Fall Grooming
Photo by Hunor Kerekes on Unsplash
Even in Houston, September symbolizes the end of summer and the coming of fall. This seasonal transition is important for dogs and means professional grooming is essential this time of year. Fall is the time to make an appointment to be sure the sun-damaged coats, paw pads and any damage to skin is taken care of as soon as possible.
“Summer is almost over and just like us, the sun and water have stressed out our pets’ hair and skin,” said Elizabeth Toc, co-owner of The Tailored Tail. “A groomer can fix all of these issues and get your pet ready for the upcoming season.”
According to the AKC, there are 3 things to worry about:
Heal Your Dog’s Hot Paws—Dogs run on hot surfaces during the summer, so this is a good time for you or your groomer to rub in some petroleum jelly into your pet’s paws during a grooming session.
Soothe Skin Allergies-- To minimize the effects of summer allergies, bathe your dog weekly or take your pet to the groomer for a thorough wash with hypoallergenic shampoo and a conditioner.
Repair Sun-Damaged Coats—For this, dogs need a major grooming session where the fur or hair is brushed, brushed and brushed again. In the fall, dogs shed more heavily to get rid of the summer coat and make room for a winter coat, so a groomer can take advantage of this and get rid of any bleached or damaged fur. Shedding actually peaks in August for dogs.
“Some dogs spend a lot of time in chlorine or salt water in the summer and sometimes that can damage a dog’s coat,” Toc said. “We need to brush away as much of the damaged hair as we can. We also need to tend to some routine grooming that may have been neglected this summer, like nail trimming.”
Toc said if you leave nails too long, they could push against the paw and maybe cause infections. Trimming nails can make owners a little queasy and uncomfortable, so let the professional groomer handle that delicate task, she said.
Now is the time to bring your dog in for a complete grooming session after the long, hot summer.