Whether you bring your dog in for routine grooms or if you prefer to bring them in to be groomed sporadically, as your pet ages you may be reconsidering your old grooming habits. There are an estimated 24 million senior dogs in the U.S. every year, and while these older dogs may experience health complications, they should absolutely still be heading to the groomer.

In fact, while grooming is important throughout a dog’s life, grooming can actually promote better health in senior dogs. A good groomer is able to modify the grooming process to make it more comfortable and enjoyable for aging pets, which will help your dog feel better than ever. Aside from the obvious benefits of a little pampering, regular grooms can help your dog in many ways.

Grooming promotes healthy skin

Have you ever had an itch you just can’t scratch, or felt itchy all over? It is a nightmare. Imagine how your dog feels if they experience dry, itchy skin on a regular basis. Regular grooms with a groomer who uses all natural products, including CBD salves for hot spots, can promote healthy skin and a softer coat. This means that your senior dog will be more comfortable on a daily basis and will have relief from unnecessary and preventable irritation.

Bathing, nail trimming, and brushing can make it easier for an achy dog to walk

If your dog is suffering from joint pain, they are likely already experiencing pain while they walk. Now, imagine that their nails are long and pushing into their paws with every step, or that their hair is starting to become matted so that it is hard to turn their head or neck. All of those small details add up to cause extra pain when a dog is already suffering. It is important to have regular baths, nail trimming, and brushing to keep up your pet’s mobility and to prevent further pain. Heavy matting and thick hair where it should not be can also add extra weight to their joints, making your sore dog have even more strain. Long nails can also impact your dog’s posture, which can lead to even further joint pain. Even if you use the best treatments available for joint pain, all of the added stress on your dog can cause more problems when they are not getting regular grooms.

Regular grooming helps maintain cleanliness in areas prone to infection

Aging dogs and cats may not be able to do a fabulous job cleaning their rear-ends. It may be a little bit cringe-worthy to think about, but grooming helps keep your dog’s unsightly areas (like their rear) which may be more prone to infection, clean. In addition, a groomer who is able to clean a dog’s teeth naturally can help prevent gum disease and other oral infections. Groomers can also notify you of any hot spots or other areas to watch for that you may have missed on your own.

When you take your senior dog to be groomed, be sure to inform your groomer of any behaviors or issues that you have noticed. Your groomer will modify the bathing and grooming process to accommodate your achy or aging dog, and will make sure that the groom is as comfortable and stress-free as possible for your pet.

To schedule your pet’s next grooming appointment, click here. To learn more about how to help your aging dog, click here.

About Angela Ardolino

Angela Ardolino is a holistic pet expert who has been caring for animals for over 20 years and operates a rescue farm, Fire Flake Farm, in Florida. She is also the owner of  Beautify the Beast,  a natural pet salon and shop. After getting her certificate in Medical Cannabis Biology and Therapeutic use from the University of Vermont School of Medicine, she founded CBD Dog Health to provide high quality, all-natural medical cannabis products designed specifically for pets. Angela has seven dogs, Odie a 12-year-old mini-schnauzer, Nina an 8-year-old Doberman. Jolene a 7-year-old mutt, Maza a 7-year-old mutt, Rhemi an 8-year-old poodle, Potato a 15-year-old shih-tzu, and Miss Daisie a 15-year-old black lab, plus 4-10 more at any time she is fostering or boarding. She uses Full Spectrum Hemp Extract on all her pets at her rescue farm every day, and has since 2016. She is a member of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians, the Veterinary Cannabis Association and has trained hundreds medical doctors and veterinarians about the therapeutic uses of medical cannabis on animals. Visit www.angelaardolino.com for more information.