Human Preferences about Grooming

Once in a while, a long-haired guest at the cats-only boarding facility will get a little messy in the caboose region (if you get my drift). Sometimes a spot-cleaning or a full bath can take care of the problem. For repeat offenders, we often suggest a “sanitary clip” — a trim of the hair around the rump in order to help keep things clean. It doesn’t have to be a full shave — but with shorter hair in the nether regions, there’s less chance of a mess. Some owners flat-out refuse to have any sort of trim done. They like … Continue reading →

How Do Ionic Brushes Work?

Have you seen ads for ionic brushes for pets? They don’t just brush the fur — they can also help reduce pet smells. So how do they work? Ionic brushes break down water molecules in your pet’s coat and release safe levels of ozone into the air. This helps neutralize pet smells. The advantages of an ionic brush: An ionic brush can be used instead of a full bath. Sure, sometimes a bath is necessary, but regular brushing with an ionic brush can help keep pet odors at a minimum. Brushing your pet is a great way to bond! You … Continue reading →

Make Bathing Easy: Prep First!

When it’s my turn to do baths at the cats-only boarding facility, the right preparation makes the work a lot easier. Before I even think about fetching a cat into the grooming room, I make sure I’ve set up the hand-held sprayer, towels, shampoo, nail clippers, and blow dryer. You can do the same thing at home to make grooming much easier! What might you need for bathing a pet? Brushes or combs — you can remove a lot of loose hair before the bath with a quick brushing. Tangles and mats can tighten as they dry, so it’s better … Continue reading →

Is Your Dog a Beach Bum?

My dogs Moose and Lally have never been to the beach. I don’t trust Moose to romp off-leash in an unfenced area; Lally is not a fan of water as it is. My old dog Miko was another story. He loved the beach, and would chase waves as they ebbed and flowed — as long as he didn’t get his feet wet. It was adorable! If your dog loves the beach — and especially the water — you may have some extra grooming on your hands. If your pup stays dry, sand can more or less be brushed off the … Continue reading →

Grooming an Older Cat

Older cats may groom themselves less than younger cats for a variety of reasons. Perhaps pain makes it difficult to reach certain areas. Perhaps an illness is impacting skin and coat, making it harder to keep up with grooming. As your cat ages, you may need to take a more active part in grooming! Helping your older cat with grooming is a good way to monitor changes in health. Look for changes in your pet’s skin as they age. Some pets develop dry skin and dandruff as they age; others tend to get oily skin that leaves the coat feeling … Continue reading →

Cats Who Won’t Groom

We’ve had guests at the cats-only boarding facility who can’t or won’t groom themselves. I started to wonder why. Looks like there are a lot of different reasons why a cat might not groom him or herself. Here are a few: Illness. A cat that doesn’t feel well might stop grooming. Many times, this is the first warning sign an owner will notice when their pet is sick. Maybe you’ll see mats, or just notice that your cat isn’t as clean as usual. It’s not a bad idea to talk to your veterinarian if your cat has stopped grooming. Hormonal … Continue reading →

Thoughts on Pink Poodles

I was on my way home from work at the cats only boarding facility the other day when I saw a young-ish (maybe in his early twenties) guy walking two dogs. One was a big goofy lab-type dog; the other was a shaggy little white dog that probably had poodle in her ancestry. What caught my eye was that the little white dog had bright pink spots on the top of her head and the tip of her tail. It took me a while to decide that I thought it was cute and relatively harmless. Why the dilemma? Well, I’m … Continue reading →

Oral Care for Pets — Make it Easy on Yourself

I bet you can think of a lot of things you’d rather do besides brush your pet’s teeth. It’s not easy, and it’s not much fun, either. But there are some things you can do to make it easy to keep your pet’s pearly whites healthy. Get your pet used to you handling his mouth — before you even get the brush out. Touch his face, lift his lips, and rub his gums. Be patient. This can take a while. Pick out an appropriate toothbrush. You may feel most comfortable with a brush that slips over your index finger — … Continue reading →

Oral Care for Pets — Why Is it Important?

My parents’ dog Becca (who I think of as my fur-sister) recently needed to have eight teeth removed. A year or so ago, the vet noticed that the teeth on one side of Becca’s mouth were dirtier than the teeth on the other side. He mentioned that a professional cleaning might be useful. But it wasn’t an urgent need, and my parents didn’t follow up. Fast forward to a few months ago. My mom starts to notice that Becca is only chewing on one side of her mouth. Could something be wrong with her teeth? My parents decide to mention … Continue reading →

Another Shedding Season is Upon Us!

Although domestication has changed many automatic behaviors in pets, it hasn’t quite gotten rid of the hair problem. Spring and fall, many pet owners find themselves wading through a river of fur as old coats call out and new ones grow in. My parents joke that their long-haired chow mix Becca leaves tumbleweeds of shedded hair in the hallways. Shedding can be a much bigger hassle with a pet with long hair! But it’s no picnic with short haired dogs like Moose and Lally, either. Moose tends to shed all year… at least a little. It gets more noticeable in … Continue reading →