Keeping your pet clean and comfortable starts at home. Regular brushing, nail trimming, and other simple routines help your dog or cat stay healthy between appointments. These tasks also give you the chance to notice changes in your pet’s skin, coat, or ears early on. Grooming is also an essential part of pet care—not only for appearance but for overall comfort and well-being.
Still, there are times when at-home grooming is not enough. That is where Advanced Pet Care Clinic comes in. As a certified Fear Free Veterinary clinic, we provide professional pet grooming for dogs and cats in a calm and supportive environment, making it easier to keep your pet looking and feeling their best.
Grooming at Home: Practical Tips for Dogs and Cats
You do not need to be a professional to keep your pet comfortable between appointments. With the right tools and a little patience, you can make grooming at home a positive routine.
-
Brushing
- Dogs: Use a slicker brush (a flat brush with fine, short wire bristles that remove loose fur and help prevent mats) for long or thick coats and a bristle brush for short-haired breeds. Always brush in the direction of hair growth to avoid tugging. Keep sessions short (5–10 minutes) so your dog doesn’t get restless, and reward with a treat afterward.
- Cats: Try a wide-toothed comb for long-haired cats and a soft rubber brush for short-haired ones. If you encounter small mats, hold the fur close to the skin to avoid pulling and gently work them apart. Never try to cut mats out with scissors—cat skin is very thin and easy to accidentally cut. If mats are severe, it is safest to have them professionally removed.
Note: Brushing also helps reduce hairballs.
-
Bathing
- Dogs: Bathe every 4–6 weeks or as needed with dog-safe shampoo. Wet the coat thoroughly, lather from the neck down, and rinse well. Towel-dry or use a blow dryer on the cool setting.
- Cats: Most cats do not need regular baths. Exceptions include hairless cats, cats with medical conditions, seniors or overweight cats that cannot groom themselves, or those who get into sticky or harmful substances. If you need to bathe your cat, use a sink or small tub with a non-slip mat and cat-safe shampoo. Pour water gently instead of spraying to reduce stress.
Risks of Over-Bathing: Bathing too often can strip the skin and coat of natural oils, leading to dryness, itchiness, and irritation in both dogs and cats. Cats, in particular, may also experience unnecessary stress from frequent bathing. The safest approach is to bathe only when needed or as recommended by your veterinarian.
-
Nail Trimming
Use a pet nail clipper or grinder. Inside each nail is the quick—a sensitive core containing blood vessels and nerves. Accidentally cutting into it will cause pain and bleeding.
-
- Dogs: In light-colored nails, the quick looks like a pink line inside the nail; in dark nails it is harder to see, so trim just the tip a little at a time.
- Cats: The quick is visible as the pink center inside their clear or white claws. Only trim the sharp, curved tip of the claw and stop before reaching the pink quick. Cats’ nails are thinner and more translucent, so it’s often easier to see than in dogs.
If your pet is nervous, do only a few nails at a time and reward them for calm behavior rather than forcing a full session. If you are uncertain how to trim your pet’s nails, please
consult with one of our veterinarians who can have a veterinarian technician show you how.
-
Ear Care
- Dogs: Check your dog’s ears weekly for redness, odor, or waxy buildup. Clean only when needed using a vet-approved ear cleaner and a cotton ball or pad (never a cotton swab). Dogs who swim or have floppy ears may require more frequent cleaning.
- Cats: Most cats do not need their ears cleaned regularly. Instead, check occasionally, and if you notice dirt, wax, or odor, gently wipe the outer ear with a cotton ball and vet-approved solution. If ears look normal, there’s no need to clean them.
-
Dental Hygiene
- Introduce tooth brushing slowly with pet-safe toothpaste. Let your pet lick the toothpaste first, then work up to brushing a few teeth at a time. Consistency matters more than length—short, daily sessions are ideal. Want to learn more about keeping your pet’s smile healthy? Check out our blog Pawsitively Perfect Teeth: Why Pet Dental Health Should Be a Priority for helpful tips.
Why Choose Advanced Pet Care for Grooming
Even with good at-home care, some pets benefit from professional services. That is where Advanced Pet Care Clinic comes in. We provide complete pet grooming for dogs and cats, handling everything from routine trims to specialized care.
- Thick or Double Coats: Breeds like Golden Retrievers or Persian cats can develop mats that are difficult to manage at home.
- Haircuts and Styling: Dogs with curly or continuously growing coats, such as Poodles or Shih Tzus, need regular trims to stay comfortable.
- Shedding Control: Professional de-shedding treatments reduce loose fur and keep your home cleaner.
- Senior Pets or Special Conditions: Our team takes extra care with older pets or those with health issues, making the grooming process gentle and safe.
As a certified Fear Free clinic, we approached every grooming appointment with techniques to minimize stress, anxiety, and fear.
Grooming Cats with Care
Cats may not need the same level of professional grooming as dogs, but sometimes they require extra help. Long-haired cats can develop mats that tug painfully at their skin, and older or overweight cats may not be able to clean themselves effectively.
At Advanced Pet Care, we know that cats can be sensitive to grooming. Our Fear Free certification means we focus on gentle handling and calm techniques to make the experience easier. In many cases we suggest light sedation for the cat’s comfort and safety. This type of sedation is different from administering full anesthesia. The sedation is short-acting, and if needed, our veterinary team can give a safe reversal injection, so your cat wakes up quickly and comfortably once grooming is complete.
The Advanced Pet Care Difference
Choosing Advanced Pet Care for your grooming needs means more than a bath and haircut. Our team provides:
- Thorough Coat Care: From detangling to trimming, your pet’s coat stays clean and manageable.
- Skin and Ear Checks: Groomers often notice issues like ear infections, parasites, or skin conditions.
- Stress-Free Nail Trimming: Our Fear Free approach helps keep even nervous pets calm.
- Comfort and Confidence: A clean, well-groomed pet is often more comfortable, active, and happy.
When you schedule for dogs or cats at Advanced Pet Care Grooming, you are choosing compassionate, veterinary-supervised grooming with a focus on comfort.
Partnering with You in Pet Care
Whether you keep up with brushing and bathing at home or rely on Advanced Pet Care for professional grooming services, both are important for your pet’s health and comfort. For many families, combining both works best: regular at-home maintenance and scheduled visits with our experienced team.
If your pet is due for grooming—or if mats, shedding, or nail trims have become too difficult—Advanced Pet Care Clinic is here to help. Our staff provides pet grooming for dogs and cats designed to keep them looking and feeling their best.
Call us today to schedule your pet’s grooming appointment and let Advanced Pet Care give your pet the gentle, Fear Free care they deserve!
Advanced Pet Care Clinic
4507 Algonquin Drive, Suite A
Cedar Falls, IA 50613