VMD 513: Pet animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

BRUSHING AND GROOMING

• The amount of time spent on grooming depends on the type of hair coat; daily brushing is recommended to remove dead hair and distribute the skin's oils.
• Brushing down to the skin will help to remove flakes of dead skin and dandruff.
• In addition to regular combing and brushing, long-haired dogs need to be checked for mats of hair, which commonly occur behind the ears and under the legs.
• These masses of hair can usually be teased out with a comb, but they occasionally need to be cut out.
• Care should be taken when cutting out mats so that one does not cut the skin.
• Long haired dogs also have problems with burrs from plants.
• When cutting the hair, one should slide the comb down under the mat or burr and cut the hair on the outside of the comb. This method will be less likely to injure the dog.
• The Terriers and wire haired breeds need their coats plucked to remove dead hair.
• Plucking is accomplished by using a stripping knife, grasping a section of hair between knife and thumb, and pulling the knife away with a twisting motion.
• This will remove dead hair and trim live hair.