Читать книгу Infectious Disease Management in Animal Shelters - Группа авторов - Страница 56

Attention must also be given to proper grooming of animals in the shelter, including bathing, brushing and removal of matted hair, nail trimming, and ear cleaning. This is more than just a matter of cosmetics or appearance. Many animals enter shelters in urgent need of grooming, especially long‐haired dogs and cats, with heavily matted hair coats and/or overgrown nails, which can be painful and/or associated with skin infections. In some cases, severe matting on extremities can compromise the blood supply and result in dangerous, gangrenous lesions. When animals are held in the shelter for long‐term stays, a system of regular grooming must be implemented to prevent the accumulation of painful mats and overgrown nails. Care must also be taken to keep animals clean and dry. Being housed in soiled, damp, and/or wet environments is not only potentially stressful for animals, but such conditions predispose them to matting, pungent body odor, pyoderma, and pododermatitis, and therefore must be avoided. According to the ASV Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters (2010), “Spraying down kennels or cages while animals are inside them is an unacceptable practice.”

Some animals will require more grooming than others, depending on their type of hair coat and conformation. In addition to supporting a healthy hair coat and skin, regular grooming also provides an excellent opportunity to monitor health and body condition while checking for skin problems and lumps. Also, many animals enjoy contact and attention, and well‐groomed animals are often more attractive to potential adopters.