Are you a cat or dog owner? Don't forget your daily care!
Owning a pet comes with a lot of responsibility and also requires regular grooming of the coat, mouth, eyes, ears, and visits to the veterinarian. It is worth accustoming pets to grooming procedures as early as possible so that in the future they can better tolerate them and not experience stress.
How do I take care of my pet's coat?
The main care action is combing the hair. It allows you to get rid of old, dead hair and prevent the formation of tangles. It supports proper hair growth, improves blood circulation to the skin, and reduces the risk of fleas, ticks, and mites. In particular, cats need to be cared for, as they tend to swallow their shedding hair during the shedding process. When swallowed by a cat, the hairs fluff up and then accumulate in the intestines. This can lead to digestive discomfort. Then it becomes reasonable to give the pet a stripping paste, which allows you to remove hair from the body in a natural way, and at the same time has a positive effect on the bacterial flora.
Brushes, combs and gloves are used for grooming cats and dogs. For a quadruped with a long and thick coat, a comb with a wide tooth spacing, a stiff brush or a metal comb is best. On the other hand, a short-haired pet can be combed with a rubber or natural bristle brush, rubber comb, or with a glove. If you notice any tangles, cut them off before brushing.
Cat care includes bathing. This should not be done regularly, but a maximum of once every few weeks - especially if the dog has a heavily soiled coat or is struggling with skin problems. Excessive contact with water can disrupt its natural protective barrier on the skin. In addition, cats do not like to swim because it is a very stressful activity for them. To wash the coat, it is best to use a special shampoo for cat care. It is much milder compared to human shampoos, and at the same time it is designed for skin with a different pH. Shampoos with vitamins, natural oils and proteins are perfect. It is also worth paying attention to the antiseptic and moisturizing properties, the effect of anti-tanning and facilitating combing. An interesting solution may be to choose a dry shampoo that does not require soaking the animal in water. If you decide to bathe, then do it in warm water, and then dry the cat with a towel.
A furminator is also useful for caring for the short hair of a dog. This is a hand-held device with blades that allows you to remove undercoat and dead hair. Thus, it helps repair the skin and strengthen the hair follicles. This becomes useful especially during heavy molting. On the other hand, the trimmer is great for dogs with rough and coarse coats.
Nail clipping
This step is necessary not only because of the risk of scratching people. A pet with overgrown claws has difficulty walking and may be at risk of developing inflammatory changes in the pads. So that the cat can erase its claws, it is best to give her a scratching post toy. You can also systematically trim the claws of the animal with special scissors or pliers, and grind with a file. It is worth remembering that the part of the claw that acquires a pink color cannot be cut off - it is innervated and supplied with blood.
Oral, nose and eye care
A very important care activity is brushing your pet's teeth. To do this, use a special finger brush. Allows you to brush your teeth and massage your gums. Dogs and cats are prone to tartar formation, which can lead to periodontitis. This is a very painful condition for the animal and, in severe cases, makes eating difficult. Toothpaste for dogs and cats is gentle and therefore does not irritate the digestive system. To keep your dog's mouth healthy, give him dry food as well. It promotes the erasure of tartar and at the same time prevents its accumulation. Flavored chewing gum can also be an alternative to food. Oral care liquids and gels are also commercially available.
Sometimes dog cosmetics can also be useful for cleansing the eyes - with heavy discharge, or the ears - if excess earwax is detected. These types of symptoms warrant a visit to the veterinarian as they may indicate an underlying medical condition, such as a bacterial or allergic condition. Remember that you should not pour too much liquid into the ears, but only a few drops.
Tick and flea protection
Methods for protecting animals from parasites include, in particular, the use of special collars, shampoos and sprays. This is worth remembering, because ticks carry serious diseases, and a four-legged flea bite can result in a severe allergic reaction. The easiest way to detect parasites is to comb your pet.
To sum up, it is worth taking care of your four-legged friend and subjecting him to regular grooming activities. Thanks to this, we will take care of his health, well-being and proper development. Remember to carry out each procedure carefully so as not to expose your pet to pain and stress.
