Ask the Stylists
We are often approached, both online and off, regarding basic grooming and grooming health related questions. These are the most frequently asked. If you have a question or topic that hasn't been addressed, please feel free to e-mail us!
Last Updated 10/15/09
Q: My dog is 'scooting' his butt on the floor - does that mean his anal glands are too full? Do they need to be expressed?
Maybe! Sometimes if their glands are a little too full for comfort, dogs will scoot to express them themselves. Your groomer can check the glands, and if full, will express them - however expressing the glands at every groom is not recommended.
Q: I take my dog down to the beach a lot, and he gets very sandy between visits. How often can he be bathed?
I'm not sure what your definition of 'a lot' is. If it's more than once a week, I would suggest rinsing him in tepid water to remove debris, salt water, sand, etc. after each beach visit; and limit doing a full bath (including shampoo) to once a week. As long as you're using a good quality pet shampoo with a quality conditioner, there is no harm in that frequency.
Q: How often should I bathe my dog?
That depends on your individual dog. Lifestyle, age and health are all factors that contribute to how often your pet needs to be bathed (and some dogs just get more stinky than others!). It's usually recommended to bathe about once a month, though you can bathe more often if needed and indoor, inactive dogs may not need to be bathed until 8 or 10 weeks or even longer. As long as you can still cuddle with your pet and their skin and coat is healthy, it isn't a concern.
Q: I have a Maltese. I take my dog in to be groomed every 6 weeks (as recommended by the groomer), but she still gets matted inbetween. Why is she getting so matted?
Just like your own hair, it will get tangled and eventually matted if not combed completely. Daily, preferably, but most people don't have the time (or energy) for that - so a weekly once over with a brush, picking out all tangles and snarls, will help keep her from getting matted. Don't forget to follow up with a comb.. a brush will brush over small tangles, but a comb gets right down to the skin.
Q: This is a horrible flea season! What can I do to knock down my flea population?
Fleas are very resourceful. They burrow into your carpets, furniture, bed linens, etc. to lay their eggs. The only time they're on your animal is to feed, and when full, they hop off again. It's important to wash dog beds and blankets often, clean and vacuum your carpets and dispose of waste promptly outside and away from the house, spray your yard at least once (preferably twice) a month, and keep up on your spot-on flea treatments (like Advantage, Frontline, etc.). Have your dog groomed often to help stay on top of your flea population, and break that flea life cycle by staying vigilant on your upkeep. Products like Capstar can go a long way in helping you battle fleas as well.
Q: When I was a kid, my parents used to have our dog "dipped". It's hard to find a groomer that does this anymore - why is that?
Dipping is a very out-dated practice. Essentially, it's applying an insecticide directly onto your animal and leaving it there. Groomers were required to wear gloves due to the carcinogenic properties of the ingredients! We have many products on the market now that are all natural, non-toxic to the pet and the groomer, and just as effective as any dip.
Q: My dog and I are very active and walk/jog on pavement a lot, but her nails still seem to get really long. Why aren't they filing down naturally?
Dog feet are as unique as people feet. If a dog walks on their toes more rather than their pad/flat footed, they'll grind their nails down - but if they walk flat footed, their nails don't even touch the ground! It's still best to bring her in and have her nails trimmed as needed, rather than let them get too long.
Q: My friend told me that she never clips her dog's nails because it hurts them (and that's why her dogs flail or yelp). I don't want to hurt my dog! Is this true, and is there an alternative?
With the proper equiptment, nail clipping is not (or should not be) painful. If your clippers are dull or if the nail is clipped too close to the quick (the blood vein), yes, that is going to hurt - same as if you clip your own nails too close. Most dogs object to having their nails trimmed because they're being restrained or don't like having their feet handled. Alternatively, dogs who don't like having their nails trimmed can be taught to accept a dremel/nail grinding, which is able to both take the nail shorter and grinds down the point to a smooth finish, so the freshly trimmed nails aren't so sharp either.