Grooming Your Cat or Dog

Regular bathing of your dog or cat may be necessary if they become dirty or muddy, smell bad, get in contact with an irritating substance, or develop a skin problem.

In general, dogs need to be bathed much more often than cats, because cats groom themselves more thoroughly and regularly.

The rule of thumb as to how often to bathe your dog or cat is as often as needed. Over-bathing your pet may dry out its coat, but this varies depending on the pet and the shampoo used.

The hair should be brushed before bathing to minimize matting and to remove loose hair. This also helps keep your drain from getting clogged with hair dislodged from bathing your dog or cat.

Avoid getting water in their ears or soap in their eyes. Bathing them from the neck down can prevent ear and eye injury. Sometimes wiping their head and face with a moistened washcloth is all that is needed.

If you need to bathe their head, placing cotton in their ears and sterile ophthalmic ointment in their eyes may help prevent problems. Don?t forget to remove the cotton when you?re done.

Only use shampoos labeled for use on dogs or cats. Human shampoos tend to be too acidic and may irritate your pet?s skin.

Use lukewarm water to wet down the coat thoroughly prior to shampoo application. Gently work the shampoo into a lather and allow it to remain on your pet for a few minutes.

Be sure to rinse very well after shampooing. Any shampoo residue which remains may cause your pet?s skin to become irritated or itchy.

Dry your pet gently with a towel or a hair dryer on a low heat setting. Animals may be allowed to air dry if they are in a warm environment. Do not allow your pet to become chilled after bathing.

Zodiac has a new line of Natural Radiance shampoos available in grooming, conditioning and puppy formulas. Please refer to our "Products for Your Pets" section for further details.

     First Aid for Your Pet

Preparing for pet emergencies helps you respond more quickly and more calmly than without preparation. It is important to know who to call and where to go if an emergency situation arises with your pet.

Do not use e-mail for emergency assistance. The telephone should be used for all emergency communication.

Most pet owners should contact their regular veterinarian for assistance during regular business hours. Some veterinarians will take after-hours emergency calls, while many will refer you and your pet to an emergency clinic for this service.

In cases of bleeding, apply pressure to the bleeding area if possible with a clean towel, cloth, or gauze pad and call your veterinarian immediately.

In cases of bite wounds, clean the area with hydrogen peroxide if it is safe to do so. Always contact your veterinarian because bite wounds often become infected and usually need professional care.

Be careful if you think your pet may have sustained a fracture (broken bone). Any animal in pain may bite, even if they know you. A blanket, large towel, or board may be used to help transport your injured pet for emergency treatment.

In the case of heatstroke, the animal should be placed in a tub of cool water, wrapped in a cool wet towel, or wet down with water from a garden hose. Call your veterinarian for further directions.

Seizures lasting more than 5 minutes may require emergency intervention. During the seizure, do not attempt to restrain your pet or grasp its tongue. You should move your pet out of harm?s way if necessary. Always notify your veterinarian if your pet has a seizure.

In cases of suspected poisoning, immediately contact your veterinarian, emergency animal clinic, or animal poison control center for specific treatment recommendations.

If you suspect that your pet may be having an adverse reaction to a Zodiac product, please call us toll free at 1-800-950-4783.

Seasonal Health Information

Tick populations usually surge in the early spring, well ahead of the peak flea season, which usually occurs in the late summer.

Contrary to popular belief, ticks are not insects. They are actually arachnids, a group that includes spiders, scorpions, and mites.

These blood-feeding creatures can carry many infectious diseases including Lyme disease, and transmit them directly to humans and animals through their bite.

Ticks are usually divided into two classifications: hard ticks, which are found out in the open, and soft ticks that live in nests and burrows.

The most common hard ticks in the United States are the Lone Star Tick, the American Dog Tick, the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick, the Brown Dog Tick, and the Deer Tick.

The hard tick goes through 4 life cycle stages: Adult, Egg, Larvae, and Nymph. Ticks usually require multiple hosts over a long period of time to complete their life cycle.

A solitary tick can usually be safely removed with tweezers by grasping it carefully at the head (which is attached to the surface of the skin) and applying slow and steady traction. Try not to squeeze the body of the tick or handle the tick with your bare hands.

Keeping your lawn well mowed and avoiding wooded or tall grassy areas may reduce you and your pet?s chances for picking up ticks.

A variety of products are available from Zodiac to prevent or treat tick infestations on your dog or cat. These include topical spot-ons, shampoos, collars, sprays, powder, and sponge-on formulations.

Premise control of ticks can be achieved with Zodiac?s line of carpet powder, foggers, or carpet and upholstery aerosol or pump spray.

Please refer to our "Products" section for further details on specific product applications.