ABC-Animal  -  Grooming Chronicle

Do you Wear Your Winter Coat During a Heat Wave ?

This is what it feels like for your pet who is "dressed" pretty much like this winter and summer alike!
 
The Real Story on Fur!
* Generally, several kinds of fur compose the coat of your dog, cat or other fur-bearing animal. The most common are
-  Tufted hair: fine, short hair that protects against the cold. This is the thermal insulator
- Kemped hair: the most visible hair, long and straight, which supports the tufts. This is the technical support.
* The animal loses its hair all year long, but the loss is greatest twice a year.
   This is called the moulting period.
* An animal living in an overheated house will have the tendency to moult year round.


What to Do?
* Your animal is moulting in the house! Brush him every day. Tip: Do it outside so he can run around afterwards and shake himself off. This becomes a game and a special moment between the two of you.
* Remove his winter coat, have your pet fully or partially shaved. Shave him yourself or even better, take him to specialized grooming centre. As a bonus, you will also get advice on the well-being of your life companion.
* Watch out for sunburn! Fur is a protection against the sun. So no fur, no protection and hello sunburn! The skin then becomes very pink, the animal experiences pain and is uncomfortable. The muzzle, ears, and shaved areas are always at greater risk of sunburn. Offer him shade all the time, especially at the beginning of summer and after a shave.
* Watch out for mosquitoes! As it does for the sun, fur also offers some protection against mosquitoes. They adore pets with no fur. Be vigilant!
* Plan having your pet shaved early enough in the season so that by the end of fall, his fur will be long enough to protect him against the upcoming cold weather.
* Take him out often during the fall. His fur and tufted hairs will become thicker and he will be better protected from the cold.
* Like people, animals hate sticking their noses out in cold weather. So pay particular attention after your pet has been shaved. If he trembles, if he hesitates to go out or if he wants to come back into the warmth of the house quickly, dress him with an adapted coat. This is a good investment, because as your pet ages, he will become more sensitive to the cold.

So just like you plan your car maintenance, plan your pet’s fur maintenance.  When the outdoor temperature is +25º or -25 º Celsius, your animal will be very grateful to you!

Caroline Fortin, D.V.M.
Veterinarian
www.ABC-Animal.com
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