
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 2, 1994                   TAG: 9312300136
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Karen Davis
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

GROOMING YOUR PET CAN HELP YOU COPE WITH THE SHEDDING PROBLEM

Shedding season is just around the corner as longer hours of daylight activate the shedding cycle. But house dogs living in artificial light often shed continually because. This is because no natural shortening of daylight tells them when the time is right to shed and grow a new coat. In addition, overheated homes in winter may make some house pets prone to shed more than normal because their skin gets too dry.

The best way to cope with shedding and to keep your pet's coat looking nice is to groom daily or at least several times weekly. Regular brushing also helps stimulate and distribute natural oils through the coat, keeping it shiny and healthy looking.

If your pet's skin appears too dry or flaky, or if his coat seems dull or brittle, schedule a visit to your veterinarian. A number of medical and dietary problems can affect the skin and hair coat, including allergies, parasites and hormone imbalances, among others.

If Santa brought you a puppy or kitten for Christmas, establish a grooming routine with your pet while he is still young. It's wise to always use the same spot, such as a table or bench, so your pet will learn what is expected of him and behave accordingly when you take him to that spot.

Keep the sessions short until your pet gets used to the idea. Don't try to restrain him once his attention wanders elsewhere. Simply end the session and try again later. Make the sessions pleasant, praise him and pat him a lot, and your pet soon will learn to anticipate and enjoy the extra attention he gets during grooming. Get him used to having his mouth opened, his ears handled and his paws touched.

In general, short- and medium-haired pets should be brushed with the lay of the hair, and long-haired pets should be brushed against the lay of the hair, from the skin out. Many long-haired breeds have a topcoat of long, coarse hair over a dense, soft undercoat. Grooming against the grain helps free loose hairs trapped in the thick undercoat that otherwise could become entangled and form unsightly mats.

Mats are uncomfortable to an animal because they pull and irritate the skin. Mats on the paw pads or between the toes probably feel a lot like having a rock in your shoe.

To remove a mat, separate it and work it loose with your fingers, but try not to yank on the skin. Gently pick a mat loose with the end teeth of a wide-toothed steel comb. A dab of oil or conditioner might make the mat loosen more readily. If the mat is a massive tangle, clipping it out with scissors or shaving it off with electric trimmers is often the best option.

Your pet's breed and coat type determine your choice of grooming aides. For example, if you have a short-haired dog, use a hound glove to remove dead hair and polish the coat. Most implements describe their specific usage on the packaging. But if you're in doubt about what to buy, ask a professional handler, veterinarian or pet shop owner. Basic grooming tools include bristle brushes, wire slicker brushes, nail clippers, scissors and metal combs. Certain dog breeds may require a "stripping comb" that trims and thins at the same time. In general, on medium- and long-coated pets, use a fine comb for face, feet and legs and a medium or wide comb on back, sides and belly. Extremely fine combs, like flea combs, are not recommended for long-haired pets because they can strip out too much undercoat and make the topcoat look flat instead of fluffy.

Toenail trimming is something you should get your pet used to while he's young, too. Overlong nails also splay the toes and can make walking uncomfortable. Neglected nails also snag on carpets and furnishings. Use commercial pet nail files and clippers for the job.

Before clipping, look closely at the nail and identify the "quick." If the nail is white, the quick clearly shows up as a thin pink line running about three-fourths of the way down the nail toward the tip. To avoid cutting into the sensitive quick, trim the nail tip below the pink line.

The quick contains nerves and blood vessels, and if you accidently cut into the pink, the nail will bleed. If this happens, hold pressure over it with a cotton ball until the blood clots, or apply a styptic, such as used for shaving. If the nails are black and you can't see the quick, trim the tips off a little at atime to avoid cutting into the quick. Afterward, file the rough edges to prevent snags.

Of course, cats retract their claws, but a dog's nails, if trimmed properly, should not touch the floor surface when he stands squarely on his feet. His weight should be supported by his paws, not his claws. And don't forget to trim the dewclaws, if your dog has them. Dewclaws grow on the inner leg above the paws, and if neglected, can curl in and grow into the skin.

by CNB