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Spring, wet weather and wet dogs
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Spring has thundered its way into Philadelphia leaving my bonsai soaked and deflating my fluffy poodles. Many of my clients choose spring to start clipping their pets short for the hot weather, while others opt to focus on battling the weather. Whether you decide to clip your pet short or not, the wet weather requires adjustment in your grooming routine.
Wet ground can do more than take the poof out of your dog’s coat. Humidity can increase the risk of skin infections especially in the pads of the feet and other areas that have bad air circulation. Ears and wrinkles are also at risk. Combined with the pollen in the air, which can cause allergic foot licking, this can cause the foot to become discolored, swollen and even bloody. Your dog’s feet should be toweled dry each time she comes in from a walk to avoid excess moisture and muddy carpets. Your groomer can clip the hair inside the paw pads very close to keep the airflow and drainage to the maximum.
Splashing water and falling raindrops can increase both matting and soiling of the coat. Plant material, soil, dust, pollen and other foreign matter can get trapped in the wet hair and increase tangles at the hair air-dries. Increased combing and brushing during bad weather is a MUST. Shortening the length of the coat is also helpful this time of year.
Allergies are nothing to sniff at. Dogs suffer from the same seasonal allergies that people do, and they don’t have access to the same luxuries such as tissues and sterile eye drops. Keeping the hair on your dogs face as short as possible can go a long way to keeping allergens out of eyes. The simple act of wiping your dog’s coat twice a day with a clean washcloth soaked in hot (but not scalding) water can help both of you in the fight against pollen. You can even add a little (a capful per gallon) lemon juice to the water keeping it away from eyes and anus.
Although it may seem redundant, washing your dog more frequently in the rainy days of spring can go a long way to combating “wet dog smell”. The most important thing is to dry them thoroughly. Most short haired dogs can be washed every other week safely as long as the shampoo is quality. Dogs with longer coats can be washed weekly if needed if conditioned properly. Using a waterless shampoo followed by a good brushing is an acceptable option, providing your dry your dog completely.
Spring is also a good time to clip your feline friends for the warm weather. Shedding season is upon us, and cats who get lion trims will benefit from having their trims done now to avoid the matting that is uncomfortable and pricey to remove.
The best part of spring is the increase in light and pleasing temperatures that allow us more outdoor exercise with our pets, which adds to mental health and subtracts from body fat, and who couldn’t use that?
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