You want everything clean and beautiful for the holidays. But as you prepare your family and home for holiday guests, don't forget the family pet.

Sparky and Max will want to participate in family gatherings, so you want them nice to be near. That means finding time in your holiday preparations to give your pet a thorough grooming.

• Brush and comb. Begin with a good brushing to get rid of loose hair. If your pet has long hair, take time to carefully comb out any tangles. A conditioning and untangling spray can help make the process more comfortable for your pet. After systematically brushing through the coat, use a professional steel-pinned comb to make sure that all the knots and shedding hair have been removed.
  
  
• Shampoo and condition. Your pet can't look and smell their best without a bath. Don't be tempted to use your own hair care products on your pet. Animal's skin has a different pH from human's skin, so choose products specially formulated for pets. Always follow the shampoo with a conditioning rinse or moisturizing treatment. Towel dry thoroughly, then separate the hair by brushing and combing to speed drying down to the skin. If you use a standard home hair dryer, be aware that it is very easy to burn your pet. Hold it well away from the skin and use a cool setting.
  
  
• Nails. No grooming is complete without a manicure. Use only a proper nail clipping tool specifically made for your pet, and take off a small amount at a time. Stay well away from the "quick", the point at which there is blood flow. Be prepared with a styptic product in case you do clip into the blood vessel.

You can add the finishing touch with a special holiday collar or scarf and your pet is ready for company!

If you can't find a couple of hours of grooming time in between all of the cookie-baking, gift-wrapping, and party-going, you may want to let a professional groomer give your pet his holiday make-over. But be sure to make your appointment early because most good groomers book up quickly for holiday periods.

And expect pet grooming salons to be as busy as human beauty salons during the pre-holiday days. If your pet hasn't had a professional grooming in a long time, it's a good idea to schedule his appointment for a week or two before the holiday rush. That way you know the groomer will be able to take extra time with her to be sure her holiday make-over is picture perfect!