Pet Fashion Week in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Dr. Jessica Melman, DermaPet’s Director of Veterinary & Technical Services, just returned from lecturing in Sao Paulo, Brazil at Pet Fashion Week on Common Skin Diseases in Dogs and Cats. Her presentation included the products used to treat these problems and how and why to bathe, brush and clean the ears of our pets as well. Below are some key notes from the presentation.

Why to Bathe Your Pet

Baths may moisturize, cleanse the skin and coat of debris and deliver medication to the skin if needed. Allergic pets may need to be bathed frequently as their coats are like dust mops and allergens stick to them. They can be wiped down with wipes, such as DermaPet's MalAcetic Wet Wipes, or bathed with a hypoallergenic and moisturizing shampoo, such as DermaPet's DermaLyte Shampoo as often as daily if needed. DermaPet’s DermAllay Shampoo may be used for itchy dogs and cats. Immediately follow the shampoo with a moisturizing spray conditioner, such as DermaPet's DermAllay Conditioning Spray, to trap the water into the skin. Cats are a lot harder to bathe and often it is easier to use spray on products or wipes, such as DermaPet's MalAcetic Wet Wipes, for a dry bath.

Bathing Your Pet

Place a rubber mat in your bathtub, or a towel in your sink, for secure footing. Then place a cotton ball in each of your their ears to prevent water from entering. Rinse them with warm water. Use a spray hose if one is available, but be sure to keep the nozzle very close to their body and away from their face. Apply a shampoo designed especially for them in small amounts, working from the head to the tail. Be sure to clean all over! Don't forget between the toes, behind the ears and under the chin. Try to avoid getting shampoo in the their eyes. Thoroughly rinse them with warm water. Dry them with a towel or hair dryer and then apply a conditioner. If using a medicated shampoo, make sure to actively massage the shampoo into their skin and coat for 5-10 minutes to allow the medication to work.

Brush Your Pets to Keep a Healthy Coat

Owners should brush well to keep them from getting matted and irritated under matted coat. Brush your pets coat thoroughly at least weekly. The amount the pet needs to be brushed will depend on their coat. Long coats will need to be brushed more frequently. Brushing will help keep their hair in good condition by removing dirt, spreading the natural oils throughout the coat, preventing tangles from forming and keeping the skin clean and free from irritation. It will also allow us to find any skin problems or lumps or bumps under their coat. It's best to start brushing your pet’s at an early age to avoid aversion later in life.

How to Safely Clean Ears

Ear care is an important part of grooming. Ear infections can be painful and lead to permanent hearing loss and sometimes loss of balance. Redness, constant scratching, head shaking, odor and discharge are some things we may see in an infected ear.
 
Check your pet's ears twice a month. The skin inside and on the ear flaps should be pale pink. Have a veterinarian examine your pet's ears if you find any of the problems mentioned above.
 
To clean the ears moisten a cotton ball with an ear cleaner, such as DermaPet's MalAcetic Otic, or apply the ear cleanser directly into the ear.  Massage the base of the ear and wipe out the excess with a cotton ball or allow your pet to shake their head. Don't use Q-tips and probe deeply into the their ear canalas tis may cause damage to the ear. See this link http://dermapet.com/bulletins/HowToCleanEars.pdf to obtain a copy of “How To Clean Your Pets Ears.”
 
Pet Fashion Week, Sao Paulo, Brazil 2010

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