Pet Grooming

The New Year can be an ideal time to overhaul any routine - even grooming your dog. Whether your four-legged friend is suffering from dry skin, an itchy scalp, or a lackluster coat, the right shampoo can make a difference in how he both looks and feels.

So if you think your dog could benefit from a change in his usual grooming products, why not try a cleanser that's specially formulated to tackle common skin and coat problems? To help you and your pooch get started on a new beauty regimen, our friends at Zootoo rounded up some of their favorite dog shampoos with something extra.

Featuring a potent pest-fighting combination of natural ingredients such as cinnamon oil, lemongrass oil, and rosemary oil, Natural Lemongrass Flea & Tick Dog Shampoo from Planet Petco does more than keep unwanted visitors away from your dog's coat. In addition to warding off insects, this sweet-smelling shampoo left our tester dog's fur shiny and soft.


If your pet has a delicate scalp, try Rice Flower and Oatmeal Sensitive Skin Shampoo for Dogs from SPA. In addition to rice flower extract and oatmeal, the formula contains elements derived from coconut to help keep your canine's coat clean while also helping to keep him content during bathtime.


Help control your dog's scalp irritations and reduce scratching with Life's An Itch Skin Soothing Dog Shampoo from Pet Head. This effective shampoo uses ingredients such as tea tree oil, oatmeal, and aloe vera to nourish your canine's coat and help provide relief from dryness, hot spots, and insect bites.


A fresh-smelling, effective cleanser, Refreshing Sweet Pea & Vanilla Dog Shampoo from Nootie is also formulated to moisturize dry fur, using natural components such as jojoba oil. The shampoo is also free of sulfates and irritating chemicals, and delivered a glossy look and soft feel to our tester pooch's coat.


For skittish canines who would rather avoid a shampoo altogether, try the Hypo-Allergenic Waterless Grooming Foam for Dogs from Earthbath. This all-natural cleanser features traditional grooming ingredients such as oatmeal and aloe vera, as well as interesting elements such as meadowfoam seed oil to produce a clean, fresh coat without the hassle of a bath.

Let's face it: Adopting a pet can be a crapshoot as far as personality is concerned. Will this puppy grow up to be terrified of thunder? Is that cat going to be the type that runs and hides whenever company comes? Will that dog hate taking baths?

Well, as far as that last point is concerned, Casper's owners seem to have hit the jackpot. Bath time is a breeze if your dog loves soaking in soapy suds as much as he does. Then again, has any dog ever enjoyed a bath as much as Casper seems to?

All the cats I had growing up were terrified of the vacuum cleaner. As soon as someone would fire it up, they'd bolt and hide you wouldn't see them for an hour. It was pretty normal behavior. Countless pet owners have dogs or cats who want nothing to do with those dust-sucking behemoths.

This cat is the weird one. Not only is it not afraid of the vacuum cleaner, it's actually luxuriating in it. Is this an acceptable alternative grooming option? The cat isn't complaining about it. And maybe there will be less shed fur covering all the upholstery and everyone's shirts. Why wait for cat hair to get over every scrap of fabric in your home before you vacuum it up? Cut out the middle man!

We cherish the cat's fastidious nature. But neatnik behavior goes beyond looking good. How and why cats groom impacts physical, emotional and social health. Kittens learn to lick themselves by 2 weeks of age using copycat behavior, and a slovenly mother will raise kitten slobs. Most times, though, kittens wash themselves by the time they are weaned, and adults spend up to 50 percent of their awake time in some form of grooming.

How Cats Groom
The specialized structure of the tongue makes it a perfect cat comb, while teeth nibble and gnaw at tangles, dirt, and burrs caught in the fur. Each cat's clean regimen varies, but a good wash often happens after meals, naps and potty breaks.

First the mouth, chin and whiskers are licked, followed by shoulders, forelegs, flanks and hind legs. Finally the genitals and then the tail receive attention. Forepaws re-dampened every few swipes serve as furry washrags to scrub face, head and ears. Rear claws scratch to groom the neck and ears, and claws get nibbled clean while front claws also scratch objects to groom them healthy.

Why Cats Groom
Grooming is a barometer of cat health. Cats that feel bad often stop grooming, or lick and pull fur out due to stress or pain. Consider an unthrifty appearance or "barbering" itself bald as a cat's cry for vet care. Cats often need help in the grooming department, especially longhaired breeds. Here are five common reasons why cats groom:

Healthy Skin and Fur. Grooming keeps skin and fur healthy. As they clean themselves, cats also search their skin and fur for dirt, sores or parasites and vacuum away buggy pests.

Amy D. Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant and the award-winning author of 23 pet care books, including "Complete Care for Your Aging Dog" and "Complete Care for Your Aging Cat."

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Shedding may be a big hairy deal, but it is normal. Floating fur increases the challenge of keeping just-washed apparel a Fido-free zone. Unless you're a passionate pet lover who considers pet hair to be a condiment, understanding how to tame the hairy mess will keep your pet's coat and skin healthy and simplify housecleaning.

Why Pets Shed
It's not the temperature that prompts shedding. Light exposure, either to sun or artificial light, determines the amount and timing. More hair is shed during the greatest exposure to light. Outdoor cats and dogs living in the northeastern United States shed with the seasons, with the most fur flying in late spring for the several weeks during which daylight increases. But house pets under constant exposure to artificial light shed all year long.

Hair grows in cycles beginning with a period of rapid growth in the spring, followed by slower growth, and then ending in a winter resting stage. Mature hairs loosen in the follicles over the winter. In the spring, another cycle of hair growth begins, and new hair pushes the old loose ones out, resulting in an all-over shed.