Animal Lovers

MARYVILLE (WATE) – A Maryville dog owner didn’t know what was wrong with her little Maltese until she looked at the dog’s ears. A little more than a week after going to the groomer, the dog’s ears were black. The vet had to amputate them because the circulation had stopped. All dogs require some grooming to stay happy and healthy. For lower maintenance breeds, this can mean just a quick rubdown, checks of eyes and ears, a bath and nail trim now and then. While seven out of 10 pet owners report grooming their dog themselves, another 30 percent prefer to go to professional groomers. Patricia Self That’s what Patricia Self did. She also preferred the lustrous hair of her bouncy female dog to be adorned with bows. For the last several years, Meggie has worn bows attached by Self’s groomer. Until last month, Self was pleased with the service. But she noticed Meggie acting strangely a week after her last grooming appointment in early January. That’s when Self checked Meggie’s ear...

Grooming Your Cat Whether purebred or mixed breed, a key to good grooming lies in the length of a cat’s coat. Felines with short coats need very little grooming, dense-coated cats may require monthly grooming sessions, semi-long-haired felines should be combed more regularly, and cats with long, flowing coats may need to be brushed at least every other day. Your cat’s coat represents the biggest grooming hurdle and can fall prey to shedding, a greasy consistency, and mats. Remember to comb gently from front-to-back and reassure your cat with a soothing voice. Do this as much as needed to keep shedding and knots to a minimum. Mats can form on even the most well-groomed cats, especially during seasonal shedding. If you find these clumps of dried, tangled hair in your cat’s fur, refrain from trying to cut them out because you could slip and cut your feline’s skin. It’s better to work out a mat with a grooming comb. Use the tip of the comb to pick at the mat gently until it be...