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Whether you actively show your Pomeranian dog shows or just have them as a loving pet, keeping his coat in top-notch condition is key for his good health .s well as his good looks. Despite their fluffy appearance, Pomeranians do not require an excessive amount of grooming and keeping their coat in good condition is not a hard task and can be one that both you and your Pom look forward to.

The first step to having a healthy coat is to be sure that your dog is free of parasites and fed a healthy diet. external parasites such as fleas, ticks and even ear mites will cause your doctor scratch thus pulling out hair. some dogs may even be allergic to fleas which can cause unsightly skin disturbances. While it’s obvious how external parasites affect the health of your dogs coat, internal parasites can also affect it as they rob your dog from a vital nutrients he needs to be healthy. That’s keeping your dog free of parasites and feeding him a healthy diet will give him all the vitamins and minerals he needs to be healthy and have a vibrant coat.

It’s important to know, that the Pomeranians coat will change drastically from puppy hood to adulthood. When you first get your Pom, he will have light fluffy fur but at around six months of age this will change and he or she will start to grow in his beautiful double coat that Pomeranians are known for. You will see another change, when the dog sheds its first coat. You’ll be able to get a good indication of what you’re puppy’s coat may look like when he is an adult by looking at the code of his parents. If it is full and fluffy and this is probably what your puppies coat will look like and is another good reason to be able to view the parents before you pick out a puppy.

Grooming your Pomeranian is not the arduous task you might think it would be. They can easily become matted, especially around the backs of the legs, behind the ears, under the belly and the chest area so daily brushing is probably best to avoid this and is a fun way to bond with your dog. When your Pomeranian is shedding you should take care to remove all the dead hair so that new hair can grow in. A nylon brush is best for brushing your Pom and you should really dampen his coat before you brush him.

Bathing your Pomeranian is easily done due to their small size. You can put them in sync pretty easy and rinse them off with the sprayer. You don’t need to bathe your Pom too often, once every six weeks or so and be sure to use in organic shampoo formulated for dogs that is free of chemicals and preservatives.

In the summer, you can trim your Pom’s hair down if you like the look and you should always take care to do a little skinny trim under the tail has this long hair can become soiled.

Another area to pay particular attention to in the Pomeranian is his feet. This breed should have small little paws like a cat but they hate our can grow out quite rapidly and you’ll need to keep the hair trimmed back in order to keep the feet looking good. This will also keep the hair out of your Pom’s way and you should also trim in between the pads under the foot and make sure the nails are trimmed as well to keep the dainty look.

Lee Dobbins

http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/keeping-your-pet-pomeranians-coat-in-show-ring-condition-90534.html

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No cat wants to be dirty, and it’s up to you to ensure that your cat stays clean. Grooming is very important, as it helps your cat remain clean and healthy. Grooming starts with brushing, as brushing helps to keep the cats hair from becoming hairballs. Brushing will remove loose hair, and help prevent the risk of hairballs. A lot of cats have trouble dislodging hairballs. If the cat isn’t able to get a hairball out, it could result in a blockage of the intestines. Blockages are very serious, and can quickly become life threatening for your pet.

Cats that have long hair need to be brushed and combed on a daily basis, while cats with short hair need to be groomed on a weekly basis. When you brush your cat, you should always watch for lumps in the coat and skin irritations. You should start brushing along the cat’s back, going from his head to his tail. Do this a few times on one side, and then switch to the other. Each area should be brushed a few times in the direction of the way your cat’s hair is growing.

When you brush your cat, you should always avoid brushing his face and paws. If a cat doesn’t like to be brushed, you can still groom him using another tool. The grooming glove is an excellent alternative to the brush, as most cats don’t mind it at all. Starting out young is the key to grooming, as it will get your cat used to brushing and grooming. Some cats that have started grooming when they were kittens grow to love it, many of which often look forward to their grooming time.

When brushing your cat, make sure that you check his ears, eyes, teeth, and claws. His eyes should be bright and clear with nothing residing in the corners. His ears should be clean, pink in color, and no sign of ear mites. Ear mites result from dirt built up in a cat’s ears, and can result in the ears shriveling up and your cat losing his hearing. Ear mites are very annoying for the cat, and hard for you as an owner to get rid of. The best way to get rid of them – is to ensure that your cat’s ears stay clean and healthy.

Each time you groom your cat, you should always aim to go a bit further with your examinations. When your cat remains still, you should always praise him and give him a treat. If your cat doesn’t cooperate and starts to struggle, you shouldn’t fight with him, but instead let him go and try the next day. Once your cat gets used to grooming he will look forward to it each and every day.

June Sabe

http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/the-different-ways-to-groom-your-cat-743574.html

Technorati Tags: black coffee ground in ears, cleaning dog's ears, dog ear infection, ear infection, ear mites, infestation of ear mites, mites, parasites, prevention of mites, puppies ear mites, vitamins

The skin, your pet’s largest organ, acts as a barrier against harmful invasions from the environment. As an organ of elimination, symptoms of disease often show up in the skin and the body rids itself of toxins

Skin problems are probably the most common ailments seen in dogs. Usually they are not a disease in themselves, but a symptom of another underlying problem.

The most common reason for skin problems in both dogs and cats is an allergy. Foods, pollens, dust or medications may cause signs of allergy. Problems can also show up due to dietary deficiency or poor diet in general. Symptoms include such as itching, redness, and poor coat quality.

If no other reason for the problem can be found, it is time to look for food allergies. Changing to a premium or home-made dog food can usually make a big difference in a short time. Often simply adding raw meat to the diet is enough to see an improvement.

If the problem persists, or the pet is already on a healthy diet, then you must look at the specific ingredients in the food. Beef, chicken, corn and soy are the most common allergens, but cats and dogs, like people, can be allergic to anything. Try eliminating the above four things first, if that doesn’t work a more drastic “elimination diet” may be necessary. This usually takes at least 6-8 weeks to get a good reading.

If no food allergy can be identified, or if eliminating an offending food has not solved the problem, then you must look to the environment – inside as well as outside. Once an allergic reaction has been allowed to continue for some time, the immune system is taxed and the body may become sensitive to other irritants.

Play detective! Ask yourself if anything has changed in the house recently; new carpeting, new cabinetry, fresh paint? These things can all give off chemicals which may cause illness. Are the symptoms seasonal? Pollens are a common allergen, and difficult to avoid, especially for a dog. Did the symptoms start suddenly? What happened just before they appeared – vaccinations? Other illness? Emotional upset? Finding and eliminating the cause can be a long and difficult process.

Essential Fatty Acids, also known as Omega-3 and Omega-6 are important nutrients for the skin and coat of dogs and cats. You might also consider certain herbs, such as Milk Thistle or Dandelion, which support the liver and help the body detoxify. There are many natural topical products that can be used to calm the symptoms.

Bathing is not always the answer. If the dog’s coat is dry, bathing may just make matters worse. If you must bathe, use a gentle shampoo. For dogs or cats with itchy skin, look for oatmeal as one of the ingredients in a pet shampoo.

Another common cause of itching and redness for dogs and cats is flea bite dermatitis. Not all animals are allergic, but fleas will at least cause scratching or biting in all pets simply because they are annoying! Flea allergies however, cause the pests to be more than just an annoyance. Symptoms of flea allergy include hair loss, redness, and sometimes sores kown as “hot spots”.

If you suspect your pet has fleas but you haven’t actually seen any, look for the tell-tale black “specks” at the base of the hairs. Fleas particularly love the areas at the base of the tail, ears and hind legs (where they meet the belly). To determine if the specks are flea dirt (dried blood) and not just dirt, put some on a white paper or cloth and wet them. If they turn red, you’ve got fleas.

Some diseases cause symptoms of the skin and coat. Thyroid imbalances may cause dull, flaky or greasy coat and sometimes hair loss. Skin and ear infections are common with Cushing’s Disease.

There are some specific skin diseases as well. Mange is caused by a mite and causes lesions and hair loss, usually around the mouth and eyes. This most often clears up on its own, but some dogs and cats cannot rid themselves of the mites and have a more severe case. Ringworm is a highly contagious fungus affecting cats, dogs and people (especially children). It shows up as circular lesions that are raw, hairless and scaly. The disease spreads rapidly.

Boredom or anxiety can cause a dog to lick its paws repeatedly and constantly, resulting in “lick granulomas”. These are raised nodules, often rough and scaly. There is also a group of autoimmune diseases called Pemphigus which cause scaly skin, scabs and pustules. Some breeds are particularly susceptible to the disease.

Elyse Grau

http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/skin-and-coat-problems-in-dogs-and-cats-250087.html

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There are many aspects involved with dog care and making sure you cover them all can be daunting. Dogs are subject to allergies but they catch them from the air. Proper allergy care involves not only treating the symptoms but also prevention. You should bath your dog regularly and rinse their feet after they have been outside to remove any allergens on your dog’s skin.

Dog dental care can also be done at home and is very easy but also critical to your dogs health. Proper dental care provides for more than clean breath, it also keeps your dogs organs healthy as bacterial buildup on the teeth can spread throughout your pets whole system and cause illness and disease.

As with your own dental care you only need a few tools in order to care for your dog’s teeth, these are dental clens solution, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental treats or toys or a dental cleaning dog kit. It may take your dog a few days or even weeks to get used to the dental care procedure but their teeth and gums will be much healthier and not have as many problems as before.

Ear care is particularly important for dogs, especially during the summer. A build up of moisture in the ear canals can cause problems as well as favorable conditions for ear infections. There are many products that can be used to care for your dogs ears including ear powders to keep ears dry, ear miticide to kill ear mites and other ear cleaning solutions that rinse away dirt and loosens waxy build up.

Keeping your dogs eyes clean is also important as this can prevent infections. The most common eye infection for dogs is conjunctivitis. To prevent infections you should use eye cleaning solutions or protective ointments that protect eyes from irritation as well as killing bacteria. You can trim hair from around your pet’s eyes to prevent infection, make sure the corners of their eyes are mucous free, and try to keep your pets away form activities or surroundings where they may get eye trauma. When doing any cleaning or cutting around your dogs eyes, you want to use the utmost care so as to avoid poking your dog in the eye!

As your dog ages there is some additional dog care needs that you should be aware of. Your dog should still exercise but at a lower intensity and for shorter periods of time. Older dogs should use a foam bed to protect their joints when sleeping. You should also take advantage of senior dog food as it will contain important vitamins and nutrients that older dogs may need more of. As dogs age you need to keep a closer eye out for changes in behavior as these can be signs of problems. You should take your dog to the vet as soon as you notice any changes.

Proper dog care also constitutes regular veterinary visits. This way you can be assured that you are providing your pet with everything he needs to be happy, healthy and long lived.

Lee Dobbins

http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dog-care-tips-for-happy-healthy-dogs-754369.html

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Just like humans, dogs produce ear wax (cerumen). If there are factors present which increase production of this ear wax, or if the normal clearance mechanism is compromised, then manual removal might be necessary.

Why clean the ears?

1. So that your veterinarian can visualize the ear drum. Waxy debris obstructs the view, so the integrity of the ear drum cannot be ascertained.
2. To remove debris prior to applying topical ear medication to treat an infection.
3. As part of a preventative ear care programme, to minimize the chance of an ear infection occurring.

When performing a general clinical examination, for example during a yearly check up at the time of vaccination, a veterinarian will usually look at the inside of the ear for excessive wax or inflammation. A vet will only want to look further into the canal with an otoscope if the dog is showing symptoms of an ear problem, such as scratching at its head, rubbing its head along the floor or head shaking. Otoscopic examination of the ear canal is usually performed to check for the presence of ear mites, foreign bodies (e.g. grass seeds), polyps, tumors and middle ear disease.

If the ears are waxy, but there is no evidence of an infection and no itchiness, then regular cleaning with a dog ear cleaner is the recommended course of action. Ear cleaners can usually be purchased at veterinary clinics, pet shops or online.

What do ear cleaners contain?

Many ear cleaners contain ceruminolytics, which disrupt the wax by acting on the cells it adheres to. Many also contain lubricants, which soften and loosen the wax. The main components are listed below.

Detergent (e.g. docusate sodium, carbamate peroxide, sodium lauryl sulfate)
Lubricant (e.g. squalene, propylene glycol, glycerin)
Ceruminolytic (e.g. olive oil, aqueous alkaline solutions)
Disinfectant (e.g. parachlorometaxylenol)
Antimicrobial agents (e.g. lactic, salicyclic or oleic acids)
Drying agents (e.g. isopropyl alcohol)

Is there a recommended technique for cleaning the ears?

The most common cleaning regime is to apply the product, gently massage the ear canal and then wipe with dry cotton wool. The objective is to keep the ear canals open, clean and free from accumulations of wax, debris and hair. Start with one ear, go through the following process, then move onto the other one. Squirt some of the ear cleaner into the outermost hole in the ear, when looking at it from above. Hold your dogs head steady as it will be inclined to shake its head at this point and disperse the liquid. Massage the ear canal with your fingertips so that it makes a squelching noise. When you have massaged for a good 20 seconds, take a ball of dry cotton wool and clean out the ear by wiping in a corkscrew motion. Your dog may now shake its head to remove the tickly remains from its canal.

Can I pluck the hair from inside the ears myself?

Regular plucking of hairy ear canals will make cleaning easier and improve ventilation. Although it seems like a sore thing to do, there are actually no nerves running through the hair follicles in the ear canal so plucking is painless. Owners can do it themselves at home if their dog is cooperative, but many prefer to leave it to the grooming parlour or to a veterinary nurse.

How often should I clean my dogs ears?

As a rule of thumb, once a month should suffice. However, dogs with large hanging ear flaps such as spaniels and basset hounds might need their ears cleaning more often. Dogs that swim frequently also need closer attention.

What if the home treatment system does not work?

Some ears are so dirty, hairy or sore, that a dog will not permit its owner to clean them out via the technique described above. These owners require veterinary assistance, where either simple lavage or mechanical removal is performed.

LAVAGE

This is usually performed under heavy sedation, or general anaesthetic. A syringe is attached to a soft catheter, which is fed into the ear canal. Water is repeatedly injected and then sucked out again, containing globs of wax and debris. This is repeated until the liquid sucked out is clear. Sometimes other liquids are used rather than water, such as dilute chlorhexidine or povidone iodine. However, these can cause damage if the ear drum is ruptured. Since by definition most dogs requiring veterinary assistance to clean their ears have very dirty ears, it is safer to use water or saline as an irrigant.

MECHANICAL REMOVAL

This is the safest method of cleaning out wax as there is no risk to the ear drum. Sedation is generally required. A wire loop or blunt curette is gently pulled along the lining of the canal, loosening and rolling wax out of the canal as it progresses.

Matthew Homfray

http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/cleaning-your-dogs-ears-114176.html

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In this article, “How To Avoid A Dog Ear Infection Or Other Canine Ear Problems”, we investigate the some causes of ear infections and other related ear problems as well as providing some pratical advice on how to keep your dog’s ear in good working order.

Regular examination of your dogs ears should be another integral part of your grooming routine. Your examination should not only be checking for dirt, excessive wax, offensive odors, but also for tears and swellings. There are three main parts to a dogs ears: the outer flap (the pinna), the ear canal, and the middle or inner ear.

The pinna can either be pendulous (floppy) or erect. It can be covered in long hair in breeds such as spaniels and setters or with short hair in breeds such as shepherds and terriers. The ear canal is L-shaped. It starts of at a vertical angle and then makes a horizontal turn. Because of this shape we can only make a cursory examination. A veterinarian can make a complete examination using a device called an otoscope. Using the otoscope the veterinarian can also check the inner ear.

A dog which shakes its head, scratches or rubs it head against the floor or furniture is indicative of a dog with a possible ear problem. Offensive odors could also be indicative of an ear infection. These as well as tears and swellings on the outer ear should be checked and treated by a veterinarian.

Cleaning of the ear canal can be accomplished by using various solutions. There are cleansing solutions, ear-wax loosening and removal solutions and ear drying solutions available through your veterinarian and pet stores. Before putting anything in your dogs ears, consult with your veterinarian.

If the ear flap is dirty, it can be cleaned with a soft moist cloth or gauze wrapped around a finger tip. Q-tips can be used inside the small outer crevices. Gentleness is essential so as not to cause trauma to the outer ear or cause wax or dirt to be forced down the ear canal. Dogs with excessive hair such as spaniels should have the hair on the underside of the flap removed by trimming it, thus causing adequate ventilation and drainage. A build-up of dirty waxy hair can seal off the ear canal creating an environment suitable for bacterial growth such as yeast infections, or a breeding ground for parasites such as ear mites.

Another good time to check your dogs ears is when you come home from exercising in open fields or in the forest (hunting or tracking). Check for bugs such as ticks and for tears. A good brushing and bathing can remove dirt, bugs and allergens, which can also affect the ears.

Because of the shape of the dogs ears damage to the ear drum is rare but caution should be exercised when cleaning the ears. Again, never put anything in your dogs ears unless advised by your veterinarian and use extreme gentleness when cleaning the ears. Consult your veterinarian immediately if you have any concerns. An ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure.

Terrie Simpson

http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dog-health-care-article-how-to-avoid-a-dog-ear-infection-or-other-canine-ear-problems-748790.html

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External parasites live on a cats skin. They not only cause irritation, but sometimes carry other diseases. As you groom your cat, examine its coat for any evidence of parasites. You want to look carefully for these parasites and see your vet if you find anything unusual. Sometime your cat will scratch to tip you off – othertimes there might be no telltale signs of infection.

Lice are rare in cats and do not spread to humans. Serious infection usually occurs because cats are poorly nourished, neglected and live in unsanitary conditions. Infected cats should be isolated and treated with any of a number of commercial products in the form of dips, sprays or shampoos. Be certain the label states that the product is safe for cats. Always read and follow label directions. Because lice do not live long off the host, a single thorough cleaning of the cats environment should be adequate. Discard vacuum cleaner bags and cleaning rags.

Mange is a general term for parasitic diseases caused by any of several microscopic mites. Signs of mange include excessive shedding, fur loss in patches and bald spots around the eyes, nose or ears. A veterinarian should diagnose and treat a mange infestation as soon as possible.

Cheyetialla mites produce an extensive dry, scaly dust suggestive of dandruff. Other signs include a rash and itching. An affected cat should be isolated from other pets. A dip, powder or shampoo should be used as recommended by a veterinarian. The cats environment should also be treated. In many instances humans are also affected. Treatment by a physician is recommended.

Ear mites are one of the most common ear problems in cats. The mites live on the surface of the skin and pierce the skins surface to feed, causing considerable inflammation and discomfort. The skin-piercing is accompanied by an accumulation of dark brown granular material composed of dried blood and wax within the ear canal.

Scratching the ears, head shaking and brown debris inside the ear are signs of ear mites. If left untreated, ear mites cause serious problems such as secondary bacterial infections, torn and bleeding ear tissues resulting from excessive scratching, and, in extreme cases, loss of hearing.

Cats who spend considerable time outdoors have a greater incidence of mites than those housed inside. Young kittens can get mites from their mother. Although mites are not transmitted to people, they can be transmitted to other household pets. For all mite infections, your veterinarian can provide diagnosis and effective treatment.

Taking your cat to the vet on a regular basis can help prevent or treat these pesky cat parasites.

Tristan Andrews

http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/external-cat-parasites-lice-mites-and-mange-93840.html

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