37
votes
Why do groomers tell you not to shear a long-haired dog in warm weather?
The main question is this: Is your dog
Single coated with hairs that grow endlessly at a constant speed?
Or double coated with hairs that grow to a predefined length and are shed?
Single coated ...
Elmy♦
- 32.4k
27
votes
How is a dog's health affected if he's (almost) never bathed?
When was the last time you saw a wolf showering? :)
We've got a pure breed Siberian Husky and an Alaskan Husky for 3.5 and 2 years now. The older one was bathed twice so far (before we got him and ...
- 5,290
14
votes
How clean are pets?
As a cancer patient, your risk may be higher than another person's due to the possibility of being immunocompromised. I would consult with your doctor to get a better assessment as to the risk. ...
- 16.2k
8
votes
Accepted
Should you shave a Norwegian Forest cat for summer? If so, how?
I personally have a long hair double coat cat (Maine Coon) but most my info comes from reading Husky forums.
Here is what some online forums say: Shaving is not necessary for a double fur cat. It ...
- 1,456
8
votes
Accepted
Is my African Grey's beak too long?
From https://m.petmd.com/bird/care/overgrown-beak-birds-trimming-your-birds-beak
"If an owner suspects overgrowth of his or her bird’s beak, the bird should be checked by a veterinarian as soon as ...
- 16.2k
8
votes
How clean are pets?
Can(I just need a moderate possibility of 3% or so, so as to brand them dirty) a human not allergic to them get moderately sick because of contact with their dirt, mud, dust, hair, saliva, tears, ...
- 181
7
votes
Accepted
Washed the cat with human shampoo, Help!
You do not need to wash your cat at all unless it has come in contact with something that sticks to the fur.
After 3 months the shampoo is long gone, so it must be something else wrong with the fur/...
- 19.5k
7
votes
Hair Mats in 20 year old cat
I would find a cat savvy veterinarian willing to do the trim without sedation, there are many techniques to restrain a cat that would allow them to shave off the mats. Most groomers (and many vet ...
- 12.6k
7
votes
How clean are pets?
At risk of making a fool of myself...
Directly answering the question, pets are dirty. I'm avoiding specifics, you'll find reasons in the other answers.
That being said:
I myself have had extreme "...
- 71
7
votes
Should I do something about my cat getting very dirty?
Cats are self-cleaning, so as long as she isn’t rolling around in something that could be poisonous (like fertilizer or weed killer), let her take care of that.
Yes, the dirt will probably annoy her ...
- 4,128
6
votes
How can I safely trim matted cat fur?
There are some lovely cat brushes, rubbery, comfy. Just lightly draw the brush not down but slowly across the matted fur a few times in order to get it lifting off the cat little by little.
Then ...
- 354
6
votes
Accepted
Is it necessary to keep a cat's nails trimmed?
Indoor Cats
Most people will cut their cats nails to prevent damage to furniture, children or other pets in the household.
Young Cats will maintain their nails by themselves through scratching and ...
- 12.6k
6
votes
Accepted
Cat's fur not growing back after surgery
This seems to be something that does happen on occasion, called "Post clipping alopecia". However it should be a passing condition, and while it can be benign and not a sign of an underlying condition ...
- 1,960
6
votes
Should I pull the dead skin off my gecko's eyeless sockets?
Even though he no longer has eyes it is still ideal that all shed be removed. Retained shed can cause avascular necrosis which can lead to sloughing of the skin and osteomyelitis of the underlying ...
- 12.6k
6
votes
Accepted
What should I use to dye my dog's fur?
If this is part of a costume (I hope you mean like a Halloween costume and not a permanent change of fur color), you should put your dog in a costume as well instead of dyeing his fur.
Some people ...
Elmy♦
- 32.4k
6
votes
What should I use to dye my dog's fur?
Two of your objectives are not compatible.
I also want to make sure that whatever I dye him with will not bleed (rub off on my hands when petting him or get on his bed), and…
Can come off with a ...
- 29.4k
6
votes
I heard I can't shave my cat's fur because it affects its ability to cool down. Is that true?
Animal fur is an insulator. People commonly have the misconception that insulators keep in heat. The truth is that all insulators inhibit the transfer of heat, and this works in BOTH directions. ...
- 16.2k
6
votes
Accepted
Should I do something about my cat getting very dirty?
There are reasons you may want to consider bathing your cat if it gets covered in dirt. For one, of course it's going to track that dirt all over your house, and then there will be a lot more ...
- 16.2k
6
votes
Why do groomers tell you not to shear a long-haired dog in warm weather?
I agree 100% with Elmy
Sometimes when groomers are trained, they may not be told or may not absorb the true reason for doing certain tasks in certain ways. They may simply be told, "Don't do this&...
6
votes
Accepted
How do I clean an aggressive cat's private area from diarrhea?
I am not a cat experienced person, but I found a website, maybe useful for you:
"cat friendly clinic". They store a lots of videos about cat handling (I assume more for assistant staff and ...
- 5,915
6
votes
Accepted
Double claw on single toe?
This is most likely not an entire claw but just one single old layer of her regular claw that didn't separate completely.
Cats claws consist of many layers, like an onion. The newest layer grows from ...
Elmy♦
- 32.4k
5
votes
Shearing our Golden Retriever with Sheep Shears
If this is a one time deal it may be more cost effective to pay the dog groomer to shave your pet.
Inexpensive clippers can get hot enough to burn your pet before the shearing is complete. As you ...
- 29.4k
5
votes
Reverse a debeaked hen?
A chicken's beak will grow back over time. Presumably, the beak was trimmed by someone who knew what they were doing. Any attempts on your part to correct by trimming the lower part are likely to ...
- 29.4k
5
votes
Accepted
How to get rid of matted hair in cats
To fix matted fur you need to get a cat brush. The one I use is similar to this one.
You need to brush the cat a couple of times a week after your cat has gotten rid of the matted fur to avoid it ...
- 19.5k
5
votes
Hair Mats in 20 year old cat
In general, it's not advised to give a short clip or lion cut to a short haired cat. They need that layer of insulating fur to help them keep a stable body temperature. However, once the fur is ...
- 1,582
5
votes
How should you groom a dog with a double coat and severe matting?
If there's a medical need to shear the dog, then the consequences (far more grooming required, possibly additional shelter needed) until the dog's coat is regrown maybe a year later are just a ...
5
votes
Why is my cat trying to rip my toe off?
Animals (and humans btw) can distinguish materials and textures they lick. If your cat has a habit of grooming you, she knows how your skin or toe is supposed to feel. If there's something obscuring ...
Elmy♦
- 32.4k
4
votes
How do you clean poop out of a long hair cat's fur?
My cat tries so hard but has never been able to get her bottom totally clean. I can see in her eyes that it makes her sad. I usually do this every other day. This remedy is quick and easy for both of ...
- 41
4
votes
How do you clean poop out of a long hair cat's fur?
I have a ragdoll Siamese mix with long fur, and I have found that a simple butt bath, that is, only washing the cats bottom with soap and water on a wash cloth then rinsing the cloth and using it to ...
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