Common Pet Grooming Myths That Pet Parents Should Stop Believing

Around 80 million households have either a dog or cat, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. With this number of pet owners, you’d think that everyone already knows everything there is to know about pet grooming.

However, if you ask the question, “how frequently should you bathe your pet?”, you’ll likely get a bunch of different answers.

There are many misconceptions about the proper way to groom a pet. Some of these myths aren’t just factually wrong but also detrimental to your pets’ health.

As a pet parent, you only want the best for your furry friends. To help you separate fact from fiction, here are some of the common myths about grooming that you should avoid.

Myth 1: Weekly Bathing Is Harmful to Your Pet's Skin

Let’s start with the question we asked earlier. How often should you give your pet a bath?

Some would say that regular baths would dry out your pet’s skin and leave them with a dull coat. There’s a grain of truth in that argument if we’re talking about grooming back in the days. Before, owners use harsh detergents such as lye soap or even dish soap to clean their pets.

Today, grooming products are gentle enough to be used weekly without harming the skin and coat of your pet.

So to answer the question above, you can bathe your dog or cat whenever they need it. Regular bathing helps them shed less, manage or protect from some skin conditions, and most importantly, smell better! Some may need weekly bathing, but doing it every four to six weeks is the common ground for most pets.

Myth 2: People Shampoo Is Just as Good or Better Than Pet Shampoo

Your shampoo or soap may claim to be “gentle for use even on baby’s skin” but that doesn’t mean that it’s appropriate for your pet. Human and dog or cat skin have very different pH balances (human skin is more acidic). Also, your pet’s skin is more sensitive because they have fewer layers of skin cells than us.

Since your pet’s hair and skin have different needs compared to ours, they need different shampoo. If you’re unsure of what product to use, consult your vet or your professional pet groomer.

Myth 3: Pet Grooming Is Only Reserved for Certain Breeds

You may have heard that some breeds don’t shed and because of that, don’t need grooming. For example, it seems obvious that Collies or Poodles need regular grooming because they have long or thick coats. That shouldn’t be the case for breeds like the Dachshund or the Labradoodle, right?

The fact is all breeds shed, some more than others, but they all need grooming! No matter what the breed, grooming is essential to help them look and feel their best. They’ll all benefit from bathing, brushing, nail care, coat maintenance, and other services.

Grooming Is What We Do Best

Hopefully, we’ve dispelled some of the myths that are out there about pet grooming. However, we understand that not all pet owners have the time to learn all about the ins and outs of proper grooming.

That’s why we’re here! We’ll make sure that your pet is taken care of and shines like a Hollywood star. Schedule an appointment with us today.