If you’re in need of a quick grooming for your fur-child, there’s no quicker method than doing it yourself at home! All you’d need is a bath, shower, or for smaller pets; a sink! For first time paw-rents, this may not be something you’re experienced in, that’s where we come in! Here are our tips for grooming your pets at home!

Picking out a shampoo. 

Naturally, the first thing you’ll need to groom your pet at home is, naturally, shampoo! Thankfully when it comes to home grooming for your pet, we have you covered accessory-wise. The first step in choosing your shampoo is to look at the type of coat your pet has, or the condition of their skin.

• For black dogs we’d recommend Beaphar Aloe Vera Black Coat Shampoo.
• For white or light coated dogs we’d recommend either Animology White Wash Shampoo or Earthbath Light Color Coat Brightener Shampoo to keep their coats shiny and clean. 
• For dogs and cats facing sensitivity issues with their skin, we carry a variety of medicated shampoo options, such as; Earthbath Hypo-allergenic Grooming Foam for cats & kittens, F10 Germicidal Treatment Shampoo, Vet’s Best Oatmeal Medicated Dog Shampoo & Beaphar Anti Allergic Shampoo for dogs & cats. 
• We also have shampoos available for dogs that just need a flea and tick bath, like Animology Flea & Tick Shampoo & Vet’s Best Flea Itch Relief Shampoo.
• We have kittens & puppies covered as well. We have Beaphar Macadamia Oil Shampoo For Puppies, Earthbath Puppy Tearless Cherry Shampoo & Bioline Kitten Shampoo.
• We even have options available for other smaller pets! Pamper your rabbit or guinea pig with a refreshing bath using Beaphar Guinea Pig & Rabbit Shampoo. We also carry insecticide sprays for those birds who need a little extra help getting clean. 

Of course, these aren’t the only shampoo or conditioner options we have available for your fur-babies. Our range of pet shampoos is sure to have the perfect option for your little one.

Bathing your pet.

Once you’ve settled on which type of shampoo you’d like to use (and received it, of course), the next step is to move on to bathing your pet! Naturally, not every pet will handle being washed the same way. 

How to Wash Dogs:

For mini or teacup sized dogs, it might be easiest to bathe them in a sink or bathtub that’s not too full, the same way you would for a baby. For small to large sized dogs a bathtub would work well. Make sure that your pup is relaxed and calm, if not, try to speak to them in a calming voice and praise them throughout their bath. This will help them associate the experience with positive reinforcement. The water temperature should lukewarm, so that the dog doesn’t get too cold or burn themselves in the bathwater. You can use a cloth, sponge or shower head with low water pressure to rinse water onto your dog. Once your dog is wet, you can use your hands, cloth or sponge to apply their shampoo onto their coats. Lather the shampoo thoroughly around their coats, avoiding their eyes, nose and mouth, making sure to continuously praise your dog. Once you’ve completely massaged the shampoo onto your dog’s coat, gently and thoroughly rinse off the shampoo with some lukewarm water at low pressure. At this point, be prepared to get wet too as your dog might shake around to get the water off! The best way to dry your dog is with a towel. A hair dryer will not only be stressful for them but also very loud. When drying your dog with a towel it’s important to do this as thoroughly as possible. Leaving wet spots may lead to skin irritations or discomfort for your pup. Once you’ve finished drying them off and giving them a good brush, make sure to reward them with a yummy treat!

How to Wash Cats:

For the most part, cats usually groom themselves, and tend to stay clean without needing their human’s assistance. That however, doesn’t always apply to most cats. Long-haired cats or in some cases, even short haired cats, may end up getting dirty or need their human’s help getting clean. Cats are stereotypically not the biggest fans of water, which can make giving them baths a bit tricky. However, there are those strange few that actually do enjoy the water! It’s best to start grooming cats at a young age, to get them used to the experience. For cats, the easiest place to give them a bath is in the sink. For long haired cats, make sure to brush them before starting to bath them. Try to tire out your cat a bit beforehand by playing with them. Try to keep the bathroom environment calm and speak to them in a calming voice, and you might also need a friend or family member to assist you. Don’t fill the sink with water, as your cats will definitely not like being submerged in water, and will put up more of a fight. Instead, run the water at low pressure gently from the sink, showerhead or even using a cup, over your cat. Gently massage your cat’s shampoo onto their coat, and lather as thoroughly as you can. Once done, rinse off the shampoo gently once again. Once done, you can towel dry your cat, avoid leaving any damp spots of fur to prevent any skin irritations. Once dry, softly brush your cat's hair to remove any tangles or knots, and give them a tasty cat treat for their bravery!

How to Wash Rabbits:

Like cats, rabbits groom themselves, but every now and then they do need a hand from their human companions to get clean. However, a full bath is not recommended for rabbits due to their type of fur, which is why it’s best to spot clean them. Spot cleaning targets one area of your rabbit that is dirty and in need of a wash, usually around the bottom. Avoid using running water directly onto your rabbit, instead, use a cloth or sponge to gently clean off the dirty areas of your rabbit without completely submerging them into the water. Once clean, gently dry your rabbit off with a soft towel. Rabbits also require brushing at least once per week, using a soft slicker brush. 

How to Wash Guinea Pigs:

Giving your guinea pig a bath is a lot less of a struggle than a cat or dog. Simply rinse off your guinea pig gently with lukewarm water and around their body and avoiding their face. Next gently lather them with specially formulated shampoo, and gently rinse them off again when done. Dry them off with a soft towel, and voila! You have a clean little guinea pig!

Other ways to groom your pet. 

Grooming isn’t just about shampooing and conditioning your pet. Some pets require maintenance in other areas too. 

How To Clean Your Pet’s Eyes & Ears:

For cleaning your pet’s ears, we’d recommend using products such as Vet’s Best Ear Relief Wash, Vet’s Best Ear Finger Pads, Oxyfresh Pet Ear Cleaner, or Beaphar Ear Cleaner. You’ll likely need some assistance with holding them for their cleaning. For cats, it may be beneficial to wrap them in a blanket or towel. Start by pouring the ear cleaning solution into your pet’s ears and gently start massaging the base of the ear. This will help with loosening and flushing out any loose dirt and debris from your pet’s ear. Use the ear cleaning pads or some cotton swabs (NOT cue tips) to clean out any remaining dirt that’s left behind. Your pet will also shake their head during the cleaning process which will help loosen any of the dirt. 

For cleaning & flushing your pet’s eyes, we’d recommend using Beaphar Eye Cleaner, Bioline Eye Care or Vetericyn Plus Antimicrobial Eye Wash. To flush out any dirt or gunk from your pet’s eyes you may need some help, an extra hand to assist in holding your furry friend during this process. For cats, it will be easier to wrap them up in a towel. To flush and clean your pets eyes, apply the eye cleaning solution to the corner of their eyes, as they blink the solution will wash away any dirt or causes of irritation. If there’s any excess fluid running down from their eyes, you can use a soft cloth or tissue to clean it up. To clean tear stains from your pet’s eyes, we’d recommend using Vet's Best Clean Eye Pads, gently use the pads to clean around the eyes where the stains are. If you notice that this is a recurring issue, it might help to see a vet.

How to Clip Your Pet’s Nails:

You’ll need the correct tools for nail clipping, and we have a variety of nail clippers that are specifically designed for pets in all sizes. As you would for cleaning their eyes and ears, you may need extra hands to assist and may need to wrap your cat or rabbit up in a towel. To start, slowly push your thumb down on your pet’s finger to expose the nail, before you cut, shine a light against your pet's nails and take notice of a white or red/pink line inside the nail, that is the quick. When cutting, avoid cutting too close to the quick, as it can cause bleeding, only cut where the nail is thinnest and cut at a 45 degree angle. 

Brushing Your Pet’s Hair:

Various coat types can require different types of brushes. For short-haired coats, a bristle brush would be best suited. For long-haired or curly coats you could use a slicker brush, there are different shapes and sizes suited for different types of pets. For those pets with thicker and denser coats, the most appropriate brush would be a rake brush. We also carry a range of deshedding brushes for those pets who tend to shed, especially during the hot UAE months! 

Brushing your pet’s hair is actually very important for their comfort. Long haired pets will require brushing every two days or so, in order to avoid matting. When brushing your pet, make sure to be as gentle as possible and to brush in the same direction as their hair growth. Make sure to have this experience be as calming as possible for your pet so that they are more willing to allow you to regularly brush their hair. 

With our range of grooming products and accessories, and these helpful steps, your pets will be practically shining!