Grooming salon in Hainaut

Grooming

Grooming benefits the health of animals.

What is the difference between the daily toilet and grooming?

The daily toilet is done by the dogs’ master, grooming is done by a professional. Grooming accentuates the characteristic features of the breed to the advantage of the dog.

The professional is besides the vet the most competent person to detect problems the animal may have. It is self-evidently not the professionals’ responsibility to diagnose nor to propose a treatment, but it is his duty to inform the dogs’ owner of the problems he may have discovered. Infection of the ears, capillary problems, skin irritations, a dull coat, the presence of parasites and outgrowths are diseases that are easy to recognize during the grooming session.

The dogs’ owner has to be informed about the problems. A professional who pays attention to the physical condition of the animal, and not only to the aesthetic aspects of his work, gives evidence of a sense of responsibility. The client will appreciate that.

Regular brushing is very good for the outer skin and the hair; dead hair is removed and essential (or etheric) oils are spread evenly over the entire body. However, one has to work with clean materials, disinfected after every client. An animal with an on first sight innocent infection or irritation may get serious problems after contact with infected scissors or cutting heads.

During the grooming session the ears have to be controlled and cleaned, and dead hair has to be removed. This treatment is especially important for dogs with lop-ears.

There is a specific shampoo for every coat type, and even for every colour.

For dogs that participate in expositions, lots of other factors have considerable importance. Everyone has his own little tricks and secrets to achieve longer and glossier hair. For the amateur, however, a dog without a price still is a champion.

If you don’t have the time to take a lot of trouble caring for your dogs’ coat, you can opt for a grooming shop. Remember that good dog hygiene (brushing, bathing, visiting the groomer) is a guarantee for the well being of everyone.

The care of the coat

The structure of the hair

The hair is the basic element of the coat. It consists of a part hidden in the skin – the root – (in the follicle), and a visible part that sticks out of the skin: the hair shaft, made up of dead hard protein called keratin.

How the hair grows

Hair growth begins at a hair root inside a hair follicle. When the hair has reached its normal size, it remains in place until it dies and falls out. Indeed, all hair has a limited life; at the end it falls out when the hair bulb is no longer nourished. The constant replacement of dead hair by new hair makes hair loss a normal thing for all animals. Molting takes place in autumn (replacement of the summer coat by a warmer winter coat) and in spring (loss of the winter coat).

Care of the coat

Health and beauty of your dog require a regular treatment of the coat. Combing and brushing remove the dead and dull undercoat hairs, air the skin and stimulate new hair growth. Bathing too is essential, not only for the care of the coat, but also for the hygiene in the dogs’ surroundings.

A dull coat: a matter of nutrition

A complete and balanced nutrition of high quality is the first requisite to the beauty of the coat. Proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamins (A and biotin) are vital for the health of skin and coat.

Health and diseases of the coat

A dull coat may be a sign of various diseases. Some of these stop normal regrowth of new hair; they mainly are symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Others are caused by fungi: microorganisms that invade the hair bulb and make the hair fall out. A dull coat may also be brought about by a skin disease that produces itching and leads to intensive licking. Finally, intestinal parasites may bereave the dog of essential vitamins, the lack of which may also result in a dull coat.

Conclusion

In case your dog has a dull coat, we recommend you to give it a vermicide, to comb and brush it regularly, to adapt its food, and to visit our grooming shop where we shall bath your dog with an appropriate shampoo. If after that the symptoms don’t disappear, you will need to consult a vet.