Brought to you by Maxi Zoo. 

Listen, we all let ourselves go a bit during the lockdown.

But while humans can carry on with dodgy roots and unkempt beards, skipping those regular grooming sessions could lead to some uncomfortable situations for your pet.

Many pet owners have taken grooming into their own hands as part of the effort to reduce their social contacts during Level 5 restrictions.

Learning the basics now could even help you save money down the road – put in a little practice at home and you might find there are some smaller grooming jobs you can take care of yourself instead of paying a professional in future.

Here are six grooming tips from the experts at Maxi Zoo:

1. Claws and paws

Checking your pet’s paws for matting in between the paw pads will make sure they are comfortable on all those lockdown walks. It’s also important to trim their nails and use sharp scissors to trim the hair around your pet’s eyes so they can see where they’re going.

2. Moulting season begins in March

“Their coat protects cats and dogs from the cold throughout the winter and from dirt and parasites during the summer,” Maxi Zoo Midleton manager Kieran Mangan told us.

“To prepare them for the new season, our pets moult in the spring and the autumn. If your pet loses a large amount of hair over several weeks in the spring and the autumn, don’t worry. At this time, your four-legged friend is entering the “moulting season”, which can also result in skin irritations.”

3. Brush your pet daily 

“The top priority is to brush and comb your pet every day. This will not only help keep your home clean but will also help your pet during the transitional period. The act of brushing improves the flow of blood to the skin and the dead hair, particularly from the undercoat, is easily removed.

“This is important to prevent the coat from matting, which not only looks messy but can also lead to bacterial infections, eczema and fungal infections,” added Kieran.

4. Choose the right brush for your breed

When it comes to choosing the right tools, it’s extremely helpful to chat with an expert. Maxi Zoo stores in Ballincollig and Midleton are open for walk-ins and you can even bring your pet along, as well as any questions you might have about grooming.

“A curry comb is ideal for animals with short hair as its soft, rubber teeth make for particularly gentle grooming and promote circulation,” said Maxi Zoo’s Ballincollig store manager Mark O’Donnell.

Four-legged pets with wiry or long hair, which is prone to matting or knotting, should use a de-matter before brushing. This removes matted hair and knots effortlessly.

5. Not all pets enjoy brushing

Some animals have very sensitive skin and do not like having their coat combed or brushed. In these cases, a massage glove is a good alternative for gently removing dead hair.

There are special combs for long-haired cats and dogs which have both coarse and fine teeth for untangling long strands. Brushes which remove the thick undercoat are also particularly useful in the spring.

6. Food supplements can make a big difference

“To support the associated metabolic processes, you can add high-quality Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to your pet’s food,” adds Mark.

“Yeast supplements or biotin can also have a positive effect and you should give your cat malt paste during this period. This will help move swallowed cat hair through the digestive system. Even if your cat grooms herself, you should not neglect to brush and comb her on a daily basis. The less hair your furry friend swallows, the less likely she is to develop digestive problems.”

Call into your local Maxi Zoo store today to discuss your pet’s personal grooming needs with the Maxi Zoo pet experts.

Spend and Save with Yay Cork and Maxi Zoo!

Maxi Zoo is offering Yay Cork readers an exclusive ‘Spend and Save’ voucher to use in their Ballincollig and Midleton stores. Simply show this page at the till to get €5 off when you spend €30*.

*T&Cs: The discount code can only be used once per transaction.

According to the guidelines, travel for pet essentials is permitted and pets are welcome in-store too so you can always stop by your local Maxi Zoo store during your daily dog walk. With more than 8,000 products to choose from, all Maxi Zoo stores remain open during Level 5 restrictions, including the Cork stores in Ballincollig (located behind the cinema) and Midleton (across from Tesco). For more information, visit maxizoo.ie.