Grooming is an essential maintenance activity. Inadequate grooming can lead to serious welfare consequences such as painful matting of hair and overgrown nails.

Long haired breeds require daily bushing to remove old hair and prevent matting. Some breeds may require regular clipping, or their hair tied back to ensure they can move freely and see where they are going.

Mild matting may be brushed out by the owner but, where matting is severe, owners should seek expert assistance. Chronically matted hair can contribute to and cause medical conditions such as skin irritation and infection, recurrent or chronic ear and ocular infections and disease, anal soiling and obstruction, faecal constipation and impaction, urine scalding, parasitic infestations, flystrike, and considerable distress.

Grass seeds can penetrate the skin, ears, and between the toes of dogs. Owners should regularly check dogs for grass seeds during the late summer period.

SPCA is concerned about bathing of companion animals.

Bathing dogs is generally not necessary if the dog is kept in a clean environment, but it can reduce odours that are unpleasant to humans.

A cat should not be bathed unless it is the best interest of the cat including instances such as a parasite infestation, the cat is soiled in faeces or urine, or they have come into contact with a toxic substance.

Rabbits should not be bathed unless specifically recommended by a veterinarian. Washing rabbits is potentially very harmful and is likely to cause problems. Rabbits tend to panic when in water and can easily fracture their spine or a limb if they thrash around. Rabbit hair clumps together when wet making it challenging to dry and rabbits who are left damp are prone to respiratory problems and hypothermia. Maintaining short fur around the rear will help keep the area dry and easier to clean.

Guinea pigs should not be bathed unless it is the best interest of the guinea pig including instances such as a parasite infestation, the guinea pig is soiled in faeces or urine, or they have come into contact with a toxic substance. Maintaining short fur around the rear will help keep the area dry and easier to clean.

SPCA advocates for claw length to be monitored and shortened when required.

The claws of companion animals who get little or no exercise on hard surfaces may become overgrown. Overgrown claws can alter the normal anatomic position and function of the feet and make walking uncomfortable or challenging. Overgrown claws may penetrate the paw pads on the underside of the feet, causing painful wounds.

Claw trimming can be a stressful experience for some animals, negatively impacting their welfare. Claws need careful trimming with sharp clippers or a dremel, taking care not to damage the quick of the nail (the nail bed) which will be painful and result in bleeding and possibly infection.

For dogs, scratch pads or scratch boards (a board with sandpaper that the dog is trained to scratch) can be used to maintain claw length.

Cats require access to scratch posts to help to maintain claw health.

Rabbits and guinea pigs require regular claw trimming with sharp clippers.

SPCA advocates for Fear Free grooming approaches

Cooperative care techniques use reward-based training methods to encourage animals to voluntarily participate in grooming. Veterinarians, allied veterinary professionals, professional groomers, dog trainers, and breeders can provide assistance and advice on grooming and trimming claws.

(See ‘Fear Free Handling’ for more information)

(See ‘Groomers’ for more information)