They are always handsome and are the best in the eyes of their human. They receive the expressions with the most affectionate tone in the house. Dogs and cats love each other just as they are, but both do not disdain -when they want, since cats are very much theirs- an extra portion of pampering.
Call it a dog bath, when they come back from the walk covered in dust and mud; or make it easier for everyone – those nails! – to untangle the knots in cat hair if it’s long, like those Persians who always attract attention. By the way, cats, even if they are very clean and lick themselves, may also need a bath if they are rescued from the street, of course, or are one of those who go on excursions around the neighborhood on their own.
Will they understand what a pet spa is while you apply that moisturizing mask or a special shampoo to make their hair shine again or be whiter? Wow! says the Maltese. Meow! The Norwegian Forest cat adds while his human brushes his fur with devotion and love.
There are specific products to protect the paw pads of dogs from the great impacts and extreme temperatures of ice or asphalt in summer; biphasic conditioners to detangle dog and cat hair, specialized shampoos for different types of long, short or curly hair, masks, multivitamin serum, detox shampoos, anti-stress line for stressed skin, cleaning and eye care products, for ears… . A whole cosmetic routine – here it is not about replacing the essential veterinarian – with ingredients such as calendula, shea butter, essential oils or coconut oil, which are also very common in creams for humans.
In fact, beyond strict hygiene, pet care can become an extension of the cosmetic gestures of some owners who, as they do for themselves, look for innovative products and natural formulas to enhance the well-being and beauty of their pets. their furry “All our formulas have been tested on humans to demonstrate their effectiveness,” they preach with subtle irony at Goa Organics.
“The state of the skin and hair of a dog or cat are indicators of its good state of health. The coat should look shiny and soft and the skin supple and good looking, without any signs of dehydration or dryness,” says Leticia Ruiz, CEO and founder of Masco Beauty. “If a hair is brittle or rough, it must be taken into account, but it can also be a consequence of the care and products that are being used,” she warns. “From experience in hairdressing, when you work with the animal you realize if it is healthy or not by the shine and texture of its fur. If you see that it is shiny, smooth, has no knots, and the skin is clear and supple, it means that everything is fine. If it is rough, it falls out a lot, it has knots, dandruff and dry skin, it reveals that the animal is not 100 percent ”, they point out from Petuxe.
“It is advisable to use a mask and/or biphasic conditioner to nourish the coat, add shine and facilitate detangling,” says Elena García, a Petuxe product expert. “It is logical that long-haired dogs suffer more than short-haired ones, but they all need care. The two main causes of loss of shine in the coat have their origin in the scratching that they carry out with their paws and in the inappropriate shampoo that we choose to wash our dog”, they explain from Goa Organics, The brand, only for dogs, has 3 specific types of shampoo for each type of canine hair, including curly hair, “because each one needs vitamins and natural oils to suit it,” they say. “To keep tangles at bay, long-haired dogs should be brushed daily, and short-haired dogs twice a week,” they advise.
“The less we bathe pets, the better,” they say from Goa Organics. “Dogs, in general, once a month, although it depends on the type of skin – some have oilier skin and need more washings; on the length of the hair, because the long ones are more difficult to untangle and accumulate more dirt, and if they are very active”, they summarize. “In the case of puppies, you have to wait until they receive their first vaccinations and 10 days have passed since the last one,” they specify. “For moments in which an express wash is needed, either because it has arrived dirty from a walk on a rainy day, or bathing is not recommended, such as for puppies or after surgery, one of Masco’s novelties is the launch of the SOS dry shampoo, which achieves instant freshness and cleanliness without the need for water”, announces Leticia Ruiz.
Bathing the always hygienic cat, which constantly washes its body, is only necessary in case of rescue, visible dirt, or if some product that could be harmful to it has fallen on its coat (yes, sometimes they throw things). Washing it without need, or to upload a video on TikTok, that there is everything in life, can cause dermatitis or allergies. If you have to do it, you should become familiar with the (warm) water little by little and in a calm environment.
We love them madly and care about their hygiene more than scratched furniture or bending over to pick up their droppings or water up their street urine, but are we forgetting something, even if we give them de luxe care? “Daily brushing to maintain your hygiene without altering your skin,” says Elena García, from Petuxe.
“We have to be aware of our dog’s coat type and characteristics to know which shampoo is best suited for it. The pH of the skin of dogs is higher than ours, therefore, it is essential that we choose a soap that respects it. You have to forget about using our products with them, which are very acidic,” they advise from Goa Organics. By the way, there are also perfumes for pets… although nobody asks them if they like them.
