Regular grooming helps keep your dog’s skin and haircoat healthy. It helps eliminate mats and tangles and gives you a chance to check for ticks and fleas as well as lumps and bumps.

Shedding is a natural process. Indoor lighting and heating, as well as seasonal temperature variations all affect shedding. Most healthy dogs shed twice a year in the spring and fall, while some breeds, like the Pekingese, Collie and Great Pyrenees, shed all year-round. Skin disorders, dietary imbalances, and hormonal fluctuations all affect hair growth and shedding cycles.

HAIR TYPES
* How often your dog needs to be bathed and groomed will vary depending on the breed, the hair length and the dog’s lifestyle. Breeds that shed all year round, like the Pekingese and Collie, need to be brushed regularly and groomed every 4 to 8 weeks to properly maintain their haircoats.

* Breeds with fancy haircuts, like poodles and cocker spaniels, require coat care at four to six week intervals. Poodles shed but their hair does not come out until it is brushed. Maltese and Yorkshire Terriers need attention every couple of weeks just to keep their long, silky coats tangle-free.

* Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds and other breeds with relatively short coats need a good bath and brush out three to four times a year.

* Regardless of the breed, the bath is the single most important factor in grooming.
(NOTE: The more hair the dog has, the more coat care he will require.)
(NOTE: A leash prevents excess wandering and makes the job safer and easier. Leave 18 inches of slack so the dog can move around a little bit.)

WARNING
For long-coated breeds make a “poop shoot” by trimming excess hair from beneath the anal area. This promotes cleanliness and helps prevent several problems, especially with those involving parasites and flies in warm, humid climates. Flies lay eggs in soiled fur which hatch into larvae called maggots. Maggots live on flesh and can cause life threatening infections. English Sheepdogs, Collies and Shelties are at high risk.
(NOTE: Tip: A rubber mat provides secure footing. Boric acid – 2 tablespoons in 1-cup water helps remove eye stains.)

WHAT YOU CAN DO
* Use shampoo and conditioners that are specifically designed for dogs. Your vet will recommend products that are best suited for your dog’s skin and haircoat. Proper grooming equipment also makes the job easier. A slicker brush, along with a metal comb, a pin brush, and a bristle brush work well for most breeds initially.

* Before bathing, brush out the coat and remove mats and tangles. Mats are twice as hard to get out once wet. Lubricate your dog’s eyes with artificial tears, or put a drop of Vitamin E oil in each eye, cotton balls work well to protect the ears. Rinse well and shampoo twice. Leaving the second set of suds on for five to ten minutes lets you get the most residual action from medicated shampoos. Use conditioners sparingly then give the final rinse.

* Your dog may or may not tolerate being dried. In either case, keep dogs indoors until they are dry. Then brush out the coat. Brushing the fur backwards helps remove excess undercoat. Check for mats between the toes and footpads, be sure toenails aren’t too long, and wipe out the ears.
(NOTE: Proper grooming tools are essential to maintain your dog’s coat.)

Skin diseases are very common in dogs. They can occur because of bacterial, viral, fungal, allergic, parasitic, and hormonal disorders. In older dogs skin cancer and cysts are not uncommon. Signs of skin problems are among the easiest to detect. They include dry flaky skin, as well as red, raw irritated areas often with hair loss, scabs and crusts. Many skin diseases cause similar signs which can make exact diagnoses difficult. Unfortunately many cases are chronic and cannot be cured but can be controlled. These dogs often require long-term therapy which is frustrating and costly. Nutrition, bathing, and grooming provide symptomatic relief in almost all cases.

Anemia results from a low number of red blood cells in the circulation. Red blood cells normally carry oxygen and vital nutrients to all tissues of the body. Anemia can occur because not enough red blood cells are produced or because excess numbers are lost, as with hemorrhage or are destroyed, by a process called Hemolysis because of a disease.

SYMPTOMS
* Pale whitish color to gums (as opposed to normal pink color) and membranes lining eyelids, the conjunctiva.
* Weakness, lethargy

CAUSES
* Parasites that suck blood including fleas, hookworms and lice
* Viral Infections like Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Immune Deficiency Virus
* Chronic Kidney Disease – The kidneys make a hormone called Erythropoietin, which stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. Failing kidneys cannot make normal levels of this hormone, therefore, anemia often results.
* Trauma, hemorrhage, onions, toxins, zinc and copper can cause blood loss resulting in anemia.
* Red blood cell parasites and Immune diseases.

FACT: Hemolysis is defined as the destruction of red blood cells which normTlly occurs in the spleen and is how old red blood cells are normally removed, but certain conditions can cause excessive destruction.

NOTE: Feline Infectious Anemia is a disease caused by Hemobartonella, which ia a microscopic parasite living on red blood cells. The disease is spread by fleas and cat bites.

WHAT YOU AND YOUR VET CAN DO
* Blood, urine tests and X-rays (Zinc is visible on x-rays and should be removed at once)
* Treatment to eliminate the underlying cause – fleas, worms, lice.
* Fluids needed in Kidney Disease to eliminate toxins –can make anemia worse
* Blood transfusions replace blood in severe cases
* Epogen is an injectable form of the Erythropoietin hormone, which is made by the kidneys’ to stimulate red blood cell production.

COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY
* Improve diet
* B Vitamins – nutritional yeast is a source
* Iron – found in green vegetables
* High quality protein – 1 Teaspoon of raw liver once a week

HOMEOPATHIC THERAPY
* China Officinalis 6c -1 pellet daily for 30 days. No food 10 minutes before or 10 minutes after.
Use in weak cats with blood loss
Can continue several months if necessary and is helping.

Alopecia is defined as the absence of hair from areas that are normally hairy. Hair loss may involve thinning of the hair or complete hair loss. Itching may or may not be a factor. Hair loss often occurs on specific areas of the body, like the ears, with ear mites or the face and neck with fleas which helps to determine the underlying problem. The most common cause of hair loss in cats is self induced by itching. Eliminating fleas, inhalant allergies and food allergies cures most of these cases. Hair loss without itching can be due to certain hormonal disorders such as low levels of thyroid hormones. Behavioral disorders can result in hair loss because of excessive over grooming which occurs in Siamese cats.
Feline Alopecia Universalis is a rare inherited disorder specifically created by breeders. Sphynx cats such as the pedigree hairless are an example as is the Canadian Hairless. They are born without any primary hairs. Diagnosis of the underlying problem is based on signs, and lesion location. Blood and urine tests diagnose most hormonal disorders causing hair loss including Thyroid disease. Skin scrapings and tissue biopsies examined microscopically confirm more severe cases.

COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY
* Kelp – 1 Tsp Kelp powder in food daily to stimulate a sluggish thyroid gland but in cases where the exact cause of low thyroid function is not known Kelp can promote further damage to thyroid gland and is contraindicated.
* For hair loss associated with psychological disorders- St. Johns Wort is effective to reduce anxiety
* Chelated Zinc – 5 milligrams daily
* Vitamin C – 250 milligrams 3 times a day
* Omega-3 fatty acids improves health of skin and hair coat – 1/8 Tsp Salmon Oil
* Avoid using Aluminum cooking utensils, cats can be sensitive.

An abscess is a pocket of pus under the skin. Pus is an accumulation of bacteria and white blood cells and indicates the presence of infection. The problem is detection because cat fur is so dense an abscess is easy to miss initially. Occasionally the abscess may open and drain on its own. Abscesses that are not detected can lead to life threatening bacterial infections of underlying area such as the chest or brain.

CAUSES
“Cat Fight Abscess” is the term used by vets to describe these lesions which are generally the result of bite and scratch wounds cats inflict on each other while fighting. The bacteria that normally reside in a cat’s mouth are usually responsible for the infection and are spread when the teeth of the aggressor cat punctures the skin of the victim cat. Occasionally bacterial from the soil are also involved.
NOTE: Un-neutered male cats involved in territorial disputes fight.

WHAT YOU AND YOUR VET CAN DO
* Exact treatment depends on the size, location and maturity of the abscess. Non draining lesions may be allowed to mature, which can be enhanced by using warm compresses. Feline Leukemia and Feline Imunodeficiency Virus can both be spread by cat fights. Blood tests rule both out.
* Draining lesions are flushed out with a diluted iodine-type solution. Drainage must be maintained for several days to clear the infection. A soft rubber drainage tube may be necessary depending on the site.
* Lesions that drain for over 10 days or that begin to drain again after being resoled require further diagnostic investigation.
* Antibiotics to eliminate the specific bacteria responsible are usually given for 7-14 days.
* Neuter male cats to help prevent fighting and abscess problems.

COMPLEMENTARY TREATMENTS
Dietary supplements for cats with fever and painful swollen abscess
¼ Tsp parsley
½ Tsp raw liver added to food
1 clove or capsule of garlic
Vitamin C – 250 mg (powder) three times daily for three days

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDY
Silica 6x – 1 pellet every 4 hours for up to 5 days. Discontinue if not better in first 24 hours. Use for abscess ready to break open or already draining.
Hepar Sulph Calcareum 30C – 1 pellet every four hours for three doses. Use for cats with extremely painful abscesses. Cat tries to bite if area is touched. No food 10 minutes before or after.

COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY
* Use a syringe to flush out the abscess. Solution to flush out abscesses and keep it open to promote drainage: 10 drops of Goldenseal Extract and ½ Tsp salt into 1 cup distilled water.
* Apply a hot compress of oat straw tincture. This helps bring an abscess to a head; 5 minutes, 3 times a day.
* Apply a compress topically once abscess has drained to promote healing. Mix 1 Tsp of Tincture or Calendula, ½ Tsp salt and 1 Cup distilled water.

Cats use their claws to climb, scratch, defend themselves, and hunt outside. They also use them to “mark” their territory, which is instinctive behavior. Provide a scratching post from day one and give your cat clear messages about which objects she may or may not scratch. If verbal reprimands fail, a quick squirt from a water bottle should let your can know her choice was wrong. Immediately redirect your cat’s attention to an appropriate object, so she learns the rules. Until your cat has complete respect for your rules, confinement works well when supervision is not possible. Training helps improve the bond and level of communication between owners and cats.

WHAT YOU AND YOUR VET CAN DO

* Some cats are active enough to wear down their own nails, but most cats need nail trims every 2-4 weeks to prevent overgrown nails and reduce the likelihood of damage to your home. A dewclaw is a “fifth” toe located in the thumb position, and also needs to be trimmed. When dewclaws overgrow, they curl inward and can grow into the skin and cause painful infections. They are also easily snagged and injured. Starting at an early age helps cats get used to nail trims. Nervous cats may need to be wrapped in a towel exposing only one foot at a time. Covering the face with a blanket or towel also helps some cats relax.

* Occasionally when all efforts fail, options to eliminate claw problems must be considered.
* Declawing is a controversial procedure that some people feel is inhumane; some veterinarians refuse to perform the procedure. Declawing can be an appropriate procedure, for example, when euthanasia is the only other option.

To prevent destructive scratching, three options are available:
* Nail coverings attach to the claws with a nontoxic adhesive and provide a blunt nail tip so scratching does not cause damage. About once a month, the coverings must be removed, nails trimmed, new coverings applied. You can do this or have the nail caps replaced by your vet.
* Flexor Tendonectomy is a surgical procedure that leaves the claws intact but prevents cats from extending them. Owners must monitor the cat’s toenails and keep them clipped afterwards because the cat’s ability to shed and sharpen the claws is limited.
* Declawing is a surgical procedure that involves removal of the claw and last digit under anesthesia. Only the claws on the front feet need to be removed. Aftercare lasts 14 days and requires using shredded paper in the litter box. Most cats recover uneventfully and do not suffer psychological trauma as a result.

Bees, wasp, spiders, centipedes and other flying insects bite and sting cats. Most bites occur on the face which swells and is painful. Occasionally the paws are affected. Most bites go unnoticed and heal on their own. Others may irritate the skin resulting in a local infection or advance into a red, raw, oozing lesion. Cats occasionally develop an allergic skin reaction to a mosquito bite called Mosquito Bite Hypersensivity. The face, ear tips and nose are the most common sites affected. Occasionally the foot pads are involved. Cats traumatized themselves by violently itching which causes severe raw, crusty, scaling lesions to develop.

WARNING
Mosquito Bite Hypersensivity mimics several serious skin conditions including cancer in cats. A skin biopsy in which a piece of tissue is removed and examined microscopically is necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

TREATMENT
Most lesions resolve in about 1 week if mosquitos are avoided
Topical medication to reduce skin irritation promotes healing and reduces discomfort.
Diagnosis is usually based on signs and season of the year (mosquito season) and in severe cases, biopsy results.

COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY
HERBAL
A topical compress soaked in a Calendula Infusion is soothing for minor bites and stings.
A poltice applied topically with 1 Teaspoon of baking soda mixed with a few drops of water makes a paste that neutralizes venom from bee stings.

PREVENTION
Limit mosquito exposure
Keep cats inside especially early in the morning and late at night when mosquitos are most active.

Stud tail is actually Seborrhea of the tail. Cats have 2 types of skin glands. Sweat glands, most of which are non functional and sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands are associated with hair follicles and produce an oily substance called sebum. Sebum repels water which makes the hair coat somewhat water proof and helps maintain normal skin texture. The largest sebaceous glands in cats are located on the chin, lips and upper top part of the tail.

Diagnosis is usually based on signs

SYMPTOMS
Greasy area of fur on the top of tail. Fur may turn a yellowish color. Pus from secondary bacterial infection may or may not be present.

TREATMENT
Matted tail hair should be removed with clippers. The tail is cleaned daily with a Benzyl Peroxide or an oatmeal based shampoo. (avoid tar based shampoo in cats) Rinse well with water and air dry. This tends to recur and may need daily cleansing. A biopsy is recommended to confirm the diagnosis for cases that do not respond.

BRAN BATH
Bran bath removes dirt and grease from cat coats.

BRAN BATH RECIPE
Mix ¼ cup oat bran into 1 cup of distilled water, cover loosely, store at room temperature 24-hours then refrigerate. Can use this to spot clean greasy skin areas, such as chins with acne, and areas with stud tail.

FULL BODY BRAN BATH PROCEDURE
6 ounces bran warmed in the oven, rub warm bran into the cat’s coat going against the grain of the fur. Leave on 2-3 minutes and brush out gently with a natural bristle brush. Use for cats with greasy hair coats. Use bran from the feed mill for horses in this recipe. This is very effective for Siamese, Burmese and Oriental cats that tend to have greasy hair coats and the results are excellent. Many breeders give a bran bath a couple days prior to exhibitions.

Excessive exposure to the sun can cause a skin condition called Solar Dermatitis. This is primarily a problem in breeds with sparse fur like the Sphynx. Skin areas that are lightly pigmented and cats with white skin are also at risk. The ear flaps are the most common site affected. Occasionally the tip of the nose and eyelids are also involved.

WARNING
Solar Dermatitis that is very severe and/or not responsive to therapy requires a biopsy to determine whether or not a Squamous Cell Carcinoma has developed. A tiny piece of ear tissue is removed under anesthesia and examined microscopically to confirm the diagnosis. Surgical removal of the cancerous tissue is the best treatment for this type of cancer. The entire ear flap must be removed in extreme cases. The prognosis is quite good. This tumor may return on the ear but rarely spreads to other body parts.

COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY
* Witch Hazel is cooling and soothing to sunburn skin. Blot with cotton ball four times daily.
* Aloe Vera may be used directly from the plant leaf (gel form is available in health food stores) and dabbed on the sore skin. This helps moisturize dry sunburned skin.

SYMPTOMS
* Skin on the ear tips and /or tip of the nose turns pink in color.
* Hair loss is common
* Both ear tips become scaly and crusted. With continued sun exposure the red raw ear tips ulcerate.
* Cats shake their heads and may rub their ears raw. Ear tips can bleed.
* Without treatment Solar Dermatitis can develop into an aggressive type of skin cancer called a Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
* Avoid excess exposure to sunlight
* Keep cats indoor from 10 am to 3 pm when the sun is hottest
* Sunblock preparations can be toxic because cats usually lick them off.

Feline acne is a skin condition affecting the cats chin. Overactive oil (sebaceous) glands in the chin produce excess oil or sebum which predisposes cats to developing Feline Acne and Stud Tail. The oil, which is also called Sebum, plugs up the hair follicles in the chin which causes black heads called Comedomes to form. Secondary bacterial infection may or may not occur. Occasionally in very severe cases, the chin becomes visibly swollen but usually acne is an incidental finding. Acne occurs in male and female cats of all ages.

SYMPTOMS
Black specks that look similar to flea dirt on cats chin.

FACT: Overactive Sebaceous glands in the cats chin predisposes cats to acne by producing excess skin oil.

CAUSE
Conditions that cause Feline acne can include:
* Poor grooming which is rarely a cause.
* Secondary infections with yeast, bacteria or fungi may cause acne.
* Blackheads may occur as part of the normal aging process in some cats.
* NOTE: Owners should not squeeze the chin lesions, because this causes pain and further irritates the chin.
Persian Cats (with very flat faces) may have a hereditary disorder involving abnormal skin Keratinization. This causes severe seborrhea with black greasy debrie that accumulates in the skin folds of their face and around their nose and eyes. Lifelong treatment consists of Benzyl Peroxide shampoos to cleanse the face 3 times a week. The prognosis is excellent.

WHAT YOU AND YOUR VET CAN DO
* Use Benyzl peroxide based solutions or Betadine scrub mixed with water to clean the chin and eliminate excess oil. Rinse with water and air dry.
* Make a solution of white vinegar and water (50/50) and dab onto chin with a cotton ball twice daily, this helps dry out the chin area.
* Avoid topical acne preparations. Cats tend to lick them off.
* Antibiotics are used if bacterial infection is present
* Mild cases often resolve themselves without therapy.
* Diagnosis is usually based on signs.
* Mites, fungi, bacteria and yeast may need to be ruled out by a microscopic exam or a skin sample in some cases.
* A biopsy in which a small piece of chin tissue is removed and examined microscopically confirms severe and or unresponsive cases.
NOTE: Allergies to plastic in food bowls and toys can aggravate acne. Use stainless steel or ceramic food and water bowls.

COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY
* A poultice of mashed Dandelion works well to resolve chin lesions.
* Crab Apple – is a batch flower remedy. 2 drops given 2-3 times a day in mouth or mixed into food or water reduces chin irritation.
* Essential Omega –3 Fatty Acids – add to meals once daily, sources include Evening Primrose Oil or 1/8 Tsp Salmon oil