As a general rule, every dog needs a certain amount of grooming, some more than others. For some dogs, it is even worth taking them to a professional groomer. As a dog owner, you can also do some grooming yourself at home.
Our dogs are domesticated and live with us, sometimes in very confined spaces. They are our best friends and cuddle buddies. Dirt stuck in their fur or even a matted coat can make this less enjoyable. Coat care is also important for skin health and parasite prevention. An appropriate ritual does not have to take place daily for all dogs, but it should definitely be done weekly. Depending on the coat type, grooming can be more or less time-consuming. In addition to beauty, the following aspects are also important:
You will of course need a few tools to groom your four-legged friend. Which ones you need depends on the structure of their coat. It is good to know whether your dog only has a top coat – which is the case with many short-haired breeds – or whether they also have an undercoat. It is best to seek advice on the right tools from a specialist store. But one thing is certain: you will need a brush and a comb. You may also want to get some scissors and a good shampoo for the occasional bath.
It is best to start grooming your puppy early on and turn it into a ritual that your dog finds pleasant. Find a place where your dog likes to be and familiarize them with the comb and brush. Avoid pulling and scratching at the beginning. Grooming should be like a massage. It is certainly important to remove dead hair from the coat and remove crusts, residues, or even parasites, but do so as gently as possible.
You will feel how your dog relaxes best when you comb them. You may need to motivate them a little extra, for example with a treat as a reward. Regular grooming will also ensure that you don't have to bathe your dog too often. This is a good thing, as bathing too often can destroy the protective film on the skin. For the occasional bath, be sure to use a special dog shampoo.
Long fur in particular can quickly become matted. If the matting is severe, you can use scissors. This is more comfortable for your dog than pulling the hair too hard. For long-haired dogs, keep certain areas—such as around the eyes, paws, and rear end—a little freer with the help of scissors.
If you are very unsure about grooming at home, don't hesitate to ask for tips at a dog grooming salon or your vet. Some dogs really do need professional help with grooming. If your dog is one of them, such as all breeds with rough coats, whose fur is often better trimmed at a salon, get them used to the ritual at the groomer's early on. Accompany your pet and reassure them that there is nothing to be afraid of.
Corneal ulcer, also known as corneal ulceration, is one of the most common eye diseases in horses. It is not a growth, but rather a tissue defect that does not heal chronically and can vary in severity. The treatment of a corneal ulcer can be very frustrating, and untreated or incorrectly treated corneal ulcers can lead to serious visual impairment or even loss of the eye.
Summer eczema is a recurring allergic skin disease in horses that manifests itself in severe itching and hairless, open patches of skin. The disease can occur in horses of all breeds, although Icelandic horses, Norwegian horses, Shetland ponies, and Haflingers are significantly more commonly affected, while warmbloods tend to be affected less frequently.
Bitless riding simply means riding without a bit in the horse's mouth. There are many different reasons and just as many ways to ride a horse without a bit. Of course, there are always disadvantages as well as advantages. Think about which bitless bridle suits you, your horse, and your riding style in advance. And finally, practice makes perfect.
Sebadenitis is a progressive inflammatory change in the sebaceous glands of the skin in dogs and cats, which ultimately leads to their irreversible destruction. The disease was first described in dogs in 1986.
The most common types of horse husbandry are classic stabling, free-range stabling (active stables), paddock trails, seasonal grazing, and open stabling. One thing should be clear to every horse owner. Horses want to run. In the steppe, they sometimes spend up to 16 hours a day searching for food and water. They graze as they roam across the land. Now, our horses have been bred and domesticated for our time together with them; they are no longer steppe ponies. We feed them and care for them. Nevertheless, horses need exercise. We should definitely keep this in mind when choosing how to keep our horses. This also means that keeping horses exclusively in stalls without a sufficiently large paddock for free movement is not species-appropriate. In addition, contact with other horses must always be ensured, as horses are herd animals.
Twice a year, our horses have a strenuous job to do: when they shed their coats, they need to perform at their best because their metabolism is working overtime. Some older or sick horses struggle with this. As a horse owner, you can help your horse get through the coat change more relaxed.
Heart disease is also relatively common in our four-legged friends, affecting almost one in ten dogs. Heart failure occurs when the heart can no longer pump enough blood into the circulatory system, meaning that the body is no longer supplied with sufficient oxygen.
Urolithiasis, colloquially referred to as urinary stone disease, refers to the formation and deposition of various concretions in the urinary tract of horses. Although this disease occurs sporadically in horses, it can lead to serious symptoms and significant impairments. The deposits can occur in the form of crystals, grit, sand, or stones and are most commonly found (approx. 60%) in the urinary bladder. Geldings are more severely affected than stallions or mares.
What do these five letters stand for? This abbreviation comes from English and literally means "feline lower urinary tract disease." It describes all diseases of the urinary tract in cats that cause difficulty and pain when urinating. As a rule, almost exclusively indoor cats are affected; outdoor cats almost never develop this condition. Male cats are also more susceptible than female cats.
It's really special when your own dog has puppies – and for us as dog owners, it's probably just as exciting as it is for the animal itself. It's important that you, as the companion of the expectant dog mom, always remain calm – and have the emergency number of your vet handy.
There are many reasons why a mare that has previously been a riding horse might be turned into a broodmare. There are a few factors to consider on the way to your first foal.
The dog, which is descended from the wolf, has teeth that are designed for hunting, killing, and tearing food apart. However, the search for food has changed for our four-legged friends: today, we open a can or even cook for our beloved furry friends. Breeding different breeds has also changed the length of dogs' noses and the spacing between their teeth. Unfortunately, all of this can lead to dental problems.
