Is your Pet Shampoo Environmentally Friendly?

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do i need to groom my cat

If you have a cat, you may be wondering if your cat needs to be bathed and groomed like your dog.  The answer is yes!  So, what is cat grooming, do you need to groom your cat and why does your cat need to be groomed?

While cat’s do groom themselves, they can develop mats, knots, tangles, flea issues, and shed just like your dog.  Unlike dogs, because a cats instinct is to lick themselves clean, they can develop hairballs in their digestive track which can lead to health problems. 

These problems can be worse if you have a medium or long haired cat such as a Maine Coon or Persian cat.  Grooming your cat can help solve all of these problems and many more. 

 

What is cat grooming?  Can Cats Get Groomed?

Cat grooming is similar to dog grooming only more dangerous!  Not only do most cats hate being man handled, they come equipped with teeth and claws and they are not afraid to use them. 

Start training your cat to enjoy being brushed and bathed when they are kittens, then when they are adults, they might tolerate you grooming them.  If you feel that you do not have the time to commit to do lots of grooming, then look into a short haired cat breed such as a these popular short haired cat breeds. 

The Cat Fanciers Association has detailed info about each breed here.

  1. American Short Hair
  2. Burmese
  3. Manx
  4. Siamese
  5. Good old regular short hair mix!

If you have a medium to long haired breed like I do (Maine Coon) you will be in for a lot of grooming. Cat grooming includes bathing, nail clipping, combing/brushing, ear cleaning, shaving and wiping down your kitty’s face.

How to Groom Your Cat: Video

The video below is a great overview of cat grooming basics for a new owner.

Why groom your cat?

There are many reason you should groom your cat.  Not only is it good for their health, but it can help them to look amazing.  Grooming your cat is the perfect time to check out their overall health, from their eyes to their claws and ears. 

You will be able to feel and look all over to see if there are any issues developing.  Additionally, grooming your cat can be a great way to spend quality time with them.

 

How to Groom a Cat: Tips and Tricks to Grooming your Cat

There are a few steps you need to complete to make sure you’ve fully groomed your cat.

#1. Bathing

#2. Trimming Nails

#3. Combing and Brushing 

#4. Cleaning Ears

#5. Shaving

Bathing

Thankfully, you do not need to bathe a cat in water very often, unless it has a condition.  Please discuss how often you should bath your cat with your vet.

Whether your cat is indoor or outdoor, they may have fleas!  If this is the case, then you would need to purchase a quality flea shampoo that is made specifically for cats.  DO NOT use a dog flea shampoo on your cats as they contain ingredients that are poisonous and could kill your cat! You can check out our flea shampoo reviews; we reviewed one from Adams that is cat safe!

Since most cats don’t enjoy water, some manufacturers have started making dry flea shampoo for cats.  All you do is spray on your cat and massage down to the skin. 

Then you brush off the residue and BAM no more fleas.  Try to have a helper handy when giving your cat a bath in water and make sure the door is closed so they can’t escape!

Clipping your Cat’s Claws: How to Trim Cats Claws

Cats use their claws not only to defend themselves, but to climb and perform all of their awesome acrobatic acts. If your cats claws are getting caught in things, maybe its time for a trim.  Definitely get your cat used to nail trimmers when they are a kitten.

What can happen if you don’t trim your cats claws?  If the claws get too long, they could be more likely to scratch people and furniture.  Also, they could tear and develop and infection or they might become ingrown and hurt your cat.do i need to groom my cat?Trimming your cats claws takes time and patience because you may not be able to trim all of the nails in one sitting.  It may take a few days of convincing your cat to let your trim their claws.  Watch out not to clip the nails too short: you could cut the quick and hurt your cat. 

I believe that cats back claws, used for balance and jumping should not be trimmed unless absolutely necessary.  Even then, ask your vet.  Additionally, outdoor cats need their front claws to defend themselves against other cats and animals.

do i need to groom my cat

Combing and Brushing your Cat’s Fur

 Cats need to be brushed out to prevent mats, hot spots, tangling and other health issues.  You will need to purchase a special comb or brush, depending on your cats fur type.  One of the best selling cat brushes is the Bonve Pet Deshedding brush.  Gets rid of a ton of your cats dead hair and reduces shedding.

How often should you brush your cat?  Well, that depends.  If your cat is a short haired breed, you can brush them 1-3 times per week. 

If they are medium to long haired, you will need to brush them more often, at least once per day with a metal comb with long teeth to make sure that you are getting right down to the skin where matts and tangles begin to form.  This will prevent future tangles and matts from forming on your kitty.

do i need to groom my cat

My Maine Coon is not very cooperative, which stinks because she sure is hairy!  So we brush her various parts at different times.  30 seconds on one side, then a break.  30 seconds on another side, then a break.  Slowly, she has gotten more used to it.  Try that technique on your cats and let me know if it works!

Also, regardless of their hair type, during shedding season (spring and summer), you will need to brush them more to help prevent hairballs and other health issue from developing.

Cleaning your Cat’s Ears

Your cat has great hearing but still may need help keeping their ears clean.  WebMD says to watch for some signs that may show that your cat’s ears should be checked by a vet:

  • Persistent scratching and pawing of the ear or surrounding area
  • Sensitivity to touch around the ears
  • Head tilt
  • Frequent shaking of the head
  • Loss of balance and disorientation
  • Redness or swelling of the outer ear or ear canal
  • Unpleasant odor
  • Black or yellowish discharge
  • Accumulation of dark brown wax
  • Hearing loss
  • Bleeding from the ear

What do you use to clean a cats ears?  You would use a natural product such as purified water or a liquid solution that is recommended by Vets and a clean cotton ball or soft rag.  Never use a Q-tip.

Shaving your Cat

should i groom my cat

Some matted cats, or show cats, or maybe just for fun cats, have their fur shaved.  The most famous is the lion cut!  Some cat breeds have 2 or 3 different layers of fur and to prevent the layers from matting, then must each be combed out to remove dead hair and tangles.  If grooming your cat becomes to much for you, this may be an option.  Discuss with your vet and your groomer.

 

Should you cut your Cat’s Whiskers?

NO!  Your cat’s whiskers are a tape measure of sorts….your cats whiskers let them know if they can fit their body into tight spaces.   The whiskers typically grow out to match the width and height of your cat’s body.  If you cut them, your cat could get themselves stuck in a space too small for their body.

Should I get my cat groomed?  How to Groom a Cat that Hates it

If you have a cat that is difficult to groom or just downright nasty, where can you take your cat to get groomed?  You can find professional certified cat groomers take care of grooming your cat for you.  They have tools and techniques that help to groom uncooperative cats.

View more about grooming your cat from the experts at the ASPCA!

Do you have any tips or tricks to groom your cat?  Let’s us all know in the comments below!  Don’t forget to share us on social!

 

grooming your cat

Love Your Pets!


pet md antiseptic shampoo

Your dog or cat can get dirty when they are playing outdoors. Pet MD – Antiseptic And Antifungal Medicated Shampoo for dogs, cats and horses can prevent dirt from getting on your dog, cat or horse. 

Any external skin problems can be prevented using a good quality medicated shampoo.  This antibacterial and antifungal shampoo can and will help solve your pets skin problems.

PetMD’s antifungal and antiseptic dog shampoo formula provides the same relief as the prescribed medicated shampoos but for much less.  It’s one of the top rated antifungal horse, dog and cat shampoos available.

Let’s check out PetMD’s Antifungal Medicated shampoo for dogs!

Top Rated Medicated Pet Shampoo

Pet MD – Antiseptic and Antifungal Medicated Shampoo Review

pet md antiseptic dog shampoo

If your pet is suffering from a variety of skin conditions such as red rashes, hot spots or inflammation then it would be good to use PetMD Medicated Shampoo to provide fast relief from these problems.  This ketoconazole shampoo for dogs is over the counter, so no Vet prescription is required.

No matter if your dog is suffering from skin cuts, rashes, infections, abrasions or insect bites this medicated PetMD shampoo has all the necessary antifungal, antiseptic and antibacterial properties to get rid of all issues that your pet has with its skin.

This Pet MD Antiseptic and antifungal medicated shampoo for dogs is carefully developed for pets and is effective and safe to use. That means it is also an antifungal shampoo for cats!  You don’t have to worry about unwanted side effects when you use good and reliable products from Pet MD.

pet md antiseptic

This product is one of the best medicated and antifungal shampoos for dogs which specifically targets infections. Pet MD shampoo works instantly to provide soothing relief to your pet.  You can even use this antifungal shampoo on your horses!

Using this antifungal shampoo for dogs regularly for three to four weeks will also improve the shine of your pets coat.  This antiseptic dog shampoo has deodorizing properties to help your pets smell great. It will also help in removing all dirt and grime on your pet’s fur and skin as it has deep cleansing properties.

PetMD has a whole line of pet products to help you take the best care of your pets from Pet MD Chlorhexidine Wipes to Antiseptic and Antifungal Medicated Spray to supplements for your pet.

View their products here: PetMD

Pet MD Key Features

pet md antiseptic antifungal shampoo for dogs

  • Advanced Vet formula with chlorhexidine and ketoconazole which is antiseptic
  • Effective relief of fungal and bacterial infections like ringworm, acne and hot spots
  • Effective healing of skin infections, superficial cuts, insect bites, and abrasions
  • Offers antiseptic cleaning of finger folds, face folds, groin and underarm areas
  • Astringent properties to keep dry the infection affected area
  • Kills bacteria and yeast causing skin infections in cats and dogs
  • Free from soap and paraben and hence safe to use on sensitive skin
  • Made in the USA to ensure quality and safety

Pros

  • Contains better active ingredients than many other similar products
  • Effective product with good value for the money
  • Will not interact with tick and flea treatments
  • Safe for skin and keep the skin moisturized as it is free from soap and paraben
  • Easy to use
  • Comes with light, pleasant scent and lather well

Cons

  • Need to use 3-4 times per week to get benefits
  • Need to leave the shampoo on for 5-10 minutes

Comparison

Let’s run a comparison with two other well known medicated dog shampoos on the market and see how they stack up.

PictureName

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Pet MD Antiseptic

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Curaseb 4%

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Vetericyn FoamCare

Curasept Chlorhexidine 4% for Dogs and Cats

Let us compare the Pet MD – Antiseptic and Antifungal Medicated Shampoo with another popular pet-friendly shampoo, the Curasept Chlorhexidine 4% Shampoo for Dogs & Cats.

Both these medicated pet shampoos work well on dogs, cats and horses. They will help in eliminating all kinds of microorganism growth and growth of bacteria on the skin of your pets.  They are also within the same price range.

pet md antiseptic shampoo

Both these shampoos have antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal properties.  Owners found that Pet MD is better than Curasept shampoo at treating acne problems in pets.

It works very well on insect bites and skin redness and helps in cleansing the underarms, finger folds, face folds and groin area. It has astringent properties that will help in quickly drying the affected area.

Vetericyn FoamCare Medicated Shampoo

The second dog shampoo chosen for comparison is the Vetericyn FoamCare Medicated Shampoo. This is a foam based shampoo that is free from sulfates and offers very easy rinsing and conditioning.  PetMD and Vetericyn are also within the same price range.

This shampoo is not antifungal or antiseptic, which are the main selling features of Pet MD medicated shampoo.  

It will not help kill yeast and bacteria that are seen commonly to affect your pet’s skin. This shampoo will not help in treating your pets ringworm, hot spots, skin rashes and acne.

Verdict

If you take a look at the comparison, you will clearly understand that Pet MD – Antiseptic and Antifungal Medicated Shampoo with Ketoconazole and Chlorhexidine is very effective in treating a wide variety of skin problems caused by fungi, bacteria, and yeast.

The shampoo is completely soap free and paraben free and therefore you need not worry about the use of any harmful chemicals in the shampoo.

It will not cause any burning to any cuts, wounds or the rashes on your pet’s skin when you are applying it. The shampoo is made to nourish the skin and to help keep your pets skin and coat moisturized.

This antifungal, antibacterial dog shampoo from Pet MD is the best you can use if you spot ringworms, acne, hot spots, rashes or any other skin infection on your dogs and cats.

With deodorizing and deep cleansing properties, this shampoo is worth trying on your pets to not only get rid of skin infections but to make them smell fine as well.

Medicated Dog Shampoo FAQs

What is Medicated Dog Shampoo?

What Does Medicated Dog Shampoo do?  Medicated pet shampoo uses speciality medicated ingredients to attack the source of your pets itchy skin.  They kill bacteria and yeast and with regular use, prevent it from returning.

What are the Ingredients in Medicated Dog Shampoo and What do They Do?

Each manufacturer using their own formula of ingredients to create their medicated dog shampoo.  However, most medicated shampoos have some of the following ingredients in common.

  • Chlorhexidine is a disinfectant and antiseptic
  • Ketoconazole is a topical antifungal usually used for athlete’s foot, ringworm and yeast
  • Phytosphingosine (PS) has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and also functions as a preservative

Does Medicated Dog Shampoo Expire?

YES.  Dog shampoos have an expiry date printed on the bottle.  Because medicated dog shampoos are formulated with medical ingredients, they may expire sooner than regular dog shampoos. 

Please don’t use an expired product on your dog, it may no longer be effective and may even make your dogs health issues worse.  When in doubt, throw it out and purchase a new bottle.  Read all about dog shampoos and expiry dates in our post HERE.

How do I use Medicated Dog Shampoo?

Each manufacturer has its own formula for medicated pet shampoo.  This means that you must read the instructions on each bottle.  Typically you would massage the shampoo down to your pets skin and leave on for anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes and then thoroughly rinse it off.

You may need to bathe your pet several times a week to begin with.  Please read the instructions on the bottle, you don’t want to over bathe your pet, which may cause further skin issues.

Conclusion

Pet MD – Antiseptic And Antifungal Medicated Shampoo for dogs, cats and horses is once of the best shampoo that you can buy for your pets.

This shampoo will help in easily and quickly get rid of your pets skin infections and resulting itchiness. The best part about this medicated dog shampoo is that it is free from soap and parabens. This means that it will not dry out your pets coat and skin.

Have you tried medicated dog shampoos?  Did they help your pet’s issue?  Let us know in the comments below. Share us on social and subscribe to our email list for the most up to date pet advice.

PetMD not for you?  Check out our latest post on the Best Medicated Dog Shampoos for Itchy Skin Reviews.

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