Grooming keeps dogs healthy, happy

McClatchy Newspapers

Although spring temperatures have been rather cool, dogs everywhere are shedding lots of undercoat.

Seasonal shedding is triggered by warmer weather and longer days. And depending on your breed of dog, it may be hardly noticeable or you could be living among many pillows of piled-up fur.

Seasonal shedding is a natural process, and necessary to maintain a healthy coat. But quite often, dogs need a little help in getting rid of the damaged or dead coat.

Without regular grooming or brushing of the coat, as the fur lets go, it can become tangled or matted. This can be uncomfortable for the dog; new or remaining hairs can become entwined with the hairs that are being released, often resulting in tight mats that pinch the skin and cause irritation.

The dog then begins to lick and chew at these areas, leaving them wet and smelly, and creating skin abrasions.

Next, the flies arrive, attracted to the smelly, moist sores on the dog, and lay their eggs in and under the matted coat.

When the flies hatch — often within 24 hours, the maggots begin to feed on the dog's dead tissue and drainage from the sores. At this point, the dog needs medical attention.

Of course, a bit of preventive grooming can protect your dog from problems associated with shedding.

Brushes and grooming tools and frequency of use vary for the length and type of coat your dog has. When in doubt about what tools to use on your particular dog, consult with a professional groomer or veterinarian.

If you've attempted to regularly brush your dog's coat and find it to be tedious or difficult, you may choose to take your dog to a professional groomer. Highly skilled groomers do a lot more than give dogs cute haircuts. They are experts at removing damaged or unhealthy fur and combing out or removing matted coat.

A well-educated groomer also can spot skin problems and growths that may not be apparent when you pet or interact with your dog, and recommend that your veterinarian have a look.

Although groomers can and do deal with a lot of matted coat this time of year, they are not miracle workers. If you allow your dog's coat to get severely matted, the only course of action may be to shave him down, which for many dog owners is an undesirable look. Some mats can be combed out, but it is a labor-intensive, time-consuming process, which will cost you more, and the combing and pulling out of fur can be quite uncomfortable for the dog.

For best results, have your dog groomed regularly regardless of the type or length of coat. If you are unable or unwilling to do it yourself, hand your dog over to a professional groomer, who makes the experience as positive for your dog as possible, and restores your dog's coat to its healthiest state.

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Lisa Moore's pet-behavior column appears once a month on the Weekly Pet Page. Write to her in care of LifeStyles, The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto 95352.