have a skin condition. Check with your veterinarian to determine how often to bathe your pet.
  • Location — Some pets don’t appreciate bath time, and you should bathe your pet in a secure location to help prevent them from escaping. If you are bathing your pet outside, use a grooming leash to ensure they remain restrained during bath time.
  • Brushing — Always brush your pet before bathing to remove mats and tangled hair.
  • Ear protection — Put cotton balls in your pet’s ears to help prevent ear infections that moisture can cause.
  • Water — Use tepid water when bathing your pet, and ensure the pressure isn’t too high.
  • Shampoo — Use a pet-specific shampoo, because products made for humans can be too abrasive for pets. A medicated shampoo may be beneficial if your pet has a skin condition. Distribute the shampoo throughout your pet’s coat, concentrating on particularly dirty areas. Avoid your pet’s face, and use a wet cloth to wipe debris from around their eyes, ears, and mouth.
  • Rinsing — Rinse your pet thoroughly to remove all shampoo residue.
  • Drying — Use towels to dry your pet as well as possible. 
  • Brushing — Once your pet is dry, brush them again to ensure no tangles developed during the drying process.
  • Treats — Give your pet a tasty treat after their bath to reward them for being so good. If this is your pet’s first bath, you may have to give treats throughout the bathing process.

How to trim your pet’s nails at home

Regular pet pedicures are important to prevent painful overgrown nails and potential ingrown nails that could cause infection. Most pets do well with nail trimming if you start when they are young, because you gradually acclimate them to having their feet touched. Nail trimming considerations include:

  • Frequency — Cats should have their nails trimmed about every 10 to 14 days, and dogs should have their nails trimmed about once per month.
  • Supplies — Gather your supplies such as pet-specific nail clippers or grinders, styptic powder, and treats.
  • Approach — Determine how best to restrain your pet. Some pets do well with you sitting with them on the floor, while others, such as frisky felines, may need to be burritoed in a towel or held by a friend or family member. 
  • Cutting — To avoid the vascular and painful quick, trim off only each nail’s sharp tip. If you cut the quick, use styptic powder to help staunch the bleeding.
  • Patience — Some pets only allow one or two nails to be trimmed at a time. Don’t force your pet to comply if they are struggling to get away. Doing so will only make them more averse to the procedure.
  • Treats — After you trim each of your pet’s nails, give them a treat to help them understand that the procedure isn’t so bad. 

How to brush your pet’s teeth at home

To remove plaque and bacteria that accumulate on your pet’s teeth, brush them daily between professional veterinary dental cleanings. If not addressed, periodontal bacteria invade under the gumline, damaging their oral tissues and supporting structures, leading to serious issues such as gingivitis, loose or missing teeth, and tooth root abscesses. In addition, the bacteria can enter your pet’s bloodstream and damage their organs. Toothbrushing considerations include:

  • Frequency — You should brush your pet’s teeth once or twice per day.
  • Acclimating — Introduce your pet to toothbrushing by first acclimating them to having their mouth handled. Place xylitol-free peanut butter or tuna juice on your finger, and let your pet lick off the yummy treat. Use your finger to rub their gums and front teeth until they are comfortable having the inside of their mouth touched before introducing the toothbrush and toothpaste.
  • Toothbrush — Use a pet-friendly toothbrush that has extremely soft bristles to prevent irritating your pet’s gums. You can use a finger brush for small dogs and cats.
  • Toothpaste — Use a pet-specific toothpaste, because dental products made for humans can be dangerous for pets. Several pet-friendly flavors, such as poultry, peanut butter, seafood, and beef, are available to entice your pet.
  • Treats — Reward your pet with a high-value treat once their toothbrushing session is complete.

How to express your pet’s anal glands at home

Some dogs have anal gland issues that require frequent expression. However, this procedure can be harmful if you do not perform it correctly. If your dog needs their anal glands expressed regularly, our Santa Monica Pet Medical Center team can explain how to perform this process correctly. Anal gland considerations include:

  • Frequency — Anal gland expression frequency depends on your dog’s condition. Signs indicating that your dog needs their anal glands expressed include excessively licking their hind end and dragging their hind end on the floor.
  • Supplies — To express your dog’s anal glands, you need latex gloves, water-based lubricant, paper towels, and treats.
  • Approach — If your dog is small, place them on a table facing away from you. If your dog is large, sit on the floor behind them. You may need another person to restrain your dog for the procedure. Insert a gloved, lubricated finger into your dog’s anus. You should be able to feel a swelling at the four-o’clock position. Gently massage the contents into a paper towel. Repeat the process on the other side.
  • Clean — Anal gland fluid is extremely smelly, so clean your dog’s hind end well.
  • Treats — Give your dog a treat for being so good during the procedure.

A spa day can make your pet feel beautiful, and strengthen your pet-owner bond. If your pet is less than cooperative for a particular grooming procedure or you need a demonstration, contact our Santa Monica Pet Medical Center team.