In order for dogs and cats to have beautiful coats, they need to be cared for. Especially during the coat change period. Learn the best ways to care for your pet’s coat in this article.
Change of Wool
In the spring and fall, when temperatures change, cats and dogs have a coat change. The old fur is shed and must be removed. This allows the skin to breathe freely and the new hair to grow back well. If old, loose hairs are left on the pet, it quickly becomes matted. Not only does this look unattractive, but it also causes skin irritations such as eczema. In principle, cats do most of the grooming themselves. Nevertheless, the owner needs to comb out the animal, as mites and other parasites can be detected, also possible hidden wounds. Similarly, the condition of the coat indicates the health of the cat or dog. Thus, changes that indicate disease can be quickly detected during grooming.
Long-haired short-haired pet
The necessary care of the coat depends greatly on its length. For short-haired breeds such as Rottweilers or Carthusians, it is enough to remove loose hair once a week with a dog comb (more often during coat renewal). For breeds like the Maine Coon, Bobtail, or Shih Tzu, it is a more time consuming process: the hair should be well combed out at least once every two or three days, and daily in the spring and fall. This can take some time, as it is sometimes not easy to remove the undercoat. In addition, there are many sprays and oils that additionally care for the dog’s coat and also protect the skin, such as against dandruff.
A visit to the hairdresser
When you think about visiting a groomer with your dog or cat, some people have an image in their mind of dyed hair or nail clippings, but this is not always the case. For some dog breeds it makes sense to visit a professional several times a year: with scissors in trained hands you can get rid of annoying lint and hair tangles much better and faster than brushing your pet at home for hours; besides, there is less stress for the animal and human. For some breeds, such as schnauzers or dachshunds, it’s worth getting a professional haircut: this means pulling the loose hair out. Trimming is done either with a machine or with the fingers of a skilled professional.
However, once the coat is removed, care must be taken to ensure that the animal does not get sunburn, as it is no longer protected by a thick coat. In addition, Bernese mountain dogs, for example, need protection from the cold through the coat if they are regularly in the water.
What hairbrush or brush to choose for your pet
Below we would like to introduce some brushes and combs and give you an idea of what is best for your four-legged friend.
Cats often do not show much enthusiasm when it comes to grooming: this may be due to the wrong brushes, which can prick the cat or cause him discomfort. A natural bristle brush is especially soft and glides nicely over your pet’s coat. Your cat is sure to love it.
For short-haired dogs who don’t like combing or brushing (the very stiff bristles irritate or scratch the skin), a grooming glove is a better choice. It massages the dog’s skin, promotes blood circulation and removes loose hair and dirt with small rubber tips.
A good solution for long-haired and short-haired cats is a furminator. With it, you can remove almost all the hair that has fallen out of the pet without damaging the top layer. This way, the cat will always look well groomed.
The best alternative for your dog would be a metal comb for long hair. In the case of matted hair, special defelters can be used. They are ideal for simply untangling and tearing through the hair, thus taking care of the top and bottom layer at the same time.
Totally new on the market ionizing cleaning brush. Battery-operated, it generates an electric and simultaneously antistatic magnetic field and works like a vacuum cleaner. It attracts dirt and loose hairs and thanks to the separation plate that quickly removes old hairs. In addition, the brush eliminates unpleasant hair odors because the ions combine with bad ions and neutralize odors.
Speaking of smells: bathe your four-legged friend only if it is unavoidable. This is especially true for dogs, sometimes it is necessary when they get dirty in something bad smelling. Be sure to use shampoo for cats and dogs, as it is especially gentle on sensitive skin.
