Dog and cat health care-BingFans » Grooming

All About Dogs: Dog Grooming

admin — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 08:49:45 +0000

All About Dogs: Dog Grooming
If you are going to groom your dog, go online to your pet supplies and pet stores and order some basic grooming tools.

If your dog is short haired, a curry brush/comb or a curry brush is fine. Longer haired dogs need a slicker brush, a pin brush and if they are moulting, an undercoat rake. You also get de-shedding tools and blades which remove loose hair easily.

You may also need a flea comb to check whether he has picked up fleas, especially if he has been near other dogs. Your pet supply store will have all sorts of remedies for fleas.

Start brushing your dog from as early an age as possible so that he gets really used to it. If you have an older dog unused to brushing, be really gentle and sensitive to him. Let him get to know the dog grooming tools before you even touch him with them. Pet and reward him constantly.

Even if your dog is going to a doggy parlour for grooming, you should get him used to the process before he is handled by strangers.

Really short haired dogs may not need brushing more than once a month unless they go into mud or into a really dirty environment.

Longer haired dogs usually need brushing every week. If your long haired dog is inside your home a lot, you may even want to brush him daily to prevent hair loss all over your carpets.

Do just a little brushing at first each day and before you know it he will love the experience. Many dogs get all excited and jump around in anticipation when you take out their grooming tools.

You will also need cloths, paper towelling, and cotton wool for cleaning eyes, ears and anal area. You can go to YouTube or your local pet parlour to see how to express the anal glands. This must be done or it can cause blockage and discomfort and even infection.

If your dog has not developed years of plaque build up on his teeth, you can clean them yourself with a special brush and toothpaste developed for dogs, or wipes or a glove. Most dogs prefer the wipes or toothbrush-glove to having a brush forced into their mouths.

Otherwise take him to a vet to have them cleaned the first time. After this you should be able to clean them yourself. It is estimated that up to 80% of dogs have dental caries and gum disease.

A great way to help prevent this is to give your dog a special dog chew. My dogs just bury them! But if you soak them well in tasty gravy then freeze them, they will enjoy a good chew! Some people give their dogs large frozen bones, but beware, even large bones can be crunched up and cause blockages. In some countries really huge ostrich bones are available.

His nails should be kept trimmed and you need a dog nail clipper. If you take your dog for regular long walks, his nails may not need clipping. Metalled or tarred roads especially keep the nails beautifully short. If you do cut them, until you are more experienced, rather take off too little than too much.

Remember, if the dogs nails have been allowed to get really long, the quick, or live part, seems to get longer too. So just cut a little off each week until they are normal length.

If he has very matted hair you may need to cut out thick matting with blunt tipped scissors.

If you bathe your dog, use special dog shampoo and, if possible, a dog dryer. Ordinary hair dryers can cause burns, so you need to be careful if you use them. Dogs need to get gradually used to these as most dogs hate them at first. If it is warm weather, just a towel will be enough.

Beware though, dogs tend to look for the dirtiest place to go for a roll after their baths! I like to take my dog out for a long walk to dry off properly and forget about the rolling.

For all your dog grooming aids,

visit the online pet stores of

affordability and quality

Grooming Your Cat…The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:54:54 +0000

by Pixel-Pusher

Grooming Your Cat…The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Article by Michael Ipp

What? Clean my cat? It’s not self cleaning?

My wife and I have done a lot of kitten fostering through the years and were quite shocked on how many people did not realize they need to groom their new additions. So we decided to write a short guide on how to. Sometimes its good, when they lay on their back and let you brush their belly, it can be bad when they just dont want their nails cut. And it can be downright ugly when you try to bathe them. I still have scares.

All felines require some form of grooming. The time you spend caring for your cat and the approach you do this, mostly depends on the breed and your kitty’s temperament. A kitten has been groomed by the mother as soon as it is born, the mother kitty starts her kitten’s breathing by licking it. This is the reason why care is such a instinctive thing to do.

There are numerous cat care supplies which are purchasable either in stores or online. These can range from cat combs, cat shampoo, cat clippers etc. Or if you want to treat your pet to something extraordinary, you can reserve your cat a day in a cat spa.

Cats normally take care of their own grooming and just desire some aid from their owners. Kitty Catsare very clean animals and rather picky and often preen themselves all afternoon. But there are loads of reasons why you should also groom your cat.

One of the main reasons for taking care of your cat is to help put a stop to hairballs. These not only make your cat ill, but can cause intestinal blockages in extreme cases. Long-haired cats notably need assistance with this to avoid tangled fur.

An additional good reason to habitually groom your cat is that it gives you the occasion to do a broad health check. Not only can you check out the cat fur for parasites and knots, but you can check its skin and ears. Check for any irregular lumps, bites or scratches from other cats. Cats are inclined to ear mites, especially kittens. So when you groom your cat looking for a dark brown wax in your cat’s ear, which is the first symptom of ear mites.

Brushing or combing is the generally the common way of grooming a cat. A longhaired cat could need grooming daily to prevent the coat becomes dull. Brushing also helps the amount of unwelcome cat fur off the furnishings in your house or your clothes. For all long or short haired cats shed is now a gadget called the Furminator. It removes the undercoat and loose fur and cutbacks the spread of up to 90% of fur. This is intended to induce the animal’s natural oils, promoting better skin and a shiny coat. It is also great to eliminate hairballs.

If the only solution is to give it a bath, be outfitted. If possible, ask the help of one more person, so they can hold the cat and you can wash it. Use a suitable container ex. Washbasin or baby bathtub, a gentle cloth and a large clean dry towel. You also want special cat shampoo (by no means use regular shampoo) and a pitcher for rinsing.

If you wash your cat because of parasites, you will also need a special shampoo for cat fleas. Always check the temperature of the water before you put your cat in. Add shampoo in the water and hold your cat properly, lower him in. Avoid getting soap in your cat’s eyes, work in soapy water from the neck down. Wash your cat well, use of the jar. Finally, wrap your cat in a towel and carefully dry. Some cats could let you use a hair dryer on them but put it on low, but these cats are few and far between. If you really think that your cat will not let you wash him, you can wipe it with a soft damp cloth or Kitty Wipes which are now purchasable in most pet stores.

Clipping your cats claws as part of their grooming and something that should be done with care. Numerous cat owners rather have it done at a vets. But you can buy special claw Clippers. Using them yourself you are not likely to cut your cat but it requires patience and a cat you know will stay calm.

Begin grooming your kitty while they are young because it will almost certainly get him into the custom of being groomed. It is best done when your cat is tranquil and content. It is not only builds a connection between you and your cat, but grooming can be a relaxing and pleasant activity for both cats and their owners.

So luck, happy grooming and always remember. A wet, soapy cat is a deadly weapon.

Happy grooming!

Michael has been fostering cats for 6 years and during that time writing on related subjects. Come visit his latest websiteover at http://www.catbrushreview.com/where he reviews the best Cat brush

it’s soo funny audio content is licensed by UMG Song 1: Gioachino Rossini – The Thieving Magpie Song 2: The Presidents of the United States of America – Kitty Song 3: The Nutcracker Song 4: Smash Mouth – All Star Song 5: The Wiseguys – Ooh La La PS: i will ignore messages with the subject “Business Proposal Regarding Your YouTube Videos”

Find More Cat Articles

How to Groom a Cat : Decide which Combs & Grooming Techniques Work for Your Cat

admin — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:50:38 +0000

Learn to use items like a metal comb to comb through your cat’s fur in this free video. Expert: Carolyn Haynie Contact: www.purrzonecats.com Bio: Carolyn Haynie has been a dog and cat groomer for 40 plus years. She owns a Persian Cat Cattery that produced a National Winner in 2005. Filmmaker: Liz Mortensen

Grooming Your Dog: (Storey’s Country Wisdom Bulletin A-240) (Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin, a-240)

admin — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:47:34 +0000

Grooming Your Dog: (Storey’s Country Wisdom Bulletin A-240) (Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin, a-240)

ISBN13: 9781580173407
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

A great looking, healthy coat begins with good nutrition, plenty of exercise, and good grooming habits. This holistic approach strengthens the bond between dog and owner and helps your dog look and feel its best.

Rating: (out of 3 reviews)

List Price: $ 3.95

Price: $ 123.42

Unique Meat Treat for Dogs with Allergies/Overweight

US $5.99
End Date: Thursday Feb-16-2012 7:46:25 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $5.99
Buy it now | Add to watch list

Unique Meat Treat for Dogs with Allergies/Overweight

US $21.99
End Date: Thursday Feb-16-2012 7:46:25 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $21.99
Buy it now | Add to watch list

Find More Dog Allergies Products

Secrets to Great Dog Health Care: Grooming Your Dog

admin — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:29:07 +0000

Secrets to Great Dog Health Care: Grooming Your Dog

Wouldn’t you rather learn how to deal with minor dog health problems BEFORE they become major ones? I know I would, because let’s face it, dogs are part of your family, and no one wants to see a part of your family get sick or even die.

Even if you’ve got the most easy-care dog in the world, she’ll still need some attention to be paid to her appearance every once in a while – so it’s worth spending a bit of time learning the best techniques for easy, stress-free grooming.

Here is some of the valuable advice I got from one of my favorite sites for dog health care solutions, The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health.

WHY SHOULD I BOTHER GROOMING MY DOG?

Not so long ago, the average American’s approach to canine grooming was somewhat cavalier. Dogs were seen as something that lived in the yard (usually in a dusty, hard-floored kennel), ate whatever was put in their bowls, and existed as a sometime-playmate for the household’s children.

Today, we tend to care for our dogs a lot more, and view them more as members of the household than the Thing in the Yard.

Ever since this rise in the estimation of our beloved pooches became widespread, grooming has been increasingly recognized as an important facet of your dog’s regular health-care. It ensures that any skin-care problems are minimized (because grooming distributes the natural skin-oils evenly throughout the coat), and assists you in monitoring your dog’s overall condition – if you groom on a regular basis, you can’t help but notice the presence of any unusual lumps or bumps.

This preventative action has saved many a canine life. Our dogs can’t tell us where it hurts, but taking just a little bit of time every so often to check them over ourselves can save a lot of grief in the long run.

The trick is getting your dog to tolerate (and even enjoy!) the process …

THE FIRST STEP IN THE GROOMING PROCESS

Something that many owners lack experience in is how to wash their dogs. Dry-grooming (brushing and ‘buffing’ the coat) seems to present little problem for most people; the rot tends to set in when water is introduced to the mix.

Most dogs have a strong dislike of being bathed, and in many cases will become utterly panic-stricken when the tub comes out.

This article is going to deal with the basics of how to wash your dog in a way that’ll keep both of you relaxed and happy.

PREPARING YOUR DOG FOR GROOMING

First of all, the absolute most important thing you can do is to accustom your dog to the grooming process. Now, starting this in puppyhood is the ideal way to handle the situation, but of course not all of us have this luxury; if you’ve got an adult dog, you’ll probably need to move a little slower, but you should still start getting her used to being touched and handled all over as soon as you can.

As your puppy or dog gets used to the sensation of being rubbed and handled, she’ll slowly come to enjoy it. Dogs are social creatures by instinct, and physical affection and contact is a big part of their lives – it shouldn’t take long before she begins to trust you, and allows herself to get some pleasure out of your touch.

All you have to do is start rubbing her slowly all over. Fondle her ears, touch her cheeks and neck, rub her back and belly, pick up her paws and – if she’ll let you – give each one a gentle squeeze (treating and praising her whenever she lets you do this, since paw touching is generally a pretty big deal for most dogs). If she has a tail, rub it between your fingers; get her to roll over on her back so you can rub and stroke her belly and hocks.

This might not seem like such a big deal, but it’s actually a really important part of the grooming process: the more your dog enjoys it, the less stressful the whole event will be for both of you, and so the more often you’re likely to groom her – which increases the health benefits for her.

HOW TO WASH YOUR DOG

Bathing always comes before dry-grooming, since it makes brushing and trimming a lot easier as well as a lot more effective (there’s not much point in brushing a tangled, dirty coat!)

You will need some basic tools: a tub, a non-slip mat, a plastic jug, some warm water, a small sponge, and some canine shampoo (not human shampoo: the pH is all wrong for dogs, and will give her dry and flaky skin.)

Stand her in the tub, on the non-slip mat. If she’s a large or unruly dog, you may want to wash her outside to minimize mess – either that, or you can restrain her by tying one end of a light nylon leash to her collar, and the other end to the faucet.

Pour jugs of warm water all over her until she’s good and wet. This breaks down the grease in her fur, and ensures a thorough shampooing.

Mix a little shampoo with another jug of warm water, and rub it thoroughly into your dog’s fur. Start off with her back and rub it into a good lather (but don’t be too harsh!)

Now you can move on to her head and face. Be very careful here – dogs’ eyes are sensitive too, and if you get any water in her ears, she’ll probably get an ear infection. (You can plug her ears with a small twist of cotton wool to help stop this from happening, if you like.)

Remember to clean under her tail before you wash her off – dip the sponge into the shampoo mixture to do this properly.

Now it’s time to rinse: using the jug and some clean, warm, shampoo-free water, carefully tip it all over her and use your fingers to help disperse the lather from her coat. Rinse her off thoroughly at least twice, since any residue that remains will irritate her skin.

Now you’ll need to dry her off: if she’s got short fur, you can use a towel (an old one will do just fine, although big dogs generally need two); for dogs with longer fur, give her a gentle toweling-off first, and then use a hair dryer to get rid of the last dampness. Be certain that it’s set on low heat, and hold it far away from your dog’s fur to prevent burning either the skin or the fur.

KEEP YOURSELF CALM

Remember that most dogs have an inherent dislike of being bathed, which can cause anxiety and even outright panic.

Your dog takes a lot of her emotional cues from you, so make sure you act like a good role model for the occasion. Reassure your dog frequently, keeping your voice well-modulated, low, and even; keep your movements slow and deliberate; praise her lavishly for good behavior, and give her a couple of treats throughout the process to make it more enjoyable for her.

The more she enjoys the process, the easier it’ll be for you!

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Grooming your dog is just one tiny aspect of maintaining overall health and happiness. For a complete, encyclopedic survival guide to all aspects of dog health, from preventative care to choosing a vet to doggie First Aid (even the canine Heimlich maneuver!), you should take a look at The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health.

A survival guide for knowledgeable, effective, and life-saving dog care, this manual keeps your dog’s health and wellbeing firmly within your control – which is exactly where you want it to be.

It can’t hurt to look.

Review expert, Ethan Parker, helps you find what you need in self-help books: the good, the bad, and most importantly, the FREE!

Find out the best deals–and what to avoid–at his free review site, Try It Before You Buy It.

Now it’s YOUR turn!

Fineman and Kornblut Discuss Joe Leiberman’s Motives for Blocking Health Care Reform visit: firedoglake.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Pet Dog Cat Nail Grooming Care Grinder Trimmer Clipper

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:52:30 +0000

Cat Care on eBay:

Cat Care - 101 Essential Tips - DK Pub feeding behavior

US $2.50
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 8:29:55 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $2.50
Buy it now | Add to watch list

Pure EMU OIL for Dog,Cat,Pet Coat - Skin Care-Hot Spots

US $19.90 (0 Bid)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 9:30:19 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $32.75
Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

* Bae Di-Na = TAKE CARE OF MY CAT = Korean DVD S/H $0

US $13.99
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 9:50:16 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $13.99
Buy it now | Add to watch list

Pet Cat&Dog Nail Grooming Care Grinder Trimmer Clipper

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:52:27 +0000

Some recent cat care auctions on eBay:

Cat Care - 101 Essential Tips - DK Pub feeding behavior

US $2.50
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 8:29:55 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $2.50
Buy it now | Add to watch list

Pure EMU OIL for Dog,Cat,Pet Coat - Skin Care-Hot Spots

US $19.90 (0 Bid)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 9:30:19 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $32.75
Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

* Bae Di-Na = TAKE CARE OF MY CAT = Korean DVD S/H $0

US $13.99
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 9:50:16 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $13.99
Buy it now | Add to watch list

How to Groom Long Haired Cats : Cat Grooming Tips

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:52:13 +0000

How to cut long haired and curly haired cats’ hair with scissors in thisfree feline dental health video. Expert: Carolyn Haynie Contact: www.purrzonecats.com Bio: Carolyn Haynie has been a dog and cat groomer for 40 plus years. She owns a Persian Cat Cattery that produced a National Winner in 2005. Filmmaker: Liz Mortensen

Pet Cat&Dog Nail Grooming Care Grinder Trimmer Clipper

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:50:42 +0000

Some recent cat care auctions on eBay:

Cat Care - 101 Essential Tips - DK Pub feeding behavior

US $2.50
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 8:29:55 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $2.50
Buy it now | Add to watch list

Pure EMU OIL for Dog,Cat,Pet Coat - Skin Care-Hot Spots

US $19.90 (0 Bid)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 9:30:19 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $32.75
Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

* Bae Di-Na = TAKE CARE OF MY CAT = Korean DVD S/H $0

US $13.99
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 9:50:16 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $13.99
Buy it now | Add to watch list

Pet Dog Cat Nail Grooming Care Grinder Trimmer Clipper

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 06:50:32 +0000

cat care eBay auctions you should keep an eye on:

Cat Care - 101 Essential Tips - DK Pub feeding behavior

US $2.50
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 8:29:55 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $2.50
Buy it now | Add to watch list

Pure EMU OIL for Dog,Cat,Pet Coat - Skin Care-Hot Spots

US $19.90 (0 Bid)
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 9:30:19 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $32.75
Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

* Bae Di-Na = TAKE CARE OF MY CAT = Korean DVD S/H $0

US $13.99
End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 9:50:16 PST
Buy It Now for only: US $13.99
Buy it now | Add to watch list