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dog and cat home skin and coat care
Hands-on tips for pet baths, tackling ticks and fleas, applying medications, and more!
Skin is the place to spot fleas, ticks, skin irritations or rashes, lumps, uber-matted hair, scratches, infections, and other health issues so you can help your pet.
Top home care routines for healthier pet skin and coat
- A regular high-quality diet (in the proper serving size)
- Prescription parasite control
- Baths (as recommended by your vet)
- Regular coat brushing
- Regular teeth brushing
How to help take care of pets at home
There’s a lot you can do at home to help your sweet dog or cat feel good in their own skin. Good home care can help you bond with your pet, plus it’s a great way to stay in touch with many skin issues your pet can’t tell you about.
How to pick a quality food
What you feed your pet can affect their entire body, including their skin and coat. Get a deep dive on what to know about nutrition, the signs of a quality pet food, and if wet or dry food makes a difference. We give you an entire breakdown on what actually matters for pet health — our list of “good for pets” ingredients may surprise you! Read more about quality foods for dogs and cats
How to find fleas on your dog and cat
How to: Check your pet for fleas
Know what you need, where to look, and what to do next.
Fleas are little bugs that can be big bad news. Not every itch is a flea, but it’s a natural first assumption if your pet is always scratching. Here’s how to confirm your pet has a problem.
What to know about ticks on pets
How to: Watch out for ticks
Find out when ticks are dangerous, where to look, and what to do next.
It’s worth doing tick checks even if your pet is on year-round parasite control. Here’s what to know about ticks, including how to find them on your pet and what to do next. See more about ticks
How to give your pet a bath
How to: Give your pet a bath
Watch now for tips, tricks, and techniques on safely bathing your cat or dog.
Get our tips on how to bathe your pet’s coat, including how to make it easier for you, less stressful for your pet, and how to help avoid common pitfalls like ear infections. See more about skin care
How to brush your pet's teeth
How to: Brush your pet’s teeth
Watch now for tips on safe and effective ways to help your pet's oral health.
Yes, you can do it! Brushing your cat’s or dog’s teeth can help the pet you love avoid periodontitis, allow you to spot issues early, and even tame truly vile pet breath. See more about pet dental care
Bonus feature: Get skin medications to stick
Does your pet need ointments, lotions, or other topical medication for skin issues like allergies, infections, or other problems? Here’s how to apply it, plus how to keep it on so it can do its work. (Tip: You may need an Elizabethan collar.) How to apply skin medication
Mentioned in this article
Need advice on flea control? Ping Pet Chat™!
Whether it's 3 a.m. or 3 p.m., connect with a real veterinary professional for immediate petcare advice. It's included in all Optimum Wellness Plans®!
Log in to start chatting
Save at the Banfield Shop
Our mission is to provide high-quality prescription meds for the pet you love. We believe in safe, effective petcare, so we thoroughly assess every item we carry. We offer discounts on eligible products with your pet’s Optimum Wellness Plan. And you can easily schedule deliveries with our super convenient AutoShip program.
How Banfield can help with pet skin and coat care
We’re here to help your pet’s skin and coat be happy and healthy. From external parasites to skin problems to skin allergies and bumps or wounds, our vets can help with informed diagnoses and action plans to help your pet.
Get veterinary care for external parasites like fleas, ticks, and mites. From flea infestations to tick bites to ear mites and more, our vets can check out skin and coat cooties and recommend appropriate treatment. We’re happy to walk you through your options for year-round parasite control to help your pet!
Is your pet always itchy? Do you think your pet has a skin allergy? Causes for cat or dog itching and scratching can go more than skin deep. We can help figure out what’s causing your pet’s discomfort and suggest medications and treatments that can help your pet be more comfortable in their own skin.
See us for help with bald spots, shedding, greasy skin, and dandruff. Many pet health issues can affect your pet’s beautiful skin and coat. Whether it’s a flea allergy, dermatitis, seborrhea, allergies, anxiety-based issues, or other health concerns, our vets here to help with diagnosis and treatment.
Does your best furry friend have a cut or wound? Do you think they may have a tumor? Give us a call! Our vets can evaluate strange lumps and bumps and let you know if you can stop worrying. We can also help with wounds or direct you to the best resource to immediately help your pet.
