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How to take care of dog’s and cat’s coats every day?

Dog’s and cat’s coats care is one of the most important elements of your pet’s hygiene. To be beautiful, shiny and healthy, not only the right food, diet or long walks are necessary. When it comes to preening your dog’s and cat’s coats, it’s important to choose the right products to help keep the coat beautiful, such as brushes and combs. Dogs and cats usually don’t like bathing and then brushing, but if we take good care of the climate during the bath and get our cat used to cosmetic products treatments from the very first months of their lives, we can be sure that in future, when they see a brush, they will not run away and will not hide behind the furniture. Therefore, if you care about your cat’s coat and its healthy and beautiful appearance, read our tips on how to choose the right products for this purpose.

Dog’s coat can be long, short, curly, silky or wire. As the species evolved, dogs have developed all sorts of hair or fur. Dog’s coat is divided into the undercoat and the topcoat; however, each hair of the topcoat is  surrounded by six to twelve undercoat hairs. The undercoat, as its name suggests, grows very close to the skin. The undercoat hair is soft and fine and extremely dense, so it has an insulating function. The topcoat hair consists of stiffer, thicker and longer hair. Some dogs have no coat; others have two piles of coat – the undercoat and the topcoat, while others may only have the top coat.

Cat’s fur consists of two types of hair: the undercoat and the topcoat. Adjust the fur care to its type. About six hairs grow from each hair follicle and shorter undercoat grows around them. This fur structure provides better insulation against the cold. In addition to the under- and topcoat, cats also have vibrissae. They are located on the head, lower side of the neck and even on their paws. Whiskers also consist of vibrissae. Thanks to the countless nerve endings, vibrissae function as the sense of touch. Cat’s fur can be divided into semi-long, long, short and hairless fur.

Adjust the coat care to its type!

Short coat:

It requires less grooming but can be difficult to maintain, mainly due to intensive periodic moulting; it can be soft or hard, and of different thicknesses

Long coat:

It can be straight, curly, wavy, woolly and may require shearing, brushing or other care; often with an abundance of undercoat, but it can be completely devoid of it; it is a typical hair

Wire-haired coat:

By far, the most convenient one for daily care; it requires periodic trimming; the undercoat of wire-haired dogs is thick

Breeds with a single coat:

They only have the topcoat, without the undercoat; they are often referred to as non-moulting breeds, as moulting in their case is practically imperceptible

Double-pile breeds:

They have very soft undercoat and wire topcoat; the undercoat is very close to the skin and is very fine and dense, making it an insulator. Most breeds of dogs are double-piled

Hairless dogs and cats:

They have very rare or no hair. For these breeds, it is very important to protect and moisturise the skin properly

Bathing time!

Bathing a dog or cat isn’t one of the most enjoyable treatments; many pets would prefer to avoid bathing. But if your pet happens to roll in something unpleasant, it is unavoidable. How should the bath be performed, which shampoo to choose and how to take care of the pet’s skin?

In case of dogs, there are no strict rigid restrictions with regard to the frequency of bathing;  with cats, however, you should remember that they are extremely clean animals ant they can take care of their hygiene on their own.

Shampoo is a basic product for dog’s coat care. The market is rich in a variety of shampoos adjusted to the type of coat, breed or health problems.

Remember to dry your dog’s coat very carefully after washing. Leaving a long-haired dog wet is a high risk of getting cold!

What should be taken into account when choosing a product for your pet?

  1. length of coat
  2. type of coat
  3. type of colour
  4. age
  5. susceptibility to allergies
  6. skin problems
  7. breed
  8. coat problems (e.g. excessive losing)

Half of the success is a properly selected shampoo; so, it is worth choosing one that will affect the comfort of the pet during home care treatments. The Champ-Richer brand, previously known for many years as the Champion, uses only lavender aroma in bathing cosmetics for animals. Research on the smell of lavender surrounded by dogs has shown that it has a soothing and relaxing effect, hence the aroma-therapeutic role of lavender. To meet the unique needs of dogs and cats, Champ-Richer offers 23 types of preparations: shampoos for juniors of the most popular breeds, shampoos for adult dogs, conditioners and styling preparations adapted to different types of coat. Champ-Richer shampoos contain secondary oily ingredients in their composition, which accelerate the restoration of the natural protective layer of the skin. Thanks to the new, softer formula enriched with d-Panhtenol, they have become even more delicate for the animal’s skin. The new formulas are also soap and paraben free.

It is advisable to contact your veterinarian and a professional groomer who will give you the right advice on taking care of your pet.