Wet the animal’s coat for 2–3 minutes with warm water. Apply shampoo onto the head and ears and lather, then repeat the procedure on the neck, chest, and middle and hindquarters, finishing the legs last and paying special attention to the footpads (between the toes) and underbody area. Wash the head and ear areas carefully, making sure to keep shampoo out of the animal’s eyes. A drop of glycerin in each eye before bathing may prevent or reduce irritation if shampoo gets in the animal’s eye. Pay special attention to the base of the tail, as it is a place frequented by fleas. Fully lather the animal and let lather remain for 5 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with water. NOTE: This final step is an important part of the grooming procedure. For small dogs and cats weighing less than 15 pounds, wrapping the animal in a towel for several minutes to absorb moisture is advised. This will also allow dying fleas and ticks to crawl off the animal and into the towel before drying the animal with a towel or blow-dryer.