Routine professional grooming can keep your pet looking gorgeous and help keep the coat and skin easy to maintain. But in between the grooming appointments it is important to do some brushing of the coat at home. Our groomer at Ingersoll Animal Hospital has some tips on how to keep the coat healthy between professional grooming visit. Regular grooming with a brush or comb will help keep your pet’s hair in good condition by removing dirt, spreading natural oils throughout the coat, preventing tangles and helping keep the skin clean and healthy. Grooming time is also a great time to check for those unwanted “guests”, fleas or ticks. Look for those little black specks that indicate your pet is harboring a flea family in their coat. How your brush your pet- and how often- will depend a lot of their type of coat. Smooth, Short Coats If your dog’s coat is a smooth or short coat (like a Basset Hound or a Boxer), use a rubber brush to loosen dirt and follow it with a bristle brush to remove dead hair. Weekly grooming will generally work out great. Short, Dense Coat If your dog has a short, dense coat that’s is prone to matting and shedding like a retriever plan on brushing 1-2 times a week. Don’t forget to check for things that can get caught in the coat like burs and leaves. Use a slicker brush to remove tangles and a dematting comb or rake can be very helpful for those with the denser undercoat especially during shedding season. Long, Silky Coats If your dog has a long luxurious coat, such as a Yorkshire terrier, plan on a daily grooming session. You will need to remove tangles daily with a slicker brush. Follow this with a bristle brush. If you have a long- haired dog like a collie follow the steps above but don’t forget to comb out the legs and tail. Long Hair That Frequently Mats For longhaired dogs or those with a hairy face and beard or legs you will need to comb your pet out daily to remove tangles and prevent matting. Use a slicker brush to work on the tangles but if the area develops some knots gently use a comb to work out the problem areas.