This Tip of the Month is from:

Kristina Longmuir
at

Florida Institute of Animal Arts
3700 Howell Branch Road
Winter Park, FL 32792
(407) 869-7387, Ext. 17
www.myfiaa.com

For many pets, the most helpful thing a pet-parent can do is to properly care for the coat.  It is a common misconception that brushing (using an actual brush) as opposed to combing, is all that is necessary to keep the hair free of mats.  In actuality, it is combing that is the essential part of maintaining a pet’s coat.  Whether the hair is long and easily tangles or the coat is packed with undercoat, a good judge of the success of your groomer will be your own ability to pull a comb from the skin through to the outer portion of the hair.

At the groom shop, many pet-parents arrive with their beloved friend and the outer coat has been beautifully brushed, leaving the appearance that the pet will be able to maintain its longer locks.  Upon further inspection, or what we call “comb checking” in the biz, the coat is dense with mats and will be painful to return to its untangled glory.  While in some instances de-matting is an option (although costly), it is often painful and inhumane as a remedy for negligence in coat care. 

Here is the tip:  If you are unable to pull a comb through the bulk of your pet’s hair, neither will the groomer be able to do so.  To avoid the necessity of shaving the coat, routine upkeep is necessary in weekly, bi-monthly or monthly intervals of combing through the hair. While combing through your pet’s hair, also include the use of PetSilk’s Leave-In Conditioner. It will help to detangle and condition the hair as well as keeping your pet’s coat silky. If it’s too late, and the hair is already too far gone, chalk this one up to experience and do your pet a favor, allow the groomers to shave the coat off and start over.  Your groomer and your pet will thank you.

Thanks for the Tip, Kristina.