Summer Grooming Tips

It’s June, which means summer is quickly approaching! As the weather gets warmer, your dog’s grooming needs will change. Ensure that your dog is comfortable this summer with these grooming tips.

Regular Care

Your dog needs regular grooming throughout the year. However, summer poses certain challenges that require more specific care. Most notably, warmer weather allows longer walks during the summer. These longer walks provide necessary exercise, but they can expose your dog to grass, dirt, ticks, and a number of other environmental elements.

Regular baths are always important, but they are especially important during the summer. Without baths, grass and dirt can stain fur on the paws and body. Bathing requires close attention to detail, so it is often more effective for spotting parasites such as ticks and fleas. Therefore, summer is a great time to set up a regular bathing schedule with your groomer.

Regular care extends well past bathing. Dogs also need to be brushed often. Every day, take a brush through your dog’s coat. Brushing evenly distributes oils across your dog’s coat and prevents mats from growing. This is especially important in the summer because mats trap heat and moisture, leading to painful skin infections.

Your dog’s nails also require maintenance during the summer. On walks, long nails are more likely to snag. Pulled nails are extremely painful to dogs. Always make sure your dog’s nails are trimmed before going on walks.

Why You Shouldn’t Shave Your Dog

Many pet owners think their dog needs a shorter coat in the summer. As a result, they often resort to shaving. However, conducting a complete shave can negatively affect your dog’s wellbeing. Shaving a double-coated dog may even alter their coat for life. Dogs have fur coats for a reason; fur can even protect against environmental factors such as sunburns, ticks, and foxtails.

Instead, talk to your groomer about your best option for the summer. For double-coated dogs, this may be a deshedding. Deshedding removes the thick undercoat, while leaving the protective outer layer. Other dogs may benefit from a shorter cut or altered bathing schedule. A professional groomer will be able to identify the best possible option for your dog.

Claws N Paws owns and operates a full-service grooming salon in Fountain Valley, California. Our dedicated team of professional groomers always have your dog’s specific needs in mind. We are currently open, with various precautions in place to protect our staff and customers from COVID-19. For more information, see our blog on reopening. To set up an appointment, call us at 714-962-1005.