How often should you take your pets?

Dear Tabby,

How often should we bathe our pets? My husband and I disagree on this point. I think our dogs should bathe once a week, but he thinks we should only bathe them as needed. What do you think?
Question the hygiene of pets at heights.

Prefer to question the hygiene of the animal,

Anyone living with pets knows that from time to time they feel a bad smell (and probably would say the same about you!). It is usually not necessary to take cats as often as dogs, but older or obese cats can benefit from a bath to keep their fur and skin healthy.

The frequency depends on the breed.

It is important to wash dogs regularly to keep their skin healthy and happy, but the frequency of these baths largely depends on the breed and condition of the coat.

"Dogs without dermatological anomalies can be bathed twice a year or if they get dirty," Dr. Alison Diesel, Deputy Clinical Professor at the Texas A & M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. "Dogs with skin problems, however, need more frequent baths and sometimes benefit from certain skin types or medical shampoos. If your dog suffers from skin problems, you should discuss the bath recommendations with your veterinarian."

Check your skin at the veterinarian's office.

Although your veterinarian can examine your pet's skin during a routine checkup, skin anomalies can sometimes develop between appointments. If you notice any abnormalities while bathing or caring for your pet, you should have them examined by a veterinarian. Some notable changes can cause increased odor and flaking, and can cause discomfort or itching in the animal.

"In addition, long-haired animals are exposed to mats, which can irritate the skin and cause injury if removed or cut," Diesel said. "Long-haired pets are more likely to fly and acquire worms hidden in mats and coats, which can further damage the skin and cause injury, infection, sepsis, and possibly death."

More serious or more persistent skin diseases may benefit from a dermatologist veterinarian examination.

Ear cleaning button.

Another important aspect of good hygiene for your pet is keeping your pet's ears clean. Most pet owners bathe their pet regularly to care for the coat. However, cleaning the ears is equally important and should be part of your pet's normal routine of hygiene. Diesel recommends saturating a cotton ball with an approved veterinary cleaner.

"Carefully place it in the dog's or cat's ear canal and massage it to provide the solution along the canal," Diesel said. "An additional cotton ball can be used to remove excess fluid once the animal has shaken his head." The Q-Tips should never be used to clean the ears of a dog or cat, as this may damage the ear canal. "

If you do not feel well and do not care about the hygiene of your pet, be sure to treat it professionally. Hairdressers can bathe, cut their nails and clean their ears (in addition to cutting their hair) and arrange the hygiene of your pet, allowing you to perform a simple maintenance cleaning between appointments of your hairdresser. This saves time and prevents you from washing your animals properly and assures you that you are in the best of shape.

Do you have a question about Tabby? If so, send an e-mail to: deartabbyquestions@gmail.com.

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