Can you go a week without brushing your hair? Three days? A week? What about a haircut? Could you last a year?
Could you imagine eating out of the same bowl or off the same plate everyday without washing it in between?
Taking care of our pets is just as important as taking care of ourselves. The following are some things we often forget to do for our best furry friend.
Close Comb
Humans often brush their hair daily as part of their beauty routines.
There are many benefits to implementing a regular brushing routine for your pet as well! Regularly brushing your dog or cat:
- Keeps your pets’ coat shiny and healthy
- Removes fur that has been shed, but is stuck underneath their top coat
- Prevents a build-up of knots and tangles in your pets’ coat
There are a wide array of brushes for dogs and cats on the market. For everyday brushing, a Gripsoft Double Sided Brush or Gripsoft Cat Brush will help keep your pet’s coat looking shiny and feeling healthy.
A Gripsoft Flea Comb is designed with fine teeth, and is suitable for removing fleas from both cats and dogs.
To see our dog grooming range, click here.
To see our cat grooming range, click here.
Check Their Skin and Coat
Checking your pet's skin and coat regularly is just as important as checking your own skin for spots or marks that shouldn't be there. If left unchecked, fleas can cause serious health problems like anemia and an allergic rash that starts small can quickly spread.
Make sure you regularly check your pet for any signs of fleas, other parasites, allergies or any other skin conditions. If you are unsure if a mark or spot on your pet is normal or not, always check with your veterinarian.
Check for fleas
Check your pet's fur for flea excrement by separating it behind their ears, behind their necks, and around their hindquarters with a comb. It will appear as brown flecks that look like dirt in your pet’s fur. To check that it’s not just dirt, wipe some of the brown flecks onto a paper towel and wet with water. If the dirt is flea faeces, it will turn a reddish-brown colour when wet.
Check for allergies
When you are checking for fleas, also look for signs of allergies and other skin conditions on your pets. Signs your pet may be affected by allergies including itching, red or irritated skin, itchy ears, or swelling of the face, ears, lips, eyelids, or earflaps.
Fungal infections are another common skin condition in pets. Ringworm is one of the most common fungal infections affecting both dogs and cats and can appear as circular, red patches where hair may have fallen out. It is highly contagious so if you suspect your pet has ringworm, seek the advice of your veterinarian for the most effective treatment. This will help prevent the infection from spreading to other animals or yourself.
Water-fast Pet Preventatives
You might want to grab a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen before you go outside. But do you often think of protecting your pet from parasites that lie in wait outside? Choosing a water-fast pet preventative will ensure your pet is safeguarded against nasties, especially if they like swimming or playing at the beach.
Many spot-on treatments specify that your pet should be kept dry for 48 hours before and after treatment, as wet skin will make many treatments less effective. Bayer has a range of water-fast products to protect your pet from fleas. Let your pet make a flea-free splash with Advocate, Advantage or Advantix.
If your dog can’t wait to be in the water, an oral product like Simparica or Nexgard may be a better option. This is because you are not required to keep them dry in order to give the ingredients time to get to work on their skin.
Keep Their Nails Trimmed
It is both uncomfortable and impractical to have nails that are too long, both for you and your pet! Trimming your pet's nails can also prevent accidental scratches on people and furniture.
Before you even think of going anywhere near your pet with nail clippers, you first need to get your pet used to you touching their paws (touch desensitization training).
Once your pet is more comfortable with you holding their paw for a minute or two, you can introduce them to their nail clippers. Make sure you purchase nail clippers just for your pet as they are specially designed with soft grip handles and cutting guards.
There are a wide range of pet nail clippers available. We recommend the Gripsoft Nail Trimmer with its durable spring action handles for any dog breed. The Gripsoft Cat Nail Clipper are excellent tools for keeping your cat’s nails at a safe length. There are also nail clippers for medium or large dogs, as well as smaller breeds of animals, so be sure to select the right size for your pet.
You can view our full range of nail clippers here.
Eyes and Ears
If something is wrong with your pet's ears, you might not notice them until it's too late, but prevention is always better than cure.
Quickly and easily keep your pets’ ears clean, free from wax and odours by using a specialised ear cleaner such as Ilium Ear Drops. Both cats and dogs can use these products, which contain antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal ingredients to prevent infections and deter mites.
Unsightly stains around your pet’s eyes can be caused by problems with your pet’s tear ducts, ingrown eyelashes, eye problems or they are simply more susceptible due to their breed (Maltese, Pugs, Shih-tzu, Pekingese, Himalayans, and Persians are particularly prone).
Tear stains around your pets’ eyes can be removed with products like Fido’s Tear Stain Remover. Apply daily to heavily stained areas, then prevent future staining by applying regularly.
Keep It Clean
- Wash Food and Water Bowls
Obviously, you keep your pets' food and water bowls filled, but do you clean them regularly? Ideally, pet dishes should be cleaned daily to prevent the build-up of bacteria and to keep their bowls fresh. If their bowls are starting to crack or fade, consider buying a new one.
- Wash Your Pets Belongings
In the same way that you should wash your own bed sheets weekly, you should also wash your pet's bedding weekly to kill any flea eggs, larvae, or pupae. Keeping the area where they sleep clean is imperative, and you should regularly vacuum around the area to pick up loose fur and to prevent flea infestation.
Mouth and Nose
Keeping your pets' oral hygiene in mind is always a smart idea. The reason is that untreated dental problems can result in rotten teeth that need to be removed by the vet. Carefully check your pets’ mouth and gums regularly, and watch how and when they eat. This will help you to see if there are changes or if they seem to be having any difficulty. This can be one of the first signs that something is wrong. Other tips include:
- Regular dental check-ups at the vet
- Swap to a dental treat that is tasty and also good for them
- Give your pets’ diet an upgrade with specialty dental food
If you feel up to the task, you can even brush your pets’ teeth! You can view our specialised range of toothbrushes and toothpaste for pets here.
