Pet grooming is about more than just making your pet look adorable. Grooming is actually a very necessary process for pets, particularly if they have long hair or certain skin issues. Without proper grooming (especially for long-haired pets), your pet could end up with balled hair that pulls and hurts and becomes a tangled, matted mess.

If your pet has matted hair, it could make it very difficult for you to see fleas or skin problems on your pet. Although some people may avoid the cost of regular professional grooming for their pet, in the long run it's the pet that pays the price. Here are two potential health issues associated with improper grooming of your pet.

Doggy Odor

When you pet isn't bathed and groomed regularly, their skin will produce excess oils that eventually collect in the fur and start to smell. Additionally, if you pet has mats and tangles, this allows the smelly oils to collect in these areas for a powerhouse of funk. However, it's important that you not only bathe your pet regularly but also brush out their coat to help remove excess oils and remove tangles.

Some skin conditions can cause your dog to have a funny smell. In this case, even regular grooming may not be enough to treat the problem, and you may need to resort to pet approved coal-tar shampoo or medicine from the vet.

If your continual grooming and bathing doesn't help your pet's odor, it's time to visit the vet. And in some cases, a lack of grooming may irritate the skin enough to actually cause the skin issues, so good grooming may be able to prevent problems as well as treat them.

Matted Fur

Matted fur balls on your pet is very uncomfortable for them and this can not only lead to a very irritable pet, but also one who could be developing sore spots from the pulled hair. When dog hair gets really matted up (particularly on the tender areas such as the underbelly) it can pull and create constant pressure on the skin. This eventually will cause sores and tenderness that may need additional medical care.

It is crucial that you keep your dog's coat free of mats. It represents not only a messy dog, but one who is in a lot of discomfort as well.

These are just two of the problems you can avoid and help treat if you regularly groom your dog. Ask local resources like Woodside Veterinary Hospital where you can get these services done for your dog.