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The internet is filled with questions like “How to clean your dog's ears?” to “Do you really need to brush your pet's teeth?” Thanks to the crowdsourcing nature of the web, there's a bevy of instructional TikToks and fellow pet parents engaging in heated debates on everything from what your dog's poop means to how to best clip your cat's nails.
With so much information to sift through, I decided to test some pet hygiene products on my cats, chat with experts like vets and groomers, and do a little investigating of my own to come up with WIRED's guide on How to Clean Your Pet. (Spoiler: It's not as obvious as it seems.)
Signs That Cats or Dogs Need Grooming
- Visible mats of fur. These can cause skin infection and trap foreign material. Matted fur occurs most frequently behind ears, under legs, around the tail, and beneath the collar, so make sure you're frequently checking those spots. (Long-haired dogs and cats like shih tzus or Persian cats might have to be professionally groomed every four to eight weeks, and collies or huskies may need a deshedding two to three times a year.)
- Greasy fur or a musty/stinky odor.
- Dandruff—flaky, shedding skin cells, caused by an imbalance in the skin's natural oils. Dandruff is most often caused by things like as allergies, parasites, skin infections, dry air, dietary imbalance, and more.
- Licking or scratching more than usual.
- Claws getting stuck, or if you get frequently scratched accidentally. If you notice your cat's claws getting stuck in fabrics, carpets, or even while they're playing with toys, this is a sign the nails are too long. A neglected cat's nails can actually start to curl into its paw pads and cause pain. A too-long nail getting caught can also lead to the nail ripping out and causing injury. (We have a section below on cat nail clipping.)
- Booty scooting. If your dog or cat is scooting on the carpet, this is a sign that they may need their anal glands expressed—consult your vet.
- Frequent hairballs from your cat mean that they are ingesting more hair than their body can process. Helping brush loose hairs will help cut down on your cat's discomfort and avoid more hairballs.
How to Bathe Your Pet
Because they groom themselves throughout the day, cats don't need regular bathing unless they have gotten into a foreign or potentially harmful substance or have a skin condition requiring medicated shampoo. (The only exception is Sphinx cats, which are hairless and need frequent bathing to avoid oil and dirt buildup.)
After talking with veterinarians and groomers, these are the best at-home dog washing tips:
- Only use a gentle dog-specific shampoo.
- Ensure that the dog's ears and eyes stay dry.
- Use lukewarm water.
- Place a towel or bath mat below them for a (safer) non-slip surface.
Many dogs don't love water, have had past trauma and are afraid, or just don't want to stay in the tub, but there are a few things you can do to make bathing as easy as possible.
The first step is desensitizing your dog to the tub and then using positive reinforcement with treats so that the dog associates the bathtub with something it likes.
“If your dog is scared of the bath, the first step may be to have them stand in the bathroom while getting treats. Gradually move closer to the bathing area until they are comfortable eating treats in it,” says veterinarian Liza Cahn. “Desensitization involves gradually exposing a dog to the source of their anxiety, while counterconditioning aims to change a dog's emotional response to a stressful stimulus by associating it with something positive.”
Work slowly, starting with getting your pet comfortable in the empty bathtub, using treats for positive reinforcement. Then, introduce water, while still giving treats, and slowly introduce the other bathing elements, all while giving treats. “Some dogs are afraid of the hose or faucet, so we will often use a cup to pour water over them as a more gentle, less noisy option,” says groomer Shea Barrett.
Smearing peanut butter on the side of the tub or using a suction lick mat is a great way to distract and occupy your dog while associating the bath with a treat.
Fur Maintenance for Cats and Dogs
Short-haired cats and dogs only require brushing once a week. Long-haired cats and dogs require it daily. A de-shedding brush helps clear the undercoat and is useful for dogs during shedding periods, usually when the seasons change.
My long-haired cat hates being brushed, which makes my job a lot harder. My biggest advice for new kitten or puppy owners is to groom, clip nails, and brush teeth regularly starting at a young age so they are desensitized to the grooming process. For my cat's wispy long fur, I like using a combination of brushes, one with many short bristles and a self-emptying button for ease, and a longer comb with fine- and wide-pronged teeth, which helps detangle top fur and thin out the undercoat.
My aforementioned long-haired cat, Clover, is nicknamed Poopy Butt because she sometimes gets messy near her rear, due to her hair being so long. One of the best things I've done is buy an at-home grooming kit so I can keep up with shaving the hair near her hind area to keep things sanitary.
“Sanitary shaves help keep the genital and anal area clean in long-haired pets. If trying this at home, use clippers with a guard and only if your pet is calm; never use sharp scissors near sensitive areas,” says veterinarian Jamie Richardson.
I'd suggest buying a kit, like the one I have above, with multiple heads (and the comb I discussed earlier) so you can more easily and safely access those smaller or tucked-away areas.
For technique, I sit Clover in my lap and access her pubic area while I'm above. If I have another person to help, I will have them hold her in place and lift her tail, so I can do the hindquarters from behind. (This provides more visibility, but she's so squirmy that I need another person's help to keep her in place this way.)
I've tested several solid cat water fountains and automatic feeders from brand Oneisall, and the company has tons of different options and sizes for clippers and other grooming devices for dogs that I'd suggest dog-owning readers check out.
How to Clip Nails
You should clip your cat or dog's nails about every four weeks. This may be needed less for dogs, as their nails get naturally filed as they walk on pavement. But indoor cats' nails need to be clipped every three to four weeks, along with providing scratchers so they can help naturally file their nails between cutting.
Like the dog clippers set above, there are handheld nail grinders that help to gradually and gently file away dog nails for a less traumatic clipping experience. (These aren't recommended for cats, as the quick of their nail is farther down and more susceptible to accidental nicking and injury.)
“The key [to using grinders] is making sure your dog tolerates the vibration and noise. Some dogs adapt quickly if you introduce the grinder slowly with treats and praise, while others may be more comfortable sticking with clippers,” says Richardson. “Ultimately, the best tool is the one that keeps your dog’s nails trimmed safely and without stress.”
Most people with cats I talk to are absolutely terrified of clipping their cats' nails! I get it! As a physically disabled person myself, I find clipping my cats' nails to be super challenging, but that doesn't mean I don't need to do it. Clipping your cat's nails (especially if they are indoor-only) is an essential part of their care that cannot be overlooked.
According to the vets I talked with, clipping a cat’s nails is all about safety, patience, and practice.
- Start slow! Even if you can just sneak in one or two nails at a time while they're napping (before they realize what's happening), you can get all four paws done—even if it's over a longer period of time.
- Perhaps most important, avoid the pink “quick” of the nail. “Each nail has a sensitive inner core called the quick, which contains blood vessels and nerves. It looks like a pink triangle inside the clear part of the nail,” says Richardson. “Cutting into it is painful and causes bleeding, so the goal is to trim just the sharp, curved tip of the claw, staying a few millimeters in front of the quick.”
- “Swaddling them in a blanket or towel, along with covering their face, helps to keep them calm during the process,” says Barrett. This is my personal top advice for clipping nails. I swaddle them and sit them in my lap, pulling out one paw at a time. Make sure you press on the paw pads while clipping to extend the nails for easier clipping. Many online retailers also sell cat grooming vests with velcro or adhesive blanket wraps, but I find towels work well (and are free).
- Another TikTok hack I've learned is that cats are super disoriented when their whiskers or face are being touched, and calm down quite a bit when they can't see what's going on if their head is covered. If my cats are being squirmy even in their cat towel burrito, if I put a human-sized baseball cap on their heads for a very short period of time, which renders them basically immobile while I finish clipping. (The cap is so big that there's plenty of air ventilation and the could easily duck their heads out if they want, but they are momentarily confused so they usually don't).
- Use the right tools—make sure you're using cat-specific nail clippers. (Don't use dog ones because they're too big and can injure a cat's nail bed. Even human nail clippers can work better in a pinch.)
- Make it routine. Starting regularly as a kitten helps cats get used to the process, but even keeping up on trimming every two weeks or so will help acclimate your cat.
- Distract with treats or use treats as rewards. If someone is around, I will have them feed my cat a Churu-type liquid lickable treat so he's distracted while I clip nails. This is a great time to bust out the treats your cats really go wild for. (I recommend TikTok for ideas, like this person who wrapped their forehead and covered it in treats for a distraction.)
Thankfully, declawing cats is now widely recognized in the veterinary medicine field as an inhumane procedure. It's even banned in many countries and several US cities. It’s moved past a medical issue into an animal welfare issue.
“Declawing takes away a cat’s natural ability to defend itself, climb, and stretch, and it causes unnecessary suffering,” says Richardson. “Declawing is not simply removing the nail, it’s the surgical amputation of the last bone of each toe. Imagine losing the tips of all your fingers at the last joint—that’s what declawing does to cats. It’s painful, it alters how they walk, and it can lead to long-term complications like chronic pain, arthritis, and behavior changes.”
Cleaning Your Pet’s Ears
The process for how to clean your dog's ears is virtually the same as for cats, but certain dog breeds need ear cleaning more frequently.
Checking your pet's ears once a week is a simple step that can help prevent a lot of discomfort. Once you get familiar with what your pet's ears “normally” look like, it can be a lot easier to notice when things are amiss. The only breeds that need to be cleaned weekly are those with floppier ears that are more prone to getting ear infections, like cocker spaniels or basset hounds.
“Look for redness, odor, excess wax, or debris. If the ears look clean and healthy, you don’t need to do anything—over-cleaning can actually cause irritation,” says Richardson. “But if you see buildup, it’s time for a gentle clean.”
- Always use a pet-safe ear cleaner, one recommended to you by a veterinarian. Never use household products or hydrogen peroxide.
- To clean your pet's ears, “Fill the ear canal with the solution, gently massage the base of the ear to loosen debris, then let your dog [or cat ] shake their head. Wipe away what comes up with a cotton ball or gauze,” says Richardson. “Never put cotton swabs into the canal—the ear canal is L-shaped in dogs, so swabs can push debris deeper or even cause injury.”
- In special cases, pets with frequent ear infections should be using a vet-recommended ear cleaning product regularly. And “dogs who swim frequently should also have their ears cleaned afterwards, with a product including a drying agent,” says Richardson.
If you notice persistent redness or itching of a cat's or dog's ears, it is most likely allergies and should be checked by a veterinarian.
Checking the Eyes and Nose
Since the eyes and nose are some of the most sensitive and delicate areas of the animal (with eyes especially being prone to infection), make sure you're extra cautious and consulting the vet often.
Most cats and dogs will sometimes have clear or slightly brownish eye crust that should be wiped away with a clean, damp cloth. (I also use Uproot Clean Pet Eye Wipes.)
Signs of a problem (consult a vet):
- Abnormal discharge: yellow or green “boogers”
- Redness or swelling around the eye
- Closing or squinting the eye can be indicative of pain (like a foreign body) or other health issues
Noses usually don't require any cleaning (and never put a cotton swab in the opening). If you notice excess discharge, crusting, or swelling around the nose, that's when you should consult a vet.
Meet the Experts
- Jamie Richardson is head of veterinary medicine at Small Door Veterinary.
- Liza Cahn is a small animal veterinarian and veterinary consultant with Embrace Pet Insurance.
- Shea Barrett is a pet groomer at CityVet in Coppell, Texas.
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