The New Nation - Internet Edition

Like people, animals tend to look better when they're in good heath. Annual checkups at the vet are important, and keeping nails trimmed helps dogs and cats maintain the health of their feet and pads. Especially with cats, trimming nails on a regular basis is important not only to keep nails from splitting and tearing, but because it keeps your cat from forgetting what its like to have a Pawdicure. If you clip your cat's nails once a month and make it part of a regular routine, the cat will struggle less than if you only do it once in awhile.

Inadequacies in diet can show up in your pet's fur. Healthy fur is glossy or fluffy, thick and filled-in. When cats or dogs aren't getting the nutrition they need, their fur may get patchy, rough or dull. Stress can also cause an animal's fur to fall out.

If you suspect that your pet's diet may not be all it should, you can try switching foods, or supplement the regular food with vitamins. Don't rely on treats to provide added nutrition: many treats are the canine-feline equivalent of a bag of Cheetohs.

Anti-flea and tick medications as well as heartworm prevention are necessary for keeping pets healthy. Modern medicines like Advantage can be administered once a month, making it easy to keep your pet safe from parasites.

Grooming and Pet Hair Care

Like hair-brushing for people, regular grooming can help cats and dogs look their best. Brushing distributes natural oils, removes knots and tangles, and also gives your pet some additional, loving contact. Ideally, brush your pets every day, making sure to be on the lookout for ticks or fleas. Even with one-weekly brushing, you'll see a difference in their coats. Additionally, brushing cats and dogs helps keep the fur-shedding down, resulting in a slightly cleaner house and a less frumpy animal.

If you start bathing your puppy while he's young, you'll have a better chance of teaching him that bathing is fun, not torture. A few dogs never get to enjoying a bath, but most dogs love water and will tolerate a certain amount of shampoo. Some dogs love to be bathed, which makes it an easy chore. Outdoor dogs need bathing more often than indoor dogs.

After bathing with a gentle pet shampoo, dry your dog as well as you can with a fluffy towel, and, for a more efficient drying, let him shake the water off several times. If it's cold outside, keep him inside until he's dry: dogs and cats can get chilled and sick just like people do. Besides, if he goes outside, he's likely to roll in dirt to get back that outdoors-doggie smell the bath removed, and you may as well have never bathed him in the first place.

Cats shouldn't be bathed unless unusual circumstances that result in a really, intolerably filthy cat. Even then, expect to be scratched and bitten, and for the bathing to last under ten seconds.