Keeping your pet clean is an essential part of keeping them healthy.

The skin and coat is a reflection of the general health of a pet.  A bright, shiny, smooth skin, and normal body odour mirrors the condition and are all indicators of a healthy pet.

There are times however when our pets suffer from skin problems. Owners who put their hands on their pets and massage or groom daily quickly notice changes in the skin and can take steps to remedy any problems.

A pet that’s coat is not properly taken care of is more likely to get sick, smell bad, get parasites, gingivitis and the list goes on and on.

A normal coat will have a soft texture to the hair and even in wiry coats the character of the coat should be pliable and smooth. It appears full, almost lustrous and has a soft look to it. The skin will have a clean look and it will be free of scales, scabs and crusts. Healthy skin and coat will not have any smell to it. And even when dirty, will smell like whatever is making it dirty.

An abnormal coat will be made up of dry, coarse, brittle hair, some broken off, some very fine. The coat may be sparse and thinning or short and underdeveloped. The coat will appear dull, lustreless or even dusty. It will have no “shine” and will have a harsh appearance. An unhealthy skin and coat will have a rancid, oily odour; the odour is caused by superficial skin bacteria and their waste products breaking down the oils on the skin. The skin will appear thin, dry and scaly or greasy.

Proper nutrition plays an important role in general health, including that of the skin and coat. An excess or deficiency of certain nutrients can cause problems. Problems are always less severe and occur less often in well nourished pets. 

Start brushing your pet when they are young or when you first adopt them. You should start brushing from the back and work your way towards the front. Brush your dog or cat the same way every time so that they know what you’re doing. Give praise and treats and make it fun. Be careful to brush down to the skin but not on the skin. Brushing the skin will make it irritated.

When you run your hands over your dog’s coat, it should feel clean and dry, sleek and glossy, not greasy or have dirt on it. Train your pet to accept the grooming procedure. Be firm, but make the experience as pleasant as possible. Many enjoy the attention they get during grooming. Groom regularly, examine the ears, anal region, and skin while grooming.  

Check the eyes. Any unsightly “goop” in the inner corner can be simply wiped away with a lint free damp cloth.

Clean the teeth or as an alternative to a brushing, you can use a clean piece of gauze wrapped around your index finger. There are several dental cleaners available if you wish to use them.

Trim the nails, being careful to avoid the quick, which can lead to pain, bleeding and infection. If you’re not sure how much to trim from the nail, ask your vet to demonstrate.

Keeping your pet clean is an essential part of staying healthy. Clean surroundings prevent many skin and coat problems. Outside kennels should be kept clean, and bedding should be changed regularly.

Bathe with a mild pet shampoo and warm water being sure to rinse thoroughly after bathing. Dry as much water as you can from the coat with a towel. Pet shampoo should have lower pH level than human shampoos.  

Don’t neglect mats in the coat or they will become larger. Gently tease and comb them out. Special combs are available to help remove mats.

Moulting is not necessarily abnormal. Even clumps of fur falling out can be normal. As long as the skin looks healthy and there remains a reasonably dense coat where those “clumps” are coming out, and there are no bald spots showing. Many outdoor pets will shed all the time.

Allergies are the result of an overactive immune system that releases histamines in its effort to cleanse the body of foreign proteins from pollen, dust mites, or other materials. The histamines lead to the itchiness. Pets may be allergic to such things as flea bites, pollens, moulds, grasses, trees, wool, tobacco smoke, certain foods, and even other pets. 

 It is best to determine the cause of the allergy and avoid it. If this is not always possible, various control measures are taken to relieve itching and allow your pet to live comfortably. 

Flea bite allergy is a common allergy pets suffer from. In an allergic animal, the bite of one flea may cause a serious problem. Extensive skin damage may result from the animal’s biting, licking, and scratching. Treatment includes flea control with products such as Advantage and Advantage Multi on the pet and in the environment. 

Dermatitis or inflammation of the skin can have numerous causes, such as irritants, allergens, and bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal infections. Parasitic diseases are also common. They include, mange mite, ear mites, the migration of parasite larvae, and flea, tick, and lice infestation.

Ticks are best prevented by examining after visits to fields or bush. Ticks can be removed but you have to be very careful that they don’t leave their mouthparts behind in the skin or your dog may suffer a nasty reaction. Use a flea product that works against ticks as well.

Ringworm is a fungus that lives on the skin surface in dead cells. As the fungus grows, it often spreads outward in a circular pattern; hence, the name ringworm.

Many forms of skin cancer can also occur. While some skin tumours are benign, there is a high incidence of malignant tumours in pets. In older animals or in animals with any growth or lumps, check at each groom for any signs of change in, size, colour or shape.

Good health starts with hugs, diet, clean environment, exercise, and playtime. Proper care on the inside shows on the outside. Taking care of the skin is enormously important!! A healthy animal has healthy skin; healthy skin produces a beautiful coat.