Dog Clippers: A Surprisingly Necessary Purchase

 

Australia is one of the best countries to raise a pet. Our houses, when it comes to interior usable space, are some of the largest in the world, and Australians spend annually, on their pets, more than most other countries in this part of the world combined, with no less than 73% of all Aussie households owning at least one pet. We just love our animal companions, and for this reason, the abundance of pet supplies near me, especially in cities such as Perth, Melbourne, Canberra, or Sydney, is off the charts.

Do you live in one of Australia’s largest cities? In that case, more than likely, you are never more than a couple of meters away from the products of a local pet supply store. But, in this era of internet shopping and cost-effective shipping, are local pet stores even relevant anymore? Well, I think so, and that’s for a couple of good reasons.

Why Choose Pet Supplies Near Me?

Personalised Advice: 

Personally, this is the number one reason why I still prefer to do my pet shopping largely offline. Yes, you can often find good deals online, and shipping to my location is truly convenient, but there is something to be said about the personal recommendations you can receive from the staff of a local pet supply shop. Local employees can often give you advice and product recommendations even in instances in which you don’t know what exactly is suitable for the needs of your pet.

Immediate Product Purchases:

I don’t really have a problem waiting for shipping when it comes to toys, crates, or non-essential pet supplies. But there are also products that I want to buy on immediate notice. Did you run out of kibble, treats, puppy training pads, or anti-flea medication? Then, why wait for shipping when, realistically, the products your pup needs will be available in the catalogue of your local store?

Convenient Returns:

It happens. Sometimes the product you purchased is not exactly what you expected, or its characteristics are not entirely suitable for the needs of your pup. With an online store, the process of returning pet-specific products can be a pain, and it will take a while. However, with regional pet supplies near me, the return process is often easier, and in some cases, it’s also possible to exchange the product you purchased with one that will be more suitable for the needs of your pup.

You bought, for example, a pair of dog clippers, and they are not exactly the right choice for the fur of your dog? With a provider of pet supplies near me, finding a solution to an issue like this is somewhat realistic. With an online store? Well, you will be able to return the product, sure. But it will take longer. Speaking of fur and clippers:

Why Even Go for Dog Clippers?

Realistically speaking, dog clippers are probably one of the most intelligent financial moves you can make for the long-term maintenance of your pup’s fur. Grooming sessions, especially in Australia, are surprisingly expensive, and if you are the owner of a breed with a longer coat, you can expect to pay a couple of hundred dollars every two months or so, just on their grooming. I’ve been there and it’s not exactly sustainable.

My parents owned a Carpathian Shepherd Dog who was rescued from an abandoned farm, near Cairns, and that fluffball, as well-behaved as he was, was a veritable money pit, as his fur needed trimming at least once per month, at a cost of $100 per session. Purchasing dog clippers, therefore, simply made financial sense. Yes, I didn’t exactly know what I was doing at first, and my initial efforts at fur grooming were suitable for an episode of the World's Funniest Animals. But it was worth it, eventually.

Plus, personally grooming your dog’s fur is more convenient than booking appointments weeks in advance, and it can also be less stressful for your pet. I have a pet Shih Tzu, for example, that transforms into a veritable ICBM anytime I try to have her professionally groomed. With me, on the other hand, she’s quite chill, and sometimes I think she actually enjoys it. So, why spend hundreds on appointments when I can do the job myself?

It Can Be a Necessity

Dog clippers are a fantastic way to save on the cost associated with professional grooming sessions. But is it really necessary to cut your pet’s hair? After all, their fur is there for a reason, right? While there is some truth to this, the hot Australian climate is not exactly compatible with the long coats specific to some of Australia’s most popular dog breeds.

A neglected fur can trap heat, moisture, dirt and allergens, which can contribute to the development of skin infections. That Carpathian Shepherd my parents rescued? Well, his fur was long overdue for some grooming and because he was left unattended for so long, he developed a bad case of Malassezia dermatitis, which required three months on Ketoconazole to disappear.

You Need to Be Wary About Parasites

Australia is a great country when it comes to landscape, infrastructure and opportunities for nature excursions. But it’s also home to no less than seventeen human-biting tick species, out of which only 8% are endemic to this country.

Ticks, fleas and other parasites are an issue for Aussie animal owners. In eastern Australia, Ixodes holocyclus causes approximately 95% of human tick bites and is likewise the most significant tick species affecting companion animals. Ixodes holocyclus causes tick paralysis, which is, as you can imagine, a dangerous condition that can escalate quickly. Can you prevent tick bites entirely? No, of course not. But at least you can detect them more easily by keeping your dog’s fur clean, short and tidy.

Regular grooming can allow us to detect areas of irritation and tick attachment sites before they start to produce long-term issues, and it’s also a way to prevent matting. Granted, dog clippers can, in some cases, be more expensive than conventional ones designed for human use. But, just like it’s the case with most pet supplies near me, the keyword when talking about them is durability. Pet clippers are built to last, and for this reason, they can be one of the most cost-efficient ways to keep your pup’s grooming requirements in check.