Dogs and cats
Care notes by breed, sex and age
What the paw & play grooming team takes extra care with before looking after each pet.
Stock photo
Stock photoGeneral information by breed and age, not a diagnosis. Each pet may be different; if in doubt, talk to a vet. Gathered from veterinary references, and every note has a source you can open to read more.
All 22 care notes
Short-nosed breed · Doesn't cope with heat, easily short of breath
- Pug
- French Bulldog
- Bulldog (English)
- Boston Terrier
- Shih Tzu
- Pekingese
- Japanese Chin
- Brussels Griffon
- Boxer
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- King Charles Spaniel
- Lhasa Apso
- Dogue de Bordeaux
- Bullmastiff
- American Bully
- Never use a drying cabinet or hot-air dryer without someone watching
- Keep them in a cool room and rest often
- Never use a grooming loop around the neck
- If panting gets noisy or the tongue turns purple, stop at once
- Dry the skin folds well and keep shampoo out of the eyes (bulging eyes)
Why be careful?
VetCompass found that Bulldogs get heatstroke about 14 times more often than Labradors, French Bulldogs about 6.5 times and Pugs about 3 times, because their narrow airways cannot get rid of heat well.
Small breed · Windpipe may collapse
- Pomeranian
- Chihuahua
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Maltese
- Toy Poodle
- Poodle (Miniature)
- Pug
- Use a harness instead of a collar, and never pull on or squeeze the neck
- If they cough with a honk like a goose, let them rest
- Never let them jump down from the table
Why be careful?
A collapsing windpipe is common in small and toy breed dogs. Pressure on the neck makes it worse, so vets recommend a harness.
Long back, short legs · Spinal disc risk
- Dachshund (sausage dog)
- Welsh Corgi (Pembroke)
- Cardigan Welsh Corgi
- Basset Hound
- Dandie Dinmont Terrier
- Lift with support under both the chest and the hips, keeping the back straight
- Never twist the back or let them stand on two legs for long
- No jumping on or off the table
Why be careful?
Dachshunds are about 10 to 12 times more likely than other breeds to get spinal disc disease, and about 1 in 5 show signs during their lifetime.
Double coat · No close shaving
- Pomeranian
- Siberian Husky
- Alaskan Malamute
- Samoyed
- Keeshond
- Chow Chow
- Shiba Inu
- Akita Inu
- American Eskimo Dog
- Finnish Spitz
- Norwegian Elkhound
- German Shepherd
- Golden Retriever
- Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie)
- Collie (Rough)
- Welsh Corgi (Pembroke)
- Cardigan Welsh Corgi
- Thai Bangkaew
- Don't shave down to the skin; brush out the undercoat instead
- If the owner wants a shave, explain first that the coat may not grow back for months
Why be careful?
Fluffy double-coated breeds have a long hair growth cycle. If they are shaved while the hair has stopped growing, the coat may not grow back, or grow back in patches, for 6 to 12 months (post-clipping alopecia).
May carry the MDR1 gene · Sensitive to some drugs
- Collie (Rough)
- Collie (Smooth)
- Australian Shepherd
- Miniature American Shepherd
- Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie)
- Border Collie
- Old English Sheepdog
- German Shepherd
- Never use medicines or tick and flea products in the shop without asking a vet
- Remind the owner to tell the vet every time that their dog is this breed
Why be careful?
About 70% of Collies and about 50% of Aussies are found to have a faulty MDR1 gene, which lets some drugs, such as ivermectin, reach the brain and become toxic.
Risk of deafness from birth
- Dalmatian
- Bull Terrier
- Miniature Bull Terrier
- Approach from the front so they see you before you touch them
- Not turning when called may mean they can't hear, not that they are being stubborn
- Touch gently and don't startle them
Why be careful?
In the US, about 8% of Dalmatians are deaf in both ears and about 22% in one ear, linked to the genes for white or piebald coats.
Deep chest · Risk of stomach bloat and twisting
- Great Dane
- Saint Bernard
- Weimaraner
- Doberman Pinscher
- Irish Setter
- Gordon Setter
- Poodle (Standard)
- Akita Inu
- Bloodhound
- Irish Wolfhound
- Newfoundland
- German Shepherd
- Keep stress low and don't leave them waiting long
- If the belly swells, they try to vomit but nothing comes up, or they are restless, get them to a vet at once. It is an emergency
Why be careful?
Purdue research found a lifetime risk of about 42% in Great Danes. Deep-chested breeds are at higher risk, and stress raises the risk.
Risk of heart valve disease
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- King Charles Spaniel
- Keep the session short and stress low
- If they pant hard or tire easily, let them rest
- Handle the neck and head gently (some are in pain from syringomyelia)
Why be careful?
Cavaliers get mitral valve disease about 20 times more often than other breeds, and almost all of them have a heart murmur by the age of 10.
Flat-faced cat · Doesn't cope with heat, sensitive eyes
- Persian
- Persian (flat-faced)
- Exotic Shorthair
- A cool room, no long blasts of hot air
- If they breathe with an open mouth or noisily, stop for a rest
- Wipe tear stains gently and keep shampoo out of the eyes
Why be careful?
Flat-faced cats have problems like short-nosed dogs: they don't cope with heat, they breathe noisily, and they get eye problems easily, such as watery eyes and corneal ulcers.
White cat · May be deaf
- Khao Manee
- Approach from the front so they see you before you touch them
- The dryer noise may not startle them, but a touch from behind can
Why be careful?
The white gene in cats makes the blood vessels of the inner ear degenerate from just a few weeks of age, so white cats with blue eyes are deaf more often.
Risk of thickened heart muscle (HCM)
- Maine Coon
- Ragdoll
- Sphynx (hairless)
- British Shorthair
- Keep stress low and the session short
- If they breathe with an open mouth, pant, or the tongue turns purple, stop at once and tell the owner
- No long blasts of hot air
Why be careful?
HCM is an inherited heart disease, common in Maine Coons and Ragdolls. Studies found it in about 40% of Sphynx cats (New Zealand) and about 8.5% of British Shorthairs (about 20% of males). Cats often show no signs until they are stressed or tired.
Risk of polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
- Persian
- Persian (flat-faced)
- Exotic Shorthair
- If you see them drinking a lot, peeing often, losing weight or seeming dull, tell the owner to take them for a kidney check
Why be careful?
Polycystic kidney disease is inherited in Persians and related breeds. Surveys in several countries found it in about 36 to 49% (France 41.8%).
Hairless or thin coat · Oily skin, feels the cold
- Sphynx (hairless)
- Donskoy
- Peterbald
- Bambino
- Devon Rex
- Cornish Rex
- Bathe with a gentle shampoo and warm water, towel and blow dry quickly, and keep them in a warm room
- Thin skin, rub gently
- Keep out of the sun
- Wipe away the waxy build-up in the ears and the nail folds
Why be careful?
With no hair to soak up the oil, grease builds up on the skin and can lead to acne or inflammation. With no hair to keep heat in, they also get cold quickly and sunburn easily.
Long hair · Mats easily
- Persian
- Persian (flat-faced)
- Maine Coon
- Ragdoll
- RagaMuffin
- British Longhair
- Norwegian Forest Cat
- Siberian
- Turkish Angora
- Turkish Van
- Birman
- Oriental Longhair
- Balinese
- Javanese
- Somali
- Nebelung
- Cymric
- Domestic Longhair
- Never cut mats out with scissors; slide clippers under the mat instead
- If it is badly matted, work a little at a time or suggest having it done at a vet clinic
- Brush thoroughly under the armpits, the belly and the bottom
Why be careful?
Mats pull a cat's thin, stretchy skin up into the clump of fur, so you cannot see where the skin is. One snip of the scissors can tear a wound that needs stitches.
Stub tail (Manx) · Lower spine may be abnormal
- Manx
- Cymric
- Handle the hips and bottom gently
- Some cannot hold their pee or poo; clean the bottom, dry it well, and look for rashes or sores
Why be careful?
The gene that gives the stub tail makes the lower spine and spinal cord develop abnormally (spina bifida), which can lead to weakness or loss of bladder and bowel control.
Short legs · Joints and back take a lot of strain
- Munchkin (short-legged)
- Minuet (Napoleon)
- Bambino
- Lift with support under both the chest and the hips, keeping the back straight
- Never let them jump down from the table
- Handle the legs gently, the joints may hurt
Why be careful?
The short-leg gene makes cartilage develop abnormally, so they are at risk of joint degeneration, and some have a dipped spine (lordosis) or a sunken chest.
Folded ears · Bone and joint disorder, ongoing pain
- Scottish Fold
- Highland Fold
- Never stretch or pull the legs or tail
- Trim nails gently and let them stay in a comfortable position
- If they limp or cry out, stop
Why be careful?
Every fold-eared Scottish Fold has a cartilage disorder that causes long-term joint pain, and cats tend to hide pain.
Under 16 weeks old · Vaccines may not be complete
- Ask the owner about vaccines
- Keep apart from other pets and clean the table first
- Keep it short, then dry them well and keep them warm
Why be careful?
WSAVA recommends giving the last core vaccine dose at 16 weeks of age or older. Before that, immunity may not be strong enough yet.
Senior dog (about 7 years for short-nosed and large breeds · about 9 years for other breeds)
- Use a non-slip mat, don't make them stand for long, and rest often
- Joints may be worn, so handle the legs gently
- Eyes or ears may not be good; approach slowly and let them see you first
Why be careful?
AAHA counts a dog as senior once it enters the last 25% of its expected lifespan. Dogs aged 12 and over are about 1.75 times more likely to get heatstroke.
Senior cat (from about 10 years)
- Joints are often worn even when there are no signs, so handle the legs and back gently and don't stretch the legs
- Put a soft towel underneath and use a warm room
- Keep it short and quiet
- If they look thinner or drink a lot, tell the owner
Why be careful?
AAFP/AAHA count cats over 10 years old as senior. Research found signs of joint degeneration on X-rays in as many as about 90% of cats over 12, but cats tend to hide pain.
Female dog, not spayed
- If she is in heat, move the appointment or keep her apart from the others
- If you see her drinking a lot, a discharge of pus, or dullness after a heat, tell the owner to take her to the vet
Why be careful?
About 20% of unspayed female dogs get pyometra, a pus-filled infection of the womb, before the age of 10 (3 to 66% depending on breed), usually after a heat.
All cats · Cat Friendly handling
- Never scruff (grab the skin at the back of the neck) and don't hold them in a tight lock; wrap them in a towel instead
- A room or area away from dogs, quiet, with no strong smells
- Let them take breaks; if they start to hiss or flick the tail, stop first
Why be careful?
The 2022 AAFP/ISFM guidelines advise against scruffing cats of any age, because it frightens them and they remember it, so they are harder to handle next time.