Summer’s just around the corner. So it’s important to keep your dog cool and comfortable. Grooming is more than just for appearance — it helps your dog beat the heat. Grooming regularly can control fur shedding, regulate temperature, and overall comfort. But not all furparents can take care of that. With that, professional pet grooming in Sydney can take care of it for you.
First, let’s explore some essential grooming tips to ensure your dog is well-prepared for the warmer months.
1. Maintain Their Coat for Comfort
Most people believe that shaving their dog will help them feel cooler in the heat. But that’s actually more harmful. The coat regulates their body temperature. So shaving it completely exposes their skin to harmful UV rays. This increases the risk of sunburn.
Pet grooming in Sydney often includes fur trimming and thinning options. This reduces bulk without compromising the coat’s natural function. This ensures your dog stays comfortable. Even on the hottest days.
2. Regular Brushing to Prevent Matting
One of the biggest issues in summer is matting. Mats can trap heat and moisture against your dog’s skin. Which make it harder for them to cool off. That’s why regular brushing is important for dogs with long hair or thick hair as it removes excess fur and detangles. It also allows air to move through the brush so your dog stays cooler. Making them less likely to develop a skin irritation.
Regular brushing at home is a great start. But professional grooming can ensure a more thorough job. Especially for hard-to-reach areas like behind the ears and under the legs.
3. Keep Paw Pads Clean and Cool
Your dog has paws and they take a lot of the heat in summer. It can also get very hot on pavements, sand and other outdoor surfaces which can burn their sensitive paw pads. Trimming the fur between their paw pads regularly ensures they don’t overheat as well as get dirt and debris trapped, which can cause irritation.
Clean your dog’s paws immediately after outdoor activities. Use cool water to reduce heat and soothe irritation. Consider protective booties in highly hot weather. Or simply avoid the hottest hours of the day.
4. Stay on Top of Nail Care
5. Bathe Your Dog More Frequently
Bathing your dog often in the summer helps keep them clean and fresh. You can remove dirt, allergens, and excess oils that can accumulate in their coat. A fresh, clean coat promotes better airflow, keeping them cool. Always use a dog shampoo. This is so it doesn’t strip the skin of natural oils.
Bathe your dogs every 3-4 weeks. Or more often if they spend a lot of time outdoors. But don’t overdo it because it can strip their skin of natural oils. This leads to dryness or irritation.
6. Protect Their Ears and Eyes
Summertime can be especially dangerous for dogs with long, floppy ears. Or breeds that are prone to ear infections. Infections can be bred from heat, humidity and moisture. Flushing with a vet-approved solution can help decrease buildup and minimise the risk of infection.
In the same way, if a dog has long facial hair that can cover his eyes, they may need to be trimmed so he can see properly, and it also prevents fur from catching dirt or allergens. These are sensitive areas and you should either use the right tools (if at all) or defer to a pro groomer.
7. Hydration and Diet
While not a grooming tip per se, water and good nutrition are major contributors to your dog’s comfort during the summertime. Providing your dog enough water to drink during the day will also aid in temperature control. Other good options for hydration include wet food or adding some sort of hydrating treat (ice cubes).
Grooming should always be followed with a balanced meal. Most dogs tend to be more energetic during the summer, so ensure they get meals that fulfil their energy requirements but keep them hydrated too!
8. Deshedding Treatments
During the summer, de-shedding treatments are essential for double-coated breeds that shed heavily. These services target the shedding of the heavy undercoat that is lost naturally during a seasonal temperature change. This is good not only for your home — to keep fur away — but also because it will make your dog feel more comfortable, as shedding is a natural act that helps regulate their body temperature.
While you can definitely do regular brushing to get rid of the loose fur and dead undercoat, professional groomers can provide pet grooming to Sydney residents. They offer deep de-shedding sessions that tackle the root cause so your dog sheds less at home.
9. Check for Skin Irritations
During summer, skin irritations associated with allergies, insect bites and heat are a common occurrence. By regularly grooming your pet, it can help catch anything early on, be it dry skin, hot spots or even fleas and ticks. Healthy grooming minimises risk of developing skin problems. Keeping your dog free from dirt, mud, vegetation, and other foreign material is also never a bad idea. Keeping his coat clean and brushed, not to mention in good trim, means any skin issues are far less likely to form.
Watch out for scratching, reddening or signs of discomfort. Observe for anything that appears off and call your vet for advice and treatment options.
10. Consider Sunscreen for Short-Coated Dogs
Daisy’s Pet Grooming
Summer is approaching. It’s a fun season. But it can also be uncomfortable for everyone. And your pets are no different. We offer specialised summer pet grooming in Sydney. Need de-shedding treatments? How about paw care and summer trims? We’ve got your pup covered. Book your appointment today and prepare your furry one for the upcoming hot summer months.