cover story Vets in Southside Stanley Veterinary Centre LG/F 10-12 Wong Ma Kok Road., Stanley, open Monday to Fridays from 9am-6pm, Saturdays from 9am-1pm and 2pm-5pm, and Sundays from 9am-12:30pm. 2813 2030 Southern District Veterinary Centre 165-167 Ap Lei Chau Main St, open Monday to Sunday, 10am-8pm, 2805 1318 Creature Comforts Housecalls Monday to Saturday (8am to 6pm), 9773 0372 HK Southern District Vet Clinic Unit 402, Floor 4, Stanley Plaza 23, Carmel Road, Stanley, open Monday-Sunday 10am8pm, 2805 1318.
Dog maintenance Regular grooming is important to a dog’s health and well-being, even for so-called hairless breeds. This is the best way to keep track of any new health concerns that might arise and check for any changes in the dog’s appearance and attitude. There are four areas that should be given routine attention: the coat, nails, ears and mouth. Regular brushing with a brush or comb will help keep your pet’s hair in good condition by removing dirt, spreading natural oils through its coat, keeping the coat free of tangles and the skin clean and irritant-free. It
is also a great time to check for fleas and flea dirt—the little black specks that indicate your pet is playing host to a flea family. The way you brush your pet—and how often—will largely depend on his or her coat type (fine or coarse, thin or dense, straight or curly, silky or wiry, etc…) and coat length. Short-haired dogs, like pugs or French bulldogs, may only need to be brushed once a week with a soft-bristled brush, grooming glove or soft cloth; breeds with long, silky coats, like the Maltese, may require a more frequent and intense grooming routine to remove tangles and prevent mats. Giving your dog a bath helps to keep it clean, remove dead hair and keep its coat soft and shiny. How often you should do this depends on a number of factors, including weather, health, breed, coat, and activity level. Where these activities are taking place is also a factor. Dogs who spend the day outside rolling around are going to need a bath far more often than ones who spend most of their time on the couch. Most dogs should have their ears cleaned every few weeks. Ear care is particularly important for breeds with hairy or hanging ears, such as Spaniels and Retrievers, since their ears can trap moisture and give rise to the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. The easiest way to clean a dog’s ears is to gently clean only the part of the ear that you can see with a slightly dampened warm
What’s one of your quirks?
“I love oranges, I go crazy for them!!” - Fluffy, Pok Fu Lam cloth. Another option is to buy an ear cleaning solution for pets. Many dogs wear their nails down through regular activity on rough surfaces. Rough, long nails can interfere with a dog’s footing and cause its toes to splay, so some dogs may need their nails clipped several times a month.
Dog groomers in Southside Whiskers N Paws 10/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, open Monday to Friday (10am-6pm), Saturday and Sunday (10am-7pm), 2552 6200 Stanley Veterinary Centre LG/F 10-12 Wong Ma Kok Road., Stanley, 2813 2030
Walks/Hikes There are several regulations that owners should be aware of before they take their dogs outside. A dog that weighs more than 20kg is considered a large dog. A large dog must be held on a leash not more than two metres in length when in a public place,
Photo by Christopher Michel via Wikimedia Commons
Where does your dog like to hang out?
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“Truffle hates sea water but he loves the beach. He likes to get his paws into the soft sand.” - Christy Ma, Sai Kung