It’s coming to that time of year……wet dog!!! It is sometimes tempting to leave your dog's coat long for the winter, thinking that they need the extra hair to keep them warm, but this is not necessarily the right thing. Long coats are high maintenance - they take longer to dry, tangle more easily,and collect debris. Your furry friend will often return from a walk wet and with mud, leaves etc clinging to the coat, and those that live in the campo –well that is the norm for the winter! They will need to get dry and warm in order to be comfy which is a challenge for a long coat. The dog that is regularly groomed & clipped, this is not a problem - a quick towel dry and brush does the job. Longer coats can take hours to dry naturally so may need to be blow dried and brushed thoroughly. If the long coat remains unbrushed it will very quickly form matts, which trap moisture and dirt and can cause infection and harbour parasites. A matted coat is a nightmare for a pet, as they will be unable to clean themselves properly, will be itchy and sore, and suffer restricted movement. Worse still, a matted coat can hide injuries that need treatment. This is not the warm fluffy winter coat which the owner planned! Carry on your professional grooming appointments through the winter and your dog will be clipped and clean for the mucky weather, easy to bathe, easy to dry, easy to check for health issues, and if you’re worried about warmth - easy to put a warm jacket/jumper on for walks in the very cold or wet weather,although here in Spain the weather is still much warmer than you realise! If you really must keep a long coat, then book them in for just a bath and brush out – your groomer can then at least check for issues and keep the coat in good condition. For dogs that live outdoors, and other dogs that keep their long coat, daily brushing is necessary to maintain the condition of the coat & keep the essential oils stimulated that protect your pet from the elements. And lastly, the coat is only as good as the ingredients it’s made of so beware cheap dog-food (even mid-range food sometimes!) If the coat is to be beautifully thick and shiny& the skin & immune system good, it needs decent nutrition. Here in Spain, it is extremely hard to recommend an off the shelf product as there is not a wide range available & the range is poor hence why we manufacture our own. Get in touch if want to know more! |
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CategoriesClub UpdatesDog Blog Donna |
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