So what is going on in a dog's coat?...

Fleas

Most dogs will suffer from a flea infestation at some point in their lives. It used to be that they were most at risk during the warmer months; however, with modern day central heating we now provide a lovely warm environment for fleas all year round. For this reason, treatment against fleas should be provided throughout the year.

The number of fleas would normally decrease during the cold winter months. However, as most houses are now centrally heated, the fleas are provided with an ideal environment in which to survive and breed all year.

The length of the flea life-cycle depends on temperature and humidity. In an ideal environment the cycle can be around 21 days.

By far the most common flea in both dogs and cats is the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis).

Some dogs will develop a hypersensitivity to flea saliva and this can lead to an itchy reaction. One or two fleas would be quite enough to cause a marked irritation. Most flea reactions in dogs are seen on the lower back area, above the tail.

Fleas spend the majority of their life-cycle in the home environment. Only adult fleas are seen on the dog. The female flea lays the eggs on the dog's coat, these fall off and can be found wherever your dog spends most of his time - in his bedding, in the carpet, on the sofa, or even on your bed!

Adult fleas do not live for long on your dog and die after 7-14 days - only to be replaced by the ones developing in the environment.

The flea lives by ingesting blood from your dog several times a day.

More often than not an owner will notice small specks of grit on the dog's coat. To establish whether this is flea dirt, brush the coat and allow the material to fall onto a moist white tissue. Flea dirt will produce a red mark.

Dogs can also pick up fleas from outside the home or from other animals.

Fleas are also the intermediate host of the tapeworm. Therefore it is important to remember when treating your dog for fleas, to treat him for tapeworms too.

Effective flea treatment and control involves treating both the environment and the dog (for all the reasons stated above).

Flea preparations come in all forms - aerosols, powders, pump action sprays, insecticidal collars, spot-ons, oral tablets or shampoos. There are a large number of flea products available. Ask your vet for advice on which products will suit you and your dog's needs.

Treatment of the environment involves using a recommended aerosol spray and regular vacuuming - don't forget under the skirting boards, under the sofa cushions and the dog's bedding.

Ticks

Ticks are usually picked up by your dog in long grass or in woodland. They often attach to the dog's head and look like warts. They grow in size as they feed on your dog's blood, and although if left alone will eventually fall off when full prompt removal is necessary as they can pass on disease to your dog as they feed.

If you do not know how to remove ticks safely (just pulling may leave parts of the head behind and cause a nasty infection) then ask your vet to show you.

Certain spot-on preparations that you can use for flea prevention will also kill ticks, so ask your vet for advice on this.

So what's hiding in that matted hair?...

Very often you find dogs in dog shelters with matted hair. Usually, if it is a good shelter, these dogs would be new arrivals, if not the shelter is probably short on manpower.

You'll find dogs with matted hair in homes as well. (Unfortunately not all dog owners are conscientious about their pets.)

Dogs with such problems are usually ones with long-haired coats. Sometimes, you'll find dogs with short-haired coats also have similar problems.

The problem needs to be taken care of. While this condition is harmful to the dog, it is also unhealthy for the humans and other dogs who live in the vicinity.

How is it harmful to the dog? Matted hair is a great hiding place for fleas, mites and ticks. Dandruff (yes, even dogs are affected by dandruff), has a chance to thrive in the matted coat. Last of all - but perhaps most obviously! - the odour accompanying matted coat is unbearable.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to work out that a dog with a matted coat is not comfortable and certainly not happy. How do you deal with such a problem? Read on...

1. First things first. Assess the extent of matting. Is it all over the coat? Is it dirt streaked? Is it only at the ends of the hair? Has the matting extended to the roots?

2. If the matting is all over the coat, dirt streaked and has extended to the roots, the best way to get rid of the problem is to cut away all of the dog's coat. You have to take care while sniping away the hair that you don't hurt the dog's skin. The dog will look odd with its hair shorn off, but it is better off without the matted hair.

Having done that it's time to groom the dog, treat it for ticks, mites, fleas and dandruff (more often than not such dogs will have all these infestations). Take care that the dog is regularly groomed, so that the condition does not recur.

3. If the matting is restricted to the ends of the hair, measures are not as drastic as the previous one. However, it is going to be a tedious job. Get the dog to lie on a table. (Keep some tidbits to tempt the dog to stay there. Of course if you have a way with dogs, you don't need the tidbits.)

You'll need a pair of small scissors as well as a good-sized one. The small scissors are for difficult places like the paws, the ears and eyes. Carefully snip off the matted parts.

After you have done the delicate areas, use the other larger scissors to snip off the rest of the matted hair. Next, thoroughly brush the dog down to remove small tangles. Once again check the dog for infestations and treat those conditions as well.

4. What happens with dogs with short hair but a badly matted coat? More often than not the matting is due to dirt. So, very simply bathe the dog, groom it and you are rid of the problem. Once again check for infestations and treat the dog for them.

There is only one way you can avoid this problem from recurring.

Regular grooming.

Proper grooming for your dog does not only have aesthetic purposes but also adds to your pet's holistic growth - physical and psychological. Since dog hair can interlace due to dirt and grime in the coat forming mats and tangles, they would need to be groomed to keep proper hygiene. Plus grooming generates more bonding time with your pet, creating a stronger relationship.

It is best to train your dog to be groomed at an early age. But an untrained dog can still be taught to accept all the attention. Train your pet to get used to his body parts being handled and brushed. You need not go to a professional groomer, but if you don't have the time or the interest to groom your dog, be sure to select a groomer that handles the animals gently.

Things to remember in grooming your dog

Make a daily examination of your pet's body parts. Look out for bumps, hot spots, inflammation, irritation, vegetative matter, and parasites like fleas and ticks in his coat.

Get rid of fleas by using a fine-toothed comb; ticks can be tweezed off.

Ears should be checked - droop ears are inclined to infection which can lead to permanent hearing loss.

Examine your dog's pads - dirt, grime, pebbles, chemicals can get caught that can infect his paws.

Brushing not only removes matted hair, it also takes away dead hair, thus eliminating animal odour. Tangles can also be very painful for your dog that may lead to skin inflammation. Grooming during shedding encourages growth of new coat, so brush especially after physical exercise.

Nails should be trimmed every month, especially if your dog has a hard time walking.

Dental hygiene is maintained by using dog toothpaste and toothbrush with soft bristles twice a week.

A damp cotton cloth is used to remove mucus from your dog's eyes and a coarse rag is appropriate in cleaning your pet's face.

When bathing your pet, make sure that you brush away dead hairs first to clear all the mats in his coat. Soak your pet in warm water. Apply a pet shampoo in small amounts. Target areas are the eyes, ears, rectum, toes and under the chin. Avoid getting soapy water in his eyes and ears. You also have an option to apply coat conditioner after bathing.

Different breeds require varying bath frequency; consult the local pet grooming shop or your vet if you're not sure how many times you should bathe your dog.

It is recommended that a dog owner has her/his own home-grooming kit. A good kit includes a grooming brush, clippers for dog toenails, combs with varying teeth (fine, medium, coarse), dog shampoo, coat conditioner, and a coarse rag.

But you knew all that already, didn't you!