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.) . 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 . or a musty/ . 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. —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. or 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.) , 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. —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. If Your Dog Hates Baths 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.”