The Benefits of Regular Grooming for Pets

People usually start thinking about grooming when something changes: a dog suddenly smells “doggy”, a cat’s coat begins to matt, nails start clicking on the floor, or someone in the house is sneezing more than usual. It feels cosmetic, but the stakes are practical—skin infections can simmer under a thick coat, ear trouble can build quietly, and dental disease often isn’t obvious until it hurts.

Grooming is best treated as routine observation. A few minutes of brushing, a quick look in the ears and mouth, and an occasional nail trim can keep coats comfortable, reduce matting and shedding, and help you notice lumps, parasites, sore spots, or bad breath early—well before they become expensive or painful problems.^{1, 2, 5}

What “grooming” really means (and why it matters)

Pet grooming is a bundle of small maintenance tasks. Some are about cleanliness, but most are about comfort and prevention: keeping the coat free of tangles, nails at a safe length, ears free of irritant build-up, and teeth as clean as a pet will allow.

It also creates a regular moment when you’re close enough to notice changes: new lumps, patches of redness, tender areas, grass seeds caught in fur, fleas, ticks, or a smell coming from the ears or mouth.^{1, 2}

Common misconceptions worth dropping

“Only long-haired pets need grooming”

Short coats shed too, and skin problems don’t ask permission based on hair length. Short-haired pets often benefit from regular brushing to remove loose hair and help keep the coat and skin in good condition.^{1, 3}

“Grooming is just about looking nice”

A tidy coat is a side effect. The bigger value is noticing problems early and preventing avoidable discomfort—matting that pulls on the skin, nails that grow into awkward angles, or teeth that quietly slide into periodontal disease.^{2, 6}

Coat care: appearance follows health

Brushing removes loose hair, dirt and flakes, helps prevent tangles and matting, and spreads natural oils along the hair shaft. Over time, that often makes the coat look glossier—but the more important change is that the skin underneath stays aired, easier to inspect, and less likely to hide irritation.^{1, 2, 4}

Matting isn’t harmless. Dense mats can trap moisture and debris against the skin, and they can be uncomfortable—especially in high-friction areas like the armpits, groin, under the collar, and behind the ears.^{2, 4}

Grooming as early detection

Most pets don’t advertise minor pain, and many problems start small. A consistent grooming routine gives you a chance to pick up changes early, including:

• lumps and bumps
• red, inflamed, or flaky patches of skin
• parasites (fleas, ticks) and flea dirt
• grass seeds, burrs, and small wounds hidden in the coat
• ear discharge, odour, or irritation around the ear opening
• bad breath, red gums, or visible tartar build-up^{2, 6}

If you find something new and you’re not sure what it is, take a clear photo and contact your vet. When it comes to lumps, ears, eyes and mouths, “wait and see” often just means “see later, and worse”.

Comfort: nails, ears, and the parts that snag

Nails

Overgrown nails can make walking awkward and can split or catch. The RSPCA notes that a practical guide is to trim before nails start touching the ground when the dog is standing or walking, and to remember dew claws, which don’t wear down with exercise.²

Ears

Not every pet needs routine ear cleaning, and aggressive cleaning can irritate sensitive ear canals. What does help is regular inspection: look for discharge, redness, swelling, or smell, and ask your vet what “normal” looks like for your animal.^{1, 2}

Teeth

Dental disease is common, and it tends to build quietly under the gumline. By around three years of age, most dogs and cats have some level of periodontal disease, often unnoticed at home.⁶

Home toothbrushing (with pet-safe toothpaste, introduced gently) can help, but it doesn’t replace a proper veterinary oral exam. If your pet has bad breath, visible tartar, bleeding gums, or seems reluctant to chew, book a check-up rather than trying to “scrub it off”.^{6, 7}

Allergens and infections: what grooming can (and can’t) do

Regular brushing can reduce loose hair and dander in the coat, which may help lower what gets shed into the home.^{1, 4}

It’s not a cure for allergies, and it won’t prevent every ear or skin infection. But it can reduce some triggers (mats, trapped debris, heavy shedding) and, just as importantly, it helps you notice the early signs—before a mild itch turns into a raw, infected patch.^{2, 4}

Bonding, without pretending it’s therapy

Many pets settle into a predictable, gentle grooming routine, especially when it’s short, calm, and ends before patience runs out. Studies of human–dog interaction suggest that activities including grooming can be associated with measurable changes linked with relaxation and focused attention in people, depending on the context and activity type.⁸

For the animal, the aim is simpler: minimal restraint, clear handling, and stopping early if you see signs of stress (tensing, pulling away, lip licking, pinned ears, growling, hissing). A quiet routine builds tolerance. For some pets, that’s as far as it needs to go.

When professional grooming is the better option

Home grooming covers a lot, but some situations are safer and kinder with a professional groomer or a vet:

• Severe matting (especially close to skin). Cutting mats with scissors at home can cause serious injury; veterinary help may be needed, sometimes with sedation for the animal’s safety.¹
• Coats that felt overnight (heavy undercoat, long coats, friction areas).
• Pets that can’t stand comfortably for long (arthritis, obesity, advanced age).
• Ear or skin problems where the right products and handling matter—your vet can advise what’s appropriate before you bathe or apply anything new.³

A good groomer will also flag changes they notice—sore spots, lumps, parasites, odd smells—so you can follow up with your vet promptly.⁴

Practical routine: keep it simple and repeatable

How to build a grooming habit that actually sticks

1. Start small. A minute or two is enough at first—especially for cats and sensitive dogs.
2. Choose a predictable moment. Same place, same brush, same calm pace.
3. Brush first, bathe last. Brushing before bathing helps avoid tightening tangles into mats.
4. Do a quick “whole-body scan”. Hands over the coat, check between toes, look in ears, lift the lips for a glance at gums.
5. Stop early on a good note. If your pet is getting wriggly or tense, end the session before it becomes a battle.¹

References

1. RSPCA Pet Insurance (Australia) — Grooming your cat: Here’s what you should be doing
2. RSPCA Knowledgebase — Why and how should I groom my dog?
3. RSPCA Pet Insurance (Australia) — Washing and brushing your dog
4. Animal Welfare League (Australia) — Why it’s so important to groom your pets
5. RSPCA Pet Insurance (Australia) — Guide to dog cleaning and grooming
6. American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) — 2019 Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats
7. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine — Periodontal disease (dogs)
8. PubMed — Psychophysiological and emotional effects of human–dog interactions by activity type: An electroencephalogram study