A Tangled Pooch

How many of us dog owners brush and comb our pooch’s coat on a regular basis in-between grooms?  If you said, “never”, “not often”, or “not enough”…then you may have come across the issue of bunches of itty-bitty knots or mega-tangles in your pooch’s coat.  These knots or tangles (better known in the grooming world a “matt”) can be very obvious or not obvious and/or unsightly, but above all, an eventual painful obstacle for your pooch to a good grooming.

De-tangling (also known as de-matting) your pooch’s coat is an appropriate and necessary step to grooming your dog.  The de-matting process will take place well before the dog is bathed.  Bathing a matted dog will only make the matts worse upon drying and this will result in even more discomfort for your dog. Attempting to dry a tangled and knotted coat will result in the knot drying and result in possible pulling at the skin, if it has not already done so, causing not only irritated skin and discomfort, but poses a hazard to your dog during the grooming process. 

During the grooming process…should clippers come into contact with one of these knots of fur while trying shorten the fur, the clippers could cut into the dog’s skin presenting a new and more serious risk.

To help find the presence of matts, one should be able to run a small tooth comb through the pooch’s coat from head to tail, chest through belly as well as the underarms, hindquarters through the tail including under the tail.  The inability to do so will likely hinder not only the grooming process but the bathing phase as well.  Though, in most cases, de-matting is possible…it does come with risks and concerns…not to mention extra charges.  The added charges depend on the condition of the coat and the degree of the severity of the matts that are found. Charges are added because of the risk to the pooch, the risk of a possible dog bite to the groomer (dogs fight the process), extra wear-tear on equipment, and the time it takes a groomer to dematt or detangle a dog…so do not be upset with the added charges. They are fair and necessary charges.

Any and all grooming shops will have thier respective de-matting fee structure.  Please inquire as to thier de-matting fees and how those charges are incurred.  They may be accessed as a base rate or upon intervals of time.  In either case, be sure to ask your groomer about their particular grooming process and fees.   Ask your groomer how you can help keep your dog’s coat matt free with regular brushing including a thorough comb-through with a small tooth comb, so that when your  pooch comes in for their regular grooming you will not be surprised with… a tangled pooch and the added charge!

Botfly Surprise

     We’ve all heard of parasites, like heartworm, ticks, & fleas that can infest our dog.  Well, not too long ago, I had the gruesome pleasure of encountering a new parasite that I had never heard of.  It made my skin crawl the more I found out about this disgusting looking creature…well more of an insect, really. It’s known as the botfly, and it’s scientific name is cuterebra emasculator.

  http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/75013/bot-fly

     This little fly’s larva had managed to infest a dog who was here for a grooming.  I noted a welt on the dog’s skin under its chin. It was rather an unpleasant site to witness what this parasite larva had done as initially I thought that the welt was an abscess. After consulting with a veterinarian, I found out that the botfly will often lay it’s eggs on blades of grass or on a rodent’s nest or mound (ie: rabbit or squirrel).  It’s here where the egg will hatch into a larva. How it manages to attach itself to a dog or any other mammal is quite interesting.  A dog can come near these burrows, probably out of curiousity, and their coat will brush up against the burrow or the grass snatching up one of these pesky larvae.  Once the larva has found its host, what happens next is the actual gruesome part.

    The larva will dig itself underneath the skin and in the process create this ”volcano-shaped” lesion, that is called a warble.  Here the lava will stay until it pupates, where it will later fall off its host through the breathing hole atop the warble.  Soon the adult larva will become a fly to start the process over again.  Some species of botflies can cause physical damage to their host and others won’t.

    Remedies for botfly infestation in dog can vary.  One sure thing is to cut off its air supply.  The hole on top of the warble can be sealed with things like vasoline, tape, or nail polish any of which ultimately asphyxiates the maturing larva.  In any case, you MUST get your veterinarian to extract the larva as its secrections will be harmful to the dog. In most cases, if one crushes the dead larvae while trying to remove it…it could prove fatal to your pooch.  When in doubt, seek advice from your veterinarian!  Written by: David Carpio, Assistant Manager, Petite Pooch Plus  Read more

Your Dog And The Sun

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Dogs that spend most of their time running around and playing outside have a high risk of getting sunburned and skin damage from the sun. This can be costly and lead to health issues later in your dog’s life. Short haired dogs or lighter colored fur will also increase the chance of your dog having issues with the rays of the sun. Keeping your dog inside might not be the best solution to the problem. Keeping your dog inside where he can’t run around will fill him with excess energy, and he might pick up a few bad habits if he gets bored.

There is clothings for dogs that will reflect the rays of the sun, or just regular clothing for dogs can help prevent some of the rays. But the clothing shouldn’t be too thick or keep too much heat in or else it could cause heat stroke or other problems. Another option is using some different sun screens which can prevent sunburn and other damage. Sun screen that is made for kids can also work for dogs most of the time. But sun screens with scents can sometimes cause irritation to your dog’s skin. There are also some sun screens designed for dogs that are less like to cause problems when applying it to your dog.

Even though there are ways to prevent it, there really is no way to keep the sun from posing some problems. There still is a chance that it can pose problems, but sun screens and clothing that reflects it will help prevent the chance of it harming your dog. So instead of leaving your dog locked inside the house the whole day so he is full of energy and is bored, try some sun screens and different clothings that can keep your dog safe from the rays of the sun.

Dog Hair

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Your dog’s hair is important to your dog’s health and how he looks. Dogs can sometimes get dry hair or experience increased shedding from shampoos which wash away oils your dog needs to keep his hair and skin healthy. This can be fixed by changing the shampoo you use or by adding different things to your dog’s diet.

One of the items that can increase the health of your dog’s coat is adding a raw egg to the diet. There are a few minor risks to this process, but is the easiest to do. Don’t feed your dog too many egg whites at a time or he may get sick. The other risk is salmonella. This risk is one in tens of thousands, but there is a small chance it could happen.

Fish oil is another thing which can be added to your dog’s diet to make your dog’s hair healthier. This is also another easier way to make dog’s hair better, but like the raw eggs, may take a little time to show the improvement.

If your dog can stay still for a long time while taking a bath, and you want to have an instant improvement, try using olive oil. Wet down your dog’s hair in a bath tub, put olive oil on your dog’s hair and rub it in, let it sit for about fifteen to thirty minutes, and wash the extra oil off of your dog’s coat. This way can be the biggest pain for dogs who don’t like to take a bath, but it is the fastest way to get an instant result.

The last thing that could make your dog’s hair better, is to change your dog’s dog food. Some dog foods will have more ingrediants to increase the health of your dog’s hair, but it can cost more because of the contents. This method will also take some time to show.

There are many other ways to make your dog’s hair healthier, but these are a few of the ways that are fairly easy and don’t cost a lot of money to do. But if you don’t have the time to do any of these, you could always drop your dog off at a local groomer, which can give your dog a bath and save you time.

Clipping Your Dog Nails

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Clipping your dog’s nails can be easy or difficult depending on how your dog acts. If you try holding your dog still and he keeps moving while you’re clippin his nails, you will probably need something to stop the bleeding if you cut too close to the vein which lies within the nail. If your dog is calm, you still may need something to help stop your dog’s nail from bleeding, but it will be much less likely to happen. Every once in a while your dog’s nails will need to be cut, and you will know if he keeps scratching you with them.

In a white or clear nail, you will see a pink area inside your dog’s nail. This is a vein with a nerve next to it (if you can see it inside the nail). This is a area not to cut. If you do this it will cause him to start bleeding if you cut it. If you can’t see the pink inside the nail because the nail is black, you should cut the nail just about where it begins to curve then you are less likely to cut that pink spot. You will see a little white dot if you look into the nail after you clip it. Once you see the white dot, stop clipping the nail or you will make the nail bleed.

There are couple different types of nail clipper for dogs. There are ones that are hand powered. Basically clippers that you control how far away, or how close you want it, and you clip it. These will have a higher chance of cutting too close to the vein, but can be a bit quicker if you use then right for cutting. The other types of nail cutters are the electronic type. One that will run usually on a battery as a power source, and have a lower chance of cutting too close to the vein. It takes a bit longer to cut your dog’s nails with this. It can also act like the hand operated ones with how close or far you want it, but the shorter you want the nail, the longer it takes.

It tends to take around four to six minutes to cut your dog’s nails if nothing goes wrong, and your dog behaves well. But if you happen to need your dog’s nails cut, get him a bath, and brushed, you could take him to you local groomer and save some time while your out working, or doing something else. This way you could get multiple things done, and you won’t have to deal with doing this yourself. And the groomer will usually do a better job because he has everything he needs there to groom your dog, and if anything goes wrong, he will be able to fix it usually with a powder called QuikStop. Even though it is a little extra cost, it is worth it to take your dog to a groomer.

Brushing Your Dog

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Brushing, one might consider this the biggest pains of grooming your dog, but it is the best way to keep your dog from getting hair on almost every part of your house. It is best to wait until your dog is at least around three or four months of age old to start brushing him to keep from hurting his skin as it may be sensitive. The difference between the amount of time you should brush your dog will depend on how long his hair is and how many times you take your dog out to the dog park and areas like that as grass and thorns may get caught in his fur.

For short-haired dogs that are taken out to the park about once a week or less, you should at least brush their hair once a week or twice a month to reduce the hair from getting everywhere. A good idea would be to brush your dog right after you get home from the dog park to reduce the dirt in his hair from spreading. If you take your dog out to the dog park three or more times a week, you should brush him every three to four days, or about four to eight times a month.

For long-haired dogs, you will need to brush them more often because long hair  can pick up more dirt after going to a place like the dog park. Long-haired dogs that go to the park about once or twice a week should have their hair brushed about every time after going to park. For long-haired dogs that go to the park about three or more times a week, they should have their fur brushed about two or three times a week.

Be careful of areas around the ears and the eyes, mainly the eyes if you happen to use a wire brush. And after brushing your dog, if you have the time, it would be a good idea to give him a bath to get rid of the extra dead hair and dirt that you couldn’t get out during brushing them. Now if you happen to be busy most of the time and don’t have the time to brush your dog yourself, you could take your dog to your local groomer to get him brushed while you are at work, or while you are away. This will save you the trouble of having to spend the time, and the groomer will probably do a better job because of he/she does this for a living.

Things To Know About Giving Your Dog A Bath

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After your dog has been running around in the mud and dirt or is about ready to compete in a dog show, he will need a bath. If you decide to wash him yourself, what soap/shampoo should you use? Are there places on his body you should be careful not to get soap on? The list of questions can go on and on. Well, you have another choice if you want to be on the safe side for giving your dog a bath. You could always take him to a local grooming place that would know what to do and what areas to avoid. But back to if you want to give him a bath yourself.

First, it would be highly recommended that you buy a soap/shampoo that is designed for being used on dogs. Some of the shampoos that people use can give a dog rash and can lead to problems with your dog scratching at that rash. So to be on the safe side, use a shampoo that is made for dogs. You can shop at the local pet supplies store or consult with your veterinarian.

Watch out for getting water or soap in your dog’s ears or eyes. This can lead to infections for the unhealthy ear, and may lead to irritation in the eyes. This can result in a lot of vet visits. This is something to be concerned with and if you’re scared something might happen, you might consider taking your dog to a local provessional grooming facility. It will cut down on the risk.

Now, how to give him a bath. First wet your dog down with water. Next, apply soap/shampoo. Be careful not to get the soap into your dog’s ears or eyes. Place the shampoo on his body and work some of it onto his head. Then wash off the soap. Adding soap and washing your dog off again may be required depending hon how dirty/oily he is. And finally, dry off your dog with a towel or blow dryer (on lukewarm or cool).

Give your dog a bath about every one or two months (4 - 6 or 8 weeks), or whenever he needs one. The easier solution is to get your local professional groomer to give your dog a bath. They will know alot more about washing a dog, and will strive to do a great job at washing him and returning a happy & clean dog .

 

Traveling With Your Dog

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When you decide to go off traveling with your dog, there are things you need to get & do before you take him with you. The first one is making travel arrangements for your dog with the airline in advance. The cost of traveling with your dog tends to be at around fifty to hundred dollars depending on the place you are traveling to and time of year. It is best to travel with your dog at a time of the year with a mild temperature if he has to travel in the baggage area of the plane.

You will need to have an airline approved crate to put him in while he is traveling. For long distance flights and for dogs who are not potty trained, a doggy diaper can be useful so you don’t have a mess to clean up later.  If your dog happens to be small enough, and quiet, you could probably have your dog travel with you in the cabin. You might be able to have him sit in your lap or seat…if approved by airline personnel.  Another thing that is helpful to keep your dog entertained during the flight and out of trouble is bringing his favorite toy.

Before you get on the flight, the airline needs a copy of your dog’s health record to make sure that he has gotten the vaccinations he needs. When you arrive there, make sure to have a collar with his identification tags. And once you get on the plane, a good idea is to tell one of the flight attendants, if your dog happens to not be in the cabin with you, that he is on the flight. Most of the time they will update you on how he is doing during the flight.

Unless you really want to go spend time with your dog while you are on your trip, the easiest thing to do is to board him at your local boarding facility. This can be much cheaper, and you may be able to get your dog groomed and trained there while you are away. And your life while you’re traveling may be a bit easier while you are away…not to mention, your dog will be have a good time hanging out with his buddies and having fun running around instead of being confined to a crate and/or a hotel room.

A Few More Dog Tricks

There are many other tricks that can be useful. One of these commands is “retrieve”. Retrieve, getting your dog to get a item from one place and bring it to you, can be used for many things. From just playing at the park and retrieving a ball, to getting an egg from the refrigerator and so on.

Yet how would you train your dog to do this? Simple. First find your dog’s favorite toy. Then get your dog into a clear area to train him free of distractions. Now when you are training him, it is recommended that you have already taught your dog a non-voice command to help him come to you in the beginning.

When you have your dog next to you paying attention, you should throw your dog’s favorite toy about five to ten feet from you. While you are throwing the toy, make sure to say “retrieve” so your dog knows what command to do. When he picks up the toy, use that non-voice command to get him to you.

If your dog comes back with the toy, make sure to reward him.

There are many other tricks that your dog can learn, but the four most helpful are “sit”, “stay”, “retrieve”, and “come here”. Most of the other tricks are most advanced versions of other tricks, like “lay” and “roll over”. Teaching your dog one of those trick can help with the more advance tricks.

Yet if you are going to be out of town or having your dog being groomed, you could have your dog learn some of these tricks if you ask your local boarding place about it. This can help when you are busy at work and your dog needs to learn a trick, or when you are away. Getting your dog to learn tricks and commands can be useful and fun in different situations. At the park to show your friends or if your dog gets out, commands can be useful.

Which Is Better, Vets Or Grooming/Boarding Places?

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Which is better? Deciding to board your dog at a vet clinic or at a local boarding place? The vet can take care of serious sicknesses, can board your dog and in some instances groom them. At your local groom/boarding place, you can have him boarded and groomed for about the same price or less usually…but you must get his vaccinations from your veterinarian. 

Price varies between a veterinarian clinic and a boarding place…many have basic rates and then there  may be “add-ons” at either facility. You may be able to find more special offers and coupons to get a discounted price at boarding facilities. You will need to tour all facilities to ensure quality care, adequate exercise space, comfortable spacious sleeping areas, and friendly/caring caretakers.

But even with the prices being lower at the boarding place most of the time, there are a couple things a vet tends to be better at. If your dog has a chronic illness or has a history of becoming extremely sick, you would be better off bringing your dog to the vet for this. And if he breaks something like a bone, your vet would be available to tend to it quickly. However, there is a downside to boarding at a vet…your dog may be exposed to sick dogs as a vet clinic because along with being a boarding facility, it is a medical facility focused on the treatment of illnesses.

When it comes down to deciding between the two, the boarding/grooming place may be cheaper for boarding, grooming, and may offer training as well. A veterinarian clinic has the medical expertise onsite to take care of  extreme sicknesses, broken bones, administrering vaccines, etc. So when picking a place to board, think about primary needs of your dog.

 

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