Animiyo guides

Grooming and hygiene

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.

25 guides

Open the guideBeginner25 min
Caring for a long haired cat's coat at home
A home routine to keep a long haired cat's coat in shape without shaving, covering where mats form first and how to deal with them safely.
Cat
Open the guideBeginner20 min
Caring for the teeth when a toothbrush is not tolerated
Not every animal accepts a toothbrush, but none deserves neglected teeth. A guide to the alternatives that work and the ones that are just marketing.
DogCat
Open the guideBeginner25 min
Choosing the right brush for your pet's coat type
The wrong brush ruins the session and the skin. A small dictionary of tools matched to coat type, so you know what you actually need before you buy it.
DogCat
Open the guideBeginner30 min
Grooming an older or frail animal safely
With age, grooming changes purpose: it is no longer about looks but about comfort and skin health. Here is how to do it without forcing a body that has grown frail.
DogCat
Open the guideBeginner20 min
Caring for a brachycephalic dog's skin folds day by day
A short, steady routine to keep the face and body folds of flat-faced dogs clean and dry, heading off redness, bad odour and recurring infections.
Dog
Open the guideBeginner25 min
Getting a puppy used to grooming without a fight
A lifetime of easy grooming is decided in the first weeks. Here is how to turn brush, clippers and dryer into calm routines instead of battles.
DogCat
Open the guideIntermediate45 min
Caring for a continuously growing curly coat without ending up matted
A curly coat does not shed, it grows without end and knots at the base where you never look. Treat it like any long coat and within weeks you have a dog to shave down.
Dog
Open the guideIntermediate60 min
How to hand strip the coat of a wire haired dog
Stripping is not clipping: it is plucking mature hair by hand to grow a healthy coat. Here is when to do it, how, and which mistakes cause sore skin.
Dog
Open the guideBeginner20 min
Managing tear stains in dogs and cats
The brown or reddish streaks under the eyes show up most on pale coats. Before fighting them with products, it pays to understand where they come from.
DogCat
Open the guideBeginner20 min
Cleaning your dog after muddy, rainy walks
You do not need a bath every time it rains. You need a five minute routine at the door that clears mud and damp from the right spots before they become a problem.
Dog
Open the guideBeginner25 min
Choosing the right shampoo for skin and coat
The wrong shampoo dries the skin, dulls the coat and can trigger itching. Here is how to read skin and coat and pick a product that suits, not just one that smells nice.
DogCat
Open the guideIntermediate60 min
Clipping your dog at home: a step-by-step grooming guide
A clear routine for home clipping: how to choose the length, prepare the coat, work area by area and know when it is better not to shave at all.
Dog
Open the guideBeginner20 min
Rear-end hygiene and sanitary trimming
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.
DogCat
Open the guideBeginner10 min
Clean the eyes and facial skin folds without irritation
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.
DogCat
Open the guideBeginner15 min
Shortening the coat in summer: when it helps and when it does not
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.
DogCat
Open the guideIntermediate40 min
Removing existing knots and mats without shaving
A mat is not a bigger knot: it is compacted hair that pulls the skin with every move. Removing it well takes method, patience, and knowing when to stop.
DogCat
Open the guideBeginner20 min
Rinsing your dog after the sea and the pool without ruining the coat
A swim in the sea or pool does not end when the dog leaves the water: salt, chlorine and sand stay on the skin. Here is how to rinse well every time.
Dog
Open the guideBeginner15 min
Clean the coat without a bath using dry grooming
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.
DogCat
Open the guideBeginner15 min
Care for paws and pads after every outing
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.
DogCat
Open the guideIntermediate60 min
Bathing a pet and drying it properly
Baths usually go wrong at the end: an undercoat left damp for hours is the most frequent home cause of localised skin problems.
DogCat
Open the guideBeginner10 min
Daily tooth brushing for dogs and cats
Daily brushing is the only home routine that genuinely removes plaque. Here is the ten day habituation ladder and the technique that works.
DogCat
Open the guideIntermediate15 min
Trimming nails without hitting the quick
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.
DogCat
Open the guideBeginner15 min
Managing your dog's or cat's seasonal shedding
A brushing routine matched to the coat type, with clear criteria for telling normal shedding apart from hair loss that deserves a veterinary visit.
DogCat
Open the guideBeginner10 min
Cleaning your dog's or cat's ears safely
A seven step routine using a veterinary ear cleaner and gauze, plus clear criteria for when home cleaning is pointless or actively harmful.
DogCat
Open the guideIntermediate30 min
Brushing a long coat before it turns into mats
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.
DogCat