Looking after your pet: Some
simple advise.
Coat Brushing Ears Eyes Healthy
Teeth Feet
Coat Brushing
Brushing your pet friend
removes dead hair and skin, spreads out natural oils in
their coat, and helps keep them from developing an odor.
It is one of the simplest things you can do for your dog
or cat, but it is also one of the most necessary. A
variety of brushes and combs are available-make sure that
you use one appropriate for your pet's coat. How often
you brush them depends on whether they have long or short
hair. For animals with short hair, a weekly brushing may
be enough to keep their coat in good order. Critters with
longer locks require more frequent sessions with the
brush. And some breeds require daily attention to keep
their coats in good condition.
Cats are well known for
their exemplary grooming habits, but even they need a
weekly brushing. In fact, brushing your cat is great for
his health because it helps prevent hairballs, keeping
the digestive track healthy. During shedding seasons,
increase your brushing frequency as needed to remove the
excess dead hair.
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Ears
Ears are a prime place for infection-keeping your little
pet’s ears clean is a great way to prevent illness.
Regularly pick up the ear flaps and examine inside. Make
sure that they are a healthy pink color. If everything
looks good, wipe the outer flap of the ear with a cotton
ball, being careful not to touch any part of the ear that
you cannot easily see. If you notice any symptoms
(sensitivity to touch; brown, black, or yellow discharge;
foul odor; shaking or continuously tilting head; or
circling in one direction) take your pet to the vet to
have the ears examined. Another option for cleaning the
ears is to use a liquid ear cleanser. Never use an ear
cleanser on your pet if you have noticed what could be a
problem. The cleansers could cause severe damage if your
pet has an inner ear infection or if something has
damaged the ear drum.
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Eyes
Examine your pet's eyes often to make sure that
everything looks good. You want to ensure that any
abnormal conditions are noticed as soon as possible so
that your vet can begin treatment immediately. Be
extremely careful with your pet's eyes during all parts
of the grooming process. Dogs and cats have very
sensitive eyes, and soap-even "tearless"
soap-can damage their corneas, so take care when bathing.
Also, trim away any hair that is falling into your
animal's eyes so that it doesn't cause irritation and
damage.
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Healthy Teeth
Routine dental care is essential to your pet's overall
good health. Approximately 80 percent of all
three-year-old cats and dogs show some sign of
periodontal disease, characterized by a build-up of
plaque and tarter on their teeth above and below the gum
line. This disease can lead to gum infection and tooth
loss. Your pet's poor dental hygiene is much more serious
than bad breath Infected gums and dirty teeth have been
linked to kidney and heart disease in pets. For
information on cleaning your pet's teeth, consult your
vet. In addition to your home care, your vet should
perform yearly dental check-ups and will let you know
when you need to have your pet's teeth professionally
cleaned.
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Feet
Many of our four-legged friends prefer not to have their
paws handled, making nail trimming especially traumatic
for them. Like it or not, it still must be done. Try
touching their paws when you praise them, and before you
know it, your little buddy will love to be handled in
those sensitive spots. Indoor cats should have their
nails trimmed occasionally whether they use a scratching
post or not. Your dog's claws should not ever extend so
far that his nails come in contact with the ground when
standing normally on a flat surface. Nails this long
place unneeded stress on your the paws, which in turn can
lead to foot problems. Be careful not to trim the nails
too far down; you could cut into the quick (the part of
their nail which contains the blood). If you should cut
their nails too close, apply pressure with cotton wool to
stop the bleeding. Make sure you use nail clippers
designed especially for animals. Cats, for example, have
brittle nails that can shatter easily, so it is best to
use tools that are designed for them. Here's an excellent
strategy for those who hate the clippers: only cut a nail
or two in one sitting. Who said you have to do it all at
once? Spread it out over a few days and you'll lower the
stress level immensely.
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