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Not grooming Fido this winter? Now that's cold!

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Now that snow is on the ground, it's time to rethink the way we groom our dogs. While it's tempting to forgo grooming in the winter months - extra hair means extra warmth, right? - maintaining your pet's coat year-round is important. The same way many of us change our routines in the winter, it's beneficial to alter your pet's grooming, as well. Keep the following tips in mind to keep your pet looking and feeling his best all winter long.

  • Pay extra attention to your dog's feet when there's snow and ice on the ground. Trimming the hair around your pet's paws will prevent snow and ice from building up after your dog has been outdoors.
  • You don't have to skip bath time in the winter, but you do want to make sure your dog has dried completely before spending time outside.
  • Brush your dog's coat regularly to reduce shedding and matting. Mats are very painful and, if they develop close to your dog's skin, your dog will need a full shave to remove them. In addition to keeping his coat free of mats, brushing also helps distribute the natural oils from his coat and keep his skin from becoming too dry.
  • Your dog's nails may need to be trimmed more frequently since he is not spending as much time outside during the winter, where they would naturally get worn down. Longer nails are also at higher risk of breaking on the ice or frozen snow, which is very painful for your dog. If you're not comfortable cutting your dog's nails, visit your vet office or local pet supply store to get help.
  • Since most of our dogs spend their days indoors with heat (and dog beds, and blankets, and sweaters), it's not necessary to let their coats grow long to keep them warm. Instead of neglecting their coat altogether, maintain their regular grooming routine and simply ask the groomer to leave their hair a little longer than they would in the summer months.
  • Just like people, our pets can suffer from dry skin in the winter. Many dogs can get relief simply by using a moisturizing shampoo, but if that's not enough for your dog, try switching to a dry shampoo instead.
  • Once snow is on the ground, it's easy to slack off on flea preventative. Remember, though, that while fleas may not be a problem outdoors, fleas from earlier in the year can continue to live in your warm house for months, making them a problem for your pet year-round. Maintain your regular flea preventative year-round to keep your pet protected.

Just like you wouldn't skip washing and brushing your hair all winter, your pet needs regular grooming year round to keep him looking and feeling his best.

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with two parrots, a cockatoo, a cat, a bearded dragon, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org. To learn more about Cocheco Valley Humane Society, go to www.cvhsonline.org or call 603-749-5322.

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