Maintaining a dog’s coat, free of tangles, knots, and mats, can often be a challenging task for dog owners. Some breeds require near daily combing or brushing to sufficiently maintain the coat; others are fine with a weekly brush-out. By addressing the grooming needs of their dog in a timely manner, owners are able to properly monitor the skin and coat condition of their pet. Does the dog have fleas or ticks? Any embedded foxtails? Any skin rashes or irritations? Besides that, the dog will no doubt appreciate the attention and affection you provide during these sessions – even if they last just few minutes.
Some dog owners shun caring for their dog’s coat and only address the issue when it becomes totally unbearable. Unbeknownst to them, failure to adequately bathe and/or groom a dog can have sinister results and can seriously jeopardize the dog’s health. Such was a case that my groomer and I found this past week.
We were enlisted to groom a 90-pound, elderly Malamute/Samoyed mix, which was very dirty and severely-matted. The owner sheepishly admitted to not properly caring for the dog’s coat for an extended period and requested we do what we could to thoroughly clean and groom the dog. We immediately knew we had our work cut out for us.
As my groomer began to shave away the severely matted hair from the dog’s sanitary area and rear, she exposed a huge patch of open sores and badly-irritated skin that had been covered over by the mats – completely hidden from view. The dog apparently suffered from incontinence and the dog’s mats now contained stool as well. Worse yet, an infestation of fly larvae had developed inside the mats and on the dog’s skin. We were aghast. Grooming was halted. We notified the dog owner and promptly transported the dog to a nearby veterinarian. Under the vet’s treatment, which includes antibiotics and pain relief, we anticipate this pooch will be on a steady road to recovery.
While this was an extreme case of matting that grew over an extended period of time, I was awe-struck at the potential health risk that severe matting could cause. In this case, the large, thick mats both contributed to the underlying skin condition and prevented the owner from detecting the situation.
Had the dog owner taken the time to examine the dog’s coat at a reasonable frequency – brushing or combing as needed to resolve any developing mats – and bathing or grooming the dog as needed — the above situation would have been avoided.
Pets depend on our good care and attention to be healthy. Frequent attendance to brushing, combing, bathing, and grooming is a wonderful way to bond with your dog and stay abreast of any developing skin or coat issues. Your dog deserves it!
Provided by Dave Ely of Aussie Pet Mobile Marin, 415-686-4248
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K9 Cuisine is a provider of premium dog food. We’re committed to providing our customers with the knowledge, and the products, to help their faithful friends be the best they can be.
Vaccuming, combs and those little sticky things on rolls, infomercial products, lots of laundry… sound familiar? The work seems to never end when it comes to grooming a cat. Some cats’ fur is worse than others, though. Just leave a t-shirt on the floor and have a look at it the next day, you’ll see just how much maintenance your cat’s really gonna need!
Last Sunday, we posted some advice from Dave Ely, from Northern California’s Aussie Pet Mobile. Today another Aussie Pet Mobile owner provides us with some tips for keeping that fur under control!
Summertime grooming tips for your kitty!
With cats spending time outside, soaking up the sun, it’s important to keep in mind these tips to keep them safe.
Not all cats need to be shaved in the summer time. Cats should be shaved no more than every 2-3 months. For summer, a simple grooming to pull excess fur out will keep them cooler in the warm summer months.
Outdoor cats should be treated with a flea and tick preventative. This should be done once every month to ensure cat flea control maintenance. Treatment can be done by a local groomer or by purchasing cat flea & tick control medicine at pet or grocery stores. There are also preventive measures available to keep fleas & ticks away from a pet owner’s home or yard. If your cat happens to get fleas or ticks, you can purchase cat flea & tick control medicines at a pet or grocery store and use it in conjunction with a flea comb, or you can simply call your local mobile groomer to come visit, treat your cat, and give tips on how to prevent your cat from getting fleas or ticks again in the near future.
Outdoor cats need more vaccines than indoor cats because they are exposed to more viruses when they interact with other animals. Be sure to keep up with your cat’s vaccines; vaccinations cats should get to battle the most common disease include: panleukopenia (distemper), feline calicvirus (FCV), feline herpes virus (rhinotracheitis), and rabies.
Cats that have been skunked can be treated at home with a baking peroxide and dish soap bath. Let the baking peroxide and dish soap sit on the spot that was sprayed, and then wash it off. If weary about treating your cat yourself, take your feline to your local vet or call a mobile groomer to come visit and treat your cat quickly and conveniently without having to place them in your car.
Sometimes cat’s hair can get matted. When this happens, don’t try to cut it out with scissors because a cat’s skin is very thin and easy to tear. Instead, the best way to get rid of the mat is to shave it off.
Check regularly for “kitty acne.” That’s right – like humans – cats can get acne too. Kitty acne first appears as small, oily black spots on the chin, which may progress to red, itchy bumps that can become infected. The culprit…kitty acne is most commonly found on cats that use plastic food dishes. These dishes are a magnet for bacteria and dirt that work their way into scratches and nicks, infecting your cat; stress may also be a reason. For treatment, daily cleaning with an antibiotic soap, followed by a topical ointment is recommended by most veterinarians, who can also prescribe oral antibiotics as well as a scrub with hydrogen peroxide.
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Tips provided by Jeff Boehmer, owner of Aussie Pet Mobile of King of Prussia/Langhorne, serving pets and their owners in Montgomery and Bucks County. Noted as the world’s largest mobile pet grooming concept in the world, Aussie Pet Mobile serves more than 250 cities in 24 states nationwide and 16 international countries with their exclusive 15-step pet spa treatment.
1) Never leave your dog alone in a parked vehicle. Even with the windows open, the temperature in your automobile can quickly skyrocket causing potential for heatstroke and even fatality.
2) Keep your pet well hydrated and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest times of the day.
3) Avoid walking your dog in areas you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals. Plant food and fertilizers can be extremely poisonous if your pet ingests them.
4) Have your pet groomed monthly to prevent overheating and to alleviate summer skin problems. A matted dog with a thick undercoat is a breeding ground for parasites, bugs and bacteria that can cause your dog to get sick.
5) Bring your pet into the veterinarian for a summer check-up. Ask your doctor to recommend a pest-control program to combat ticks and fleas.
6) Stay away from taking your pet to busy summer events such as fairs or concerts. The loud noises and crowds, combined with the heat, can be stressful and unsafe for pets.
7) Always make sure your pet is wearing a collar and identification tag. Be sure that the contact information listed is legible and accurate.
Prevent your pet from hanging his head out of a moving car or truck window when taking him for a ride. Bugs, rocks and other debris can injure his eyes, and he is also at risk for jumping out of the vehicle.
9) While indoors, make sure your pet has access to the coolest parts of the house, such as the basement or a room with air conditioning.
10) Always walk your pet on a leash. This ensures the safety of you and the animal, walkers, joggers, and bicyclists.
Tips provided by Dave Ely, owner of Aussie Pet Mobile Inc., serving pets and their owners in Marin County, CA. Noted as the world’s largest mobile pet grooming concept in the world, Aussie Pet Mobile serves more than 250 cities in 24 states nationwide and 16 international countries with their exclusive 15-step pet spa treatment. To book a grooming appointment with Aussie Pet Mobile, please contact 1-800-PetMobile or visit www.aussiepetmobile.com.
“The patented FURminator deShedding Tool quickly and easily removes (it doesn’t cut, it removes) the loose, dead, undercoat hair that’s the underlying source of a pet owners major complaint – shedding and the allergies and cleanliness problems associated with it. The unique stainless steel edge grabs the texture of the undercoat and removes it while gliding through and not damaging the topcoat.”
Prevent your pet from hanging his head out of a moving car or truck window when taking him for a ride. Bugs, rocks and other debris can injure his eyes, and he is also at risk for jumping out of the vehicle.
