By Pet Pro Supply Co. Featured Veterinarian,
Dr. Shadi Ireifej DVM DACVS
Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer at VetTriage
Introduction
Trimming dogs’ fur with electric clippers is commonplace in professional grooming and in preparing pets for veterinary surgery. Professional groomers and veterinarians know their way around clippers and know the proper techniques to avoid any harm to your pet. However, that’s not always the case when pet parents choose to trim their dog’s fur at home!
In this article, Dr. Shadi Ireifej (a board certified veterinary surgeon) will review proper hair clipping technique for home grooming and also share some of the science behind skin trauma and infections on pets resulting from clipping.
Proper hair clipping techniques
First: some basic, practical advice for trimming fur:
- Prior to grooming, give your pet a bath with a neutral shampoo, taking care to avoid getting water and shampoo in the ears or eyes. Drying after the bath begins with a dry towel followed by a blow dryer, while also brushing the pet to remove knots and mats.
- The ideal clipper should be as quiet as possible, so as not to startle the pet.
- There are both battery-operated, cordless clippers and those that plug into the wall to maintain their charge, so choose the one that fits your space best. For easy, quiet operation at home, we recommend Aeolus’s handheld clippers.
- When shaving your pet, be methodical. A systematic approach not only ensures you don’t miss any spots, but also prevents cosmetic blemishes like…
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