Lecture notes HIGHER CERTIFICATE IN ANIMAL WELFARE (AHC1501)

Why do we groom? • Appearance • Improves skin tone and circulation • Removes dirt and spreads natural oils • Removes matted hair and irritants • Strengthens human-animal bond • Health checks • Removes dead hair Equipment • Bristle brush or wire pin brush – daily cleaning and grooming • Slicker brush – stimulate the skin and remove fine or thin hair • Metal comb – remove knots or long, loose hair. • Rake – removed dead undercoat effectively • Blunt-ended curved scissor – trim hair around face or feet • Electric clipper – cut the coat into a more manageable style, remove matted fur, clip hair for surgical procedure Grooming dogs and cats Make sure you have all your equipment ready. This should include: • Restraint method • Non-slip work surface • Brushes • Scissors • Clipper • Cotton wool • Earbuds • Disposable gloves Procedure Grooming is always done before bathing. This allows you to remove all excess hair and dirt and allow the water and shampoo to penetrate better.. • Brush hair with the grain and do not apply too much pressure • Use a bristle brush to loosen dirt and dead hair • Use a slicker brush to stimulate skin and get rid of matts. Be gentle on stomach and hindquarters as these areas are sensitive • Trim hair in the inner corners of the eyes and around the anus. This helps prevent infections and peri-anal soiling • Trim long hair on feet to prevent matting and accumulation of foreign bodies. Ears You can keep ears health by cleaning them weekly. Remove excess wax and debris that accumulate in the external canal. • Put a small amount of ear cleaning solution into the ear canal, and massage. • Wipe out loosened debris with cotton wool. • Earbuds can be used to clean in the folds of the pinnae. Do not push earbuds into the canal • For cats, do not put solution in canal, rather apply it to cotton wool and wipe out the ears Eyes • Keep hair at the inner eye short • Do not trim too much above the eyes as this hair protects from sunlight • ‘Sleep’ should be cleaned away regularly with damp cotton wool to prevent perocular dermatitis • Wrinkle or folds on the face should be cleaned and dried regularly to prevent skin infections Anal Glands Anal glands usually empty naturally when the animal defecates. However they can become blocked or overfull. Anal glands can be emptied by applying gentle pressure over the anal sacs with your fingers. • Wear disposable gloves. • Lift tail and place a piece off cotton wool over the anal area to catch discharge. • Press over the 4 and 8 o’clock positions on either side of the anus, gently pushing inwards towards the anal opening. • Sometimes it is necessary to insert a finger into the rectum and press each gland between your index finger and thumb to empty the contents. • Wipe or wash the area to get rid of the smell. Bathing • Remember to brush before you bath the animal. • Use a suitable shampoo • Use a rummer mat to prevent the animal from slipping • Secure the animal with a lead or rope to prevent it from jumping out and injuring itself • Plug the ears with cotton wool • Groom and express anal glands before bathing • Use lukewarm water if possible • Shampoo from head to tail, massaging into the coat. • Make sure you rinse thoroughly after washing • Lift head backwards and avoid washing shampoo in the eyes. Nail care Nails should be checked once a month and usually need to be trimmed every 3 – 6 months. This is also true for the dewclaws which are found on the medial side of the front legs and on the hind legs of some dogs. You should be careful of cutting into the ‘quick’ of the nail. It contains nerves and blood vessels so may bleed a lot if you cut into it. The quick is visible on white nails, however on black nails it cannot be seen. It is safest to cut the nail level with the footpad to avoid the ‘quick’. If the nail bleed, you may use a styptic powder to stop the bleeding. The more regularly you trim the nails the shorter the quick will be. Cat generally wear down there own claws but in special cases like geriatrics or indoor cats, the nails may need to be trimmed.