Animiyo guides
Hygiene done well doubles as a weekly check up: while brushing you look at skin, lumps and parasites. These guides describe the technique and what to look for while you carry it out.
11 guides
The rear end is the part that gets dirtiest and is checked least. Cleaning it well and keeping the coat short around it prevents irritation, bad smells and problems that go unnoticed.
Facial folds and the eye area get dirty every day and trap moisture. Here is how to clean them without irritation, how often, and when discharge stops being dirt and becomes a signal.
The first heat brings the urge to shave the animal to cool it down. But the coat is not just a blanket, and on many dogs and cats shaving does the opposite.
Not every outing ends with a bath. Often a proper dry clean removes dirt and odour, protects the skin and saves the animal time and stress.
The paw is the part that collects everything on the ground. A one minute check after the outing prevents injuries, lameness and toxins licked away.
Baths usually go wrong at the end: an undercoat left damp for hours is the most frequent home cause of localised skin problems.
Daily brushing is the only home routine that genuinely removes plaque. Here is the ten day habituation ladder and the technique that works.
An eight step procedure with the thin slice technique for dark nails, a protocol for stopping bleeding and a seven day plan to rebuild trust.
A brushing routine matched to the coat type, with clear criteria for telling normal shedding apart from hair loss that deserves a veterinary visit.
A seven step routine using a veterinary ear cleaner and gauze, plus clear criteria for when home cleaning is pointless or actively harmful.
Seven steps to brush down to the skin instead of over the surface, open knots without scissors and recognise the moment a professional has to take over.