What Do I Need to Groom My Pet?

Just like people, pets need to be groomed and cleaned to remain healthy. While dogs and cats don't need to be groomed very often, they do need some routine assistance from their owners. Fortunately, there are many products designed specifically to help with pet hygiene.

Read below to learn about 5 product-types that are essential for keeping your pet clean.

Both long-haired and short-haired dogs and cats need to be washed occasionally, or more often if they like to roll around in the dirt and play outside.

Many shampoos and conditioners address skin and medical issues your furry friend may have, like dry skin or a rash, while also making their fur shine. Use in combination with skin and coat care products for truly healthy and beautiful fur.

Pets can pick up rashes and bug bites from the outdoors and may itch and scratch, irritating the skin more. Dogs and cats may even have dry skin that can flake.

Anti-itch and inflammatory shampoos, wipes, bars, and sprays will calm the skin and clean the coat. These skin care products can also make your pet's coat shine.

In addition to detangling shampoos and conditioners, brushes are a simple way to improve your pet's coat. Some brushes will remove dead hair from the second layer of fur while others help distribute natural oils on the skin, creating a luxuriously shiny coat.

Brushes are also small enough to travel with your pet. Or, keep a brush in each room that your pet frequents for impromptu brushing sessions while watching television or before bed.

Often overlooked in ordinary grooming routines, regular ear and eye care will go a long way toward preventing infections.

Ear wipes will clean out dirt and wax while ear drops help heal cankers. Likewise, eye wipes clean out dirt and gunk while eye drops help irritated and runny eyes.

Be sure to read the label of any eye products before use for age restrictions and dosage recommendations.

Like humans, pets need to have their nails attended to often. Nail trimmers designed specifically for pets allow pet owners to manage their dog or cat's nails themselves, without a trip to the groomer.

When trimming your pet's nails, remember to go slowly, taking short snips, so as not to cut down to the blood vessel (known as the "quick") or nerve that can be found in the nail.