Gone are the dog days of summer, and with it the need for giving frequent baths, brushing off shedding fur and wiping off muddy paws. But grooming needs haven’t completely disappeared with the warm days!
Let’s take a look at some of the essentials of caring for your pup’s coat and more during the winter months.
Why Winter Grooming Is Important
Winter may not have all of the dirt and sweat that comes with the great outdoor adventures of summer, but keeping your dog clean and well-groomed is still important to its health and well-being. You wouldn’t skip bathing or maintaining your hair and nails just because it’s cold out—so you shouldn’t do that to your canine companion either!
In the winter, it’s especially important that you take extra good care of your dog’s paws. Watch the paw pads and nails for salt and snow, and make sure that you carefully wipe off paws after walks, or even try out dog boots for the winter.
Winter Coat Care
Dogs who need regular bathing and brushing to maintain their coats don’t stop needing it just because the weather has gotten colder. It’s still OK to give your pup baths as needed—just make sure that he is completely dry before going outside!
Continue to brush your dog on a regular basis to reduce matting and keep natural oils distributed throughout the fur and skin. You can also still take your dog for haircuts, but opt for longer styles during the winter to keep him warm.
Moisturize!
Like their humans, dogs are prone to dry skin in the winter time. It’s important while bathing and grooming to keep an eye out to make sure that they don’t have itchy dry skin, and also pay attention to signs of excessive dryness on their delicate noses and paw pads.
Keeping your pup both hydrated and routinely groomed with these tips will help to keep its skin smooth and itch-free. Paws and noses can also be soothed with pet-safe oils or balms after walks!
Need a little extra help grooming your furry friend this winter? Animal America Pet Resort has a service for that! Visit our website for our full dog grooming menu.
