Your Dog and Your Cat 



visable. When the dog is affected with any serious 

 or extensive skin disease, the speed with which it is 

 cured depends upon the thoroughness of the appli- 

 cation of the remedies. It is almost impossible to 

 work an ointment or lotion into all parts of the 

 skin when it is covered with a heavy coating of 

 hair. In such conditions the hair usually comes 

 out before the cure is obtained, and the new growth 

 of hair following such a disease is of about the 

 same texture as it is after clipping, so there is no 

 particular disadvantage in removing the hair at the 

 beginning. Large fat dogs suffer greatly in sum- 

 mer if covered with a heavy coat, and it is more 

 humane to remove it. 



The coat may be entirely removed, and in the 

 treatment of skin diseases this is necessary, or it 

 may be clipped according to the prevailing fashion 

 for the breed in question. The clipping should 

 be done by one who is experienced with the 

 operation and one who is kind and careful with 

 the animal. Even the most skilled sometimes 

 scrape or cut the animal. The most impor- 

 tant precaution is to find a man who uses care 

 in keeping his instruments clean. Dirty, unwashed 

 clippers are frequently responsible for the spread- 

 ing of mange and ringworm. In case it is known 

 that the animal is suffering from a contagious dis- 

 ease the clipper should be so informed, in order that 

 he may exercise care in cleaning his instruments 

 after clipping the dog. After the hair has been 



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