Pet Skin, Coat & Paw Care

The bulk of it splits three ways: shampoos and conditioners for bath day, grooming tools for managing shedding and knots between baths, and a smaller group of balms, sprays and wipes for paws, noses and general coat condition. Animology Flower Power Fragrance Mist and similar products sit at the freshening end, while a deshedding comb or a shedding blade does the heavier lifting on a moulting coat.

There is crossover with the wider grooming range too. A dog that sheds heavily usually needs both a deshedding tool from this aisle and a slightly different brush from the grooming range, so it is worth looking at both before deciding what to buy.

A short, smooth coat mostly needs a rubber grooming mitt and an occasional shampoo, since there is little to matt or trap. A double coat that blows twice a year is where a proper deshedding comb earns its keep, because a slicker brush alone tends to skim the top layer rather than clearing the undercoat.

Long or curly coats benefit from a conditioner as well as a shampoo, since the washing itself can leave the coat drier and more prone to tangling. Whatever the coat, working through it before a bath rather than after makes the wash itself considerably easier.

Balms are mostly there for practical reasons: pavement and salted roads in winter, or hot tarmac and dry grass in summer, both take a toll on paw pads. A wax or balm rubbed into clean, dry pads before a walk in harsh conditions is a simple habit that heads off cracking.

A dry, flaky nose or a paw that looks sore rather than just weathered is worth a proper look rather than a guess. Our directory of local vets is there if something does not settle with ordinary care.

Human shampoo is the main thing to keep away from a pet's coat. Our skin has a different pH, and a shampoo made for us can leave a dog's or cat's skin dry or irritated even when it is gentle by human standards.

It is also worth not over-washing. Bathing more than a coat and skin actually need strips natural oils and can make shedding and dryness worse rather than better, so match the frequency to the coat rather than a fixed schedule.