Dog mats are a real problem for their owners. Luxurious shaggy hair is the pride of any well-groomed dog and requires regular care and brushing. Only in this way will it be possible to avoid the occurrence of crumpled hair tightly twisted into straws and balls.
Causes
Mats appear for a variety of reasons, listed below:
Wet, washed fur clumps into clumps. The rolling process occurs because after washing the shaggy pet, no one thoroughly wiped it or dried it with a hairdryer. In addition to the appearance of rays, there is a problem of wool overheating, which can lead to unpleasant smell for the entire room;
Soap mats are another common problem in dogs. This problem occurs due to the fault of the owners who, when bathing the pet, soap and rub the fur too hard. To avoid such troubles in the future, shampoo must be applied evenly and smoothly, gently rubbing it into the animal’s skin with your fingers, as if massaging. This way the fur does not get tangled;
Often, tangles appear due to the fault of overly loving owners. By stroking and ruffling your pet's skin, you can easily confuse hairline, which leads to the appearance of tangles; Some veterinarians link matting to disease pet– if, in addition to the mats, dandruff appears on the fur and it has faded, you will have to seek help from specialists and treat the dog.
Now that we know the main reasons for the occurrence of mats, we will directly answer the question - how to comb out mats from a dog and what is required for this.
Prevention of tangles
In order to eliminate tangles with minimal wool loss, you need to do this immediately after they are discovered. It’s even better if combing is done regularly, which will form the basis of prevention. You need to wash and comb your pet's fur as often as necessary. It is advisable to brush some breeds daily, for example, collie, chow-chow. Almost all long-haired breeds need to be combed every day if they roam freely on the street and get caught in burrs, puddles or sand.
In the process, you need to eliminate tangles, only as a last resort by cutting them off with scissors; as soon as they begin to appear, you can easily untangle them. This will avoid causing pain to the animal. Key attention should be paid to the armpits, ear and belly areas, where hair is most prone to matting. For a high-quality result, you need to choose a good powder brush, which minimizes discomfort for the dog.
Anti-tangle shampoo effective prevention, which prevents their formation. The product is ineffective against already formed tangles. In this case, shampoo should be used in parallel with combing. After taking a bath, you need to dry your pet’s fur with a hairdryer, combing out tangles as you go. A dog should not be allowed to run around with wet fur, as it will quickly become tangled.
Secrets of removing tangles
If the tangle is caused by burdock or string getting into the fur, it can only be removed by first thoroughly soaking the plant. In this case, the hooks from the plant will soften and become more amenable to removal.
When chewing gum gets tangled in the fur, do not immediately run for scissors, as the problem can be eliminated with the help of another one. You need to chew the gum and apply it to the previous one, pressing a little to get a homogeneous mass. Next, you need to carefully pull the lump. This method will eliminate the lump almost completely, and it is recommended to wash off the remaining residue with warm water.
If a dense tangle has formed that cannot be untangled, there is no need to cut it out immediately. First, you should use products containing fat. When none of the methods help, it is recommended to cut the lump lengthwise several times and try to untangle it again. This will help keep not all the wool, but at least some of it intact.
Getting rid of crumpled hair
If for some reason it was not possible to keep track of the dog and tangles still formed on the fur, it is necessary to comb them out with the least harm to the animal. To the question - how to comb a dog's mats, there are several answers and tricks that will help a novice dog breeder cope with this trouble. Let's look at the most effective of them:
The soft fur around the ears and armpits, which constantly gets tangled, will be much easier to care for if you sprinkle it with zinc-based talcum powder immediately after brushing. Then, you need to take a dog mat cutter, cut off the matted hair and comb it thoroughly again;
To remove mats, some dog breeders use regular warm water and baby oil to lubricate the problem area. After waiting a while until the wool softens, you can then calmly straighten the hairs with your fingers;
Anti-matt products for dogs should be selected carefully, because some of them are developed exclusively for a specific breed. Using the product not according to the instructions, you can wash the animal’s undercoat, which will negatively affect appearance pet;
Anti-matt spray for dogs, like other hair care products, has one significant drawback - high cost. If you have a show dog, then purchasing the product is rational; if not, you can use folk methods, which have also proven themselves well;
Some professional groomers use expensive cosmetics for people to make working with fur easier. To play it safe, first make a small swab on your dog's belly or chest. Look what happened in that area a day later - in the absence allergic reaction and other diseases, you can safely use this remedy;
An important factor is that before or after washing you comb out the tangles. Many professionals say that it is better to get rid of this scourge when the animal’s fur is dirty. Many cleaning products have a greasy structure; after the procedure, you can safely wash off the excess.
All of the above methods are ideal for combing a long-haired dog. Each method has been tested by many dog breeders and will not cause any harm to your pet. If there is a grooming workshop in your city, it is better to entrust your pet to a team of professionals who, for a reasonable price, will help tidy up the dog’s fur and even crop the dog’s ears, of course, at your request.
About the author: Ekaterina Alekseevna Soforova
Department veterinarian intensive care veterinary center"Northern lights". Read more about me in the "About Us" section.Pet owners often encounter cases of diarrhea in their pets. As a rule, there is nothing wrong with this; poor quality food or other forms of eating disorders. But sometimes coccidiosis in cats is to blame.
It is believed that at least a third of all animals in the world have coccidiosis, but in this third it is asymptomatic. clinical picture does not appear. But this goes on until the immune system the cat is normal. Any infection or severe stress can lead to the rapid development of acute coccidiosis. But even otherwise, the cat is a lifelong carrier of the infection, constantly excreting the primary form of the pathogen during external environment, which contributes to the infection of healthy animals.
Very young, very old, sick and debilitated cats are most susceptible. For kittens, coccidiosis is contagious in almost 100% of cases, and it is for young animals that this disease poses a particular danger, since severe dehydration is fatal at this age. But the danger of pathology lies not only in this.
People are also known to get coccidiosis. So does a sick animal pose a danger to humans? In fact, the question is not easy. On the one hand, in humans the disease is caused by other types of coccidia, on the other, there are known cases of cats being affected by “human” microorganisms. Therefore, there is a certain probability of reverse transfer.
But even in this case, there is no need to worry too much: feline pathogens in the intestines of people feel “uncomfortable”, and therefore clinical form I'm sure it won't come down to illness. Which, however, does not negate the need to isolate a sick cat from the elderly and children, especially infants.
Incubation period, clinical picture
It is believed that incubation period ranges from 7 to 9 days, although some authors write about two weeks. It is possible that both points of view are correct, since the development time of cysts that enter the body directly depends on physiological state animal, its age, gender, presence/absence chronic diseases digestive system, characteristics of the feed used.
What are the symptoms of coccidiosis in cats? It all starts with diarrhea! At first, the stool becomes watery, but with a mild flow, that’s all it ends. If the disease progresses to severe stage, blood appears in the tray and thick mucus, profuse, watery diarrhea is possible. Sick animals are depressed, exhaustion gradually develops, there is a deterioration in the condition of the coat and skin, which becomes less elastic, resembling parchment to the touch.
Read also: Hair mite in cats: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
In adult cats, the duration of the disease is one to three weeks, after which the pathology (usually) becomes chronic or hidden form. Most often when acute stage the temperature rises significantly, the animal is depressed, apathetic, kittens can fall into a lethargic state. Neurological seizures and paralysis of the limbs (especially the hind limbs) are not excluded. Kittens, old and severely weakened cats suffer the disease most severely. If it comes to paralysis, then the prognosis is unfavorable, and death is very likely.
Also a very unfavorable sign is liver damage, which is easily identified by the following clinical signs:
- Yellowness of all visible mucous membranes.
- The skin also noticeably turns yellow, becomes dry and flabby to the touch.
- The feces turn pale and a cheesy mass may appear in them.
If such symptoms occur, the animal must be taken to the veterinarian immediately, otherwise the consequences of the disease can be fatal! The diagnosis is made based on the results of microscopic examination of stool.
Treatment and prevention
What is the treatment for coccidiosis in cats? Firstly, a sick animal (or animals) must be urgently isolated from healthy ones. The entire contents of the tray are burned. If this is not possible, then you need to pack it in sealed plastic bags. This good prevention spread of the disease.
Secondly, the symptoms of dehydration and exhaustion must be addressed urgently. Ideally, for this, buffer solutions are administered intravenously, as well as isotonic glucose. If you need to treat a kitten whose veins are already microscopic, you have to resort to subcutaneous injection the same compositions, even if this method is not so effective.
Source of isosporosis V wildlife for cats are rodents, although many vertebrates can be intermediate hosts. When eaten raw meat Infected animals, cats and dogs, can also become infected with isosporosis. The active period of oocyst excretion in feces after primary infection is on average 5-10 days. If reinfection has occurred (the cat has eaten its own oocysts again), then the isospores are distributed throughout the organs and tissues of the animal, chronic, often asymptomatic carrier.
Severity of the disease depends on the amount of isospores that enter the animal’s body. Sometimes owners may not even realize that their pet is sick. But in stressful situations for the body, isosporosis begins to progress and manifest itself as such clinical signs like frequent bowel movements unformed feces With a large amount of mucus and streaks of blood, loss of appetite, anorexia. Since the favorite place of isospores in the body of dogs and cats is the intestinal epithelium, other symptoms of enterocolitis, complicated by the proliferation of secondary bacterial microflora.
Diagnosis of cystoisosporosis
Diagnosis of cystoisosporosis is carried out in a veterinary laboratory after contacting veterinarian! For the study, fresh feces are taken, collected in the cleanest possible conditions and in a special container, which can be purchased in human pharmacies. If a cat uses a litter box, the owners must clean the biomaterial from the litter, otherwise the laboratory may refuse to conduct the test. After the course of treatment, a stool test is also taken (sometimes several samples are required - up to 3 negative results) to confirm the effectiveness of the prescribed course.
Treatment of cystoisosporosis
Treatment cystoisosporosis, taking into account the sensitivity of the pathogen to antibacterial drugs sulfonamide and nitrofuran series, as well as eimeriostatics, must be comprehensive and long-lasting. In addition to the above drugs, the combined use of gastroprotectors to protect the mucous membrane is recommended gastrointestinal tract, antibiotics wide range action and metronidazole to suppress secondary bacterial microflora, antispasmodic and adsorbent medicines as symptomatic therapy and probiotic preparations to normalize intestinal microflora. For anorexia and dehydration, subcutaneous or intravenous infusions of solutions and vitamins are recommended.
It is advisable to carry outdisinfection of placesmaintenance and care items using alkaline solutions. In areas where cases of isosporosis have been reported, exclude free walking of dogs and cats and the possibility of them eating rodents or plants on which oocysts of the pathogen may remain.If your animal shows signs of cystoisosporosis, we are always happy to see you at veterinary clinic"VetState" 7 days a week, 365 days a year from 10.00 to 21.00
For more detailed information You can contact by multi-line phone
Protozoonoses are diseases caused by protozoa, single-celled organisms that can only be detected under a microscope. Infection with protozoa usually occurs after ingestion of cysts, which, upon entering the intestine, under favorable conditions, transform there into mature forms that cause disease.
3.1. Toxoplasmosis
Deliver exact diagnosis for toxoplasmosis is possible only with the help laboratory research feces
Symptoms: redness of the cat's eyes, emaciation, abortion, causeless diarrhea. At acute form disease in kittens, fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, drowsiness, swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, jaundice and central nervous system disorder are observed. nervous system. If your cat has these symptoms, you should immediately consult a veterinarian.
Treatment A cat suffering from toxoplasmosis can only be treated by a veterinarian. Therapy with the use of chemical coccide, sulfonamides, as well as immunofan in combination with gamavit and clindamycin is effective (orally for 2 weeks in total daily dose 25-50 mg per 1 kg of body weight).
3.2. Coccidiosis
3.3. Leishmaniasis
Symptoms: in the acute form, fever, anemia quickly develops, appetite disappears, weakness increases, the mucous membranes of the eyes, eyelids, nose become inflamed and then ulcerated, skin lesions are observed, renal failure. At chronic form more often - dryness and skin lesions.
Treatment: meglumine antimoniate (glucantim), allopurinol, fungizone, pentamidine, antimony preparations, gamavit.
3.4. Blastocystosis
Cats are one of the best hunters in nature. They live all over the world, and some have adapted to extremely harsh weather conditions in places like Norway and Siberia. This, however, does not mean that they are indomitable. Felines can contract a variety of diseases. Many of them are similar to those that occur in humans.
Exist Various types coccidia. Isospora Rivolta and – the most common.
How often does it occur?
Can a person become infected with coccidiosis?
Yes and no. The most common types of coccidia cannot be transmitted to humans. But some rarer types, e.g. Cryptosporidium, easily enter the intestines.
Coccidia is usually very common in overcrowded shelters and stray animals due to lack of hygiene and healthcare.
Causes of the disease
As a microorganism, coccidia can be acquired by a cat after it has been in contact with an infected individual. This usually occurs when a kitten comes into contact with the excrement of a stray wild animal, or if it shares a litter box with an infected domestic cat.
It is also possible to get coccidiosis if a cat eats an infected animal - a rodent or bird.
Finally, coccidiosis can be passed on to a newborn kitten from its mother.
It is possible to see symptoms only after the infection affects the kitten. What happens when infected?
- Diarrhea.
- Mucus in the stool.
- Dehydration.
- Vomit.
- Abdominal distress.
- Death.
As mentioned above, an animal can be infected even without showing the telltale symptoms of infection. If you suspect something is wrong, monitor how the animal behaves.
If any of the above signs are present, you should contact your veterinarian. Describe the problem as clearly as possible and take your cat to the doctor as soon as possible. If you adopted a kitten from a shelter and it has never been tested before, it may be infected with coccidiosis, even if it has not been exposed to animals near your home.
Treatment methods
Coccidiosis can be cured if the infection is detected early. The veterinarian will create a treatment plan to remove coccidia from the kitten's body. It is necessary to strictly follow the plan to prevent further spread of the infection.
Drinking in large quantities has great importance for recovery. The infection will most likely lead to dehydration from diarrhea, the most dangerous part of the disease. In this case, the doctor often puts in an IV. Changing the diet is also possible if the veterinarian deems it necessary.
While implementing your treatment plan, you must also monitor your own health. It is better to use disposable gloves when cleaning the tray. You should be careful with everything you touch or inhale, regardless of the type of coccidia your cat has. If you adopted a kitten from a breeder or another owner, you should immediately notify the previous owner. There is a possibility of the infection spreading in the same place.
Prevention
Cleanliness is the main rule for preventing infection. You should clean the litter box as often as possible, at least in the morning and evening. Disinfect the tray and everything around it. If possible, do not let your pets leave the house, so they will not become infected by rodents and birds. Feed your cats a high-quality food to keep their health and immune system healthy.
Wash water and food bowls every day. Minimize incoming stress. If one cat in your home shows symptoms of illness, treatment should be started for all cats.
