Cats and dogs shed fur everywhere and it collects in balls like tumbleweed under your table, so understand the importance of a little grooming now and again.

Why do some pets shed fur? - Animals develop a thick fur coat for the winter, then shed in the spring for a thinner summer coat and may even shed their summer coats before bulking up again for winter. Even hamsters and rabbits shed, and when rabbits are young, their baby coat is replaced at around 5 months by a transitional coat before they get their adult coat.

Brushing - Regular grooming is important for your pet's health, as well as appearance, and grooming helps rid of shed hair and dead skin while spreading natural oils. A visit to the groomers particularly for long-haired animals keeps their fur at a length to match the season.

Dead hair from the coat must be removed regularly, or your pet may start licking themselves to remove the dead hair. This overgrooming can cause hot spots, an intense and irritating itch whereby pets bite, chew and lick themselves extensively. Most dogs love being brushed, and it can be one of the most rewarding moments of friendship with your best friend. If your cat grooms herself, she swallows a lot of the dead hair that has come loose,

and will vomit those disgusting hairballs back, so try stroking her first to see if they are ‘in the mood’ for a good brushing to avoid this.

Matting - a small knot can turn into a large lump in time, and if matted lumps get larger, they get more difficult to remove - severe matting can lead to health problems, such as poor ventilation and blood flow. If mats start to turn pink or red (or smell yukky), you should contact your vet right away — this could be a sign of infection. A healthy cat shouldn’t need a bath, but bathing if necessary for either cat or dog it can be done in the tub at home, using a recommended pet shampoo suitable for your pet’s skin and coat type.

Self-cleaning - Most animals maintain a healthy level of hygiene - a dog shakes itself to remove excess water from its fur, for example. Others dirty themselves on purpose as a form of protection. Scratching and biting helps rid their bodies of fleas and ticks, tangled hair, and burrs. Shaking removes dirt, loose hair, dead fleas and ticks, and anything else that may be lurking in their fur. Dust bathing is a common practice in the animal kingdom, any many utilise sand or dust to keep their skin healthy and free of parasites. Other mammals wallow in mud in order to remove parasites as well as to stay cool.


Is Dog Licking Safe? - Dogs don't groom themselves like a cat - licking at their skin could mean your dog has an allergic skin itch, and they typically should not lick themselves for more than a few minutes a day. Licking is a behaviour that dogs learn at birth from their mothers, and this licking instinct never goes away. The process of licking releases endorphins that provide a sense of pleasure and help to relieve stress, which is why some dogs resort to obsessive licking behaviors when they get anxious. In dog packs, licking also serves as a sign of submission to more dominant members of the pack.

When it comes to dogs licking humans, however, it's generally a sign of affection, although sometimes your dog might lick you simply because you taste good! But considering that dogs are prone to nibbling on poop and licking their own unmentionables, in reality, a dog's mouth is a pool of germs. However, while dog saliva can carry bacteria or parasites, these illnesses generally aren't carried in quantities large enough to pose a danger to most humans, and there is very little evidence that doggie kisses are a means of transmission.

Mutual grooming - Both dogs and cats engage in mutual grooming among their own species, and its not uncommon for cats to groom dogs, and vice versa - if they actually get on with each other!

Author

Marilyn writes regularly for The Portugal News, and has lived in the Algarve for some years. A dog-lover, she has lived in Ireland, UK, Bermuda and the Isle of Man. 

Marilyn Sheridan