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

More Dangerous Objects To Your Dog

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There are a few foods which can harm your dog, some you may not have ever thought as being dangerous. Gum is very hard on the stomach to digest. For humans it can take months to years for us to digest it, but for dogs they may never digest it in their lifetime. Gum can easily build up due to being hard to digest and can lead to death or health problems. Getting your dog to throw it up as soon as you find out he ate it can help prevent those problems. But if you can’t get your dog to throw it up, take him to the vet.

Salt, which can be found in almost every drink there is and most foods, can cause your dog to become dehydrated. Enough of it can kill your dog if you wait too long.

One plant which you should always keep your dog away from is the Castor Bean plant. The Castor Bean plant is the most poisonous plant in world. The plant products a fruit which can kill humans in less then twenty four hours. If your dog happens to get a hold of one of these and eat it, take your dog to the vet. The fruit will cause more severe symptoms in a dog then a human depending on how much is eaten and the size of your dog. There are many more plants which can be dangerous to your dog’s health, but this is the most dangerous.

The first two are fairly common household items, and the last one will only grow in certain areas. If you’re planning to go out camping with your dog, try to stay away from areas where this plant would grow. And the other two you should keep out of the reach of your dog.

Harmful Objects To Your Dog

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There are many common household items that seem to be harmless, but yet can be dangerous to your dog. These items can wind up harming him or killing him if he eats or breaths it in. Lead, for example can be harmful to your dog if he ingests it. So it would be best to keep pencils and other objects that contain lead away from your dog to keep them safe. If your dog ate something like a pencil or a large amount of lead, you should take him to the vet instead of trying to get him to get him to throw it up. Even if it is only one pencil or less, getting him to throw it up can cause splinters to possibly hurt him more. If a small amount of it was eaten that was only lead and nothing else with it, it should be alright to try and get your dog to throw it up.

Probably one of the most common poisons to a dog would be anything containing caffeine. Too much of this can kill your dog ( and can probably lead to death in humans as well). Caffeine, which is found mainly in coffee and most energy drinks, contricts the vessels in the body if too much is ingested.  Caffeine causes poor blood flow to get through the body causing death. Depending on the amount of caffeine ingested will determine what should be done. If a small amount of it is taken in, you should try to get your dog to throw it up. But if a large amount is ingested, you should take your dog to the vet as soon as possible.

Two fairly common office items that can be deadly to your dog if eaten are rubber bands and paper clips. These items can’t be digested easily and can get stuck in your dog’s digestive tract, or can cause an organ to get punctured. If any of these objects are eaten, take your dog to the vet as soon as your find out. Trying to get your dog to vomit these item may cause more harm allowed to pass. Consult with your veterinarian immediately.

These were only a few of the many objects which could harm your dog. There are many more that could harm your dog, most of them are items that can harm us, too. So try to place harmful objects out of the reach of your pooch to protect your dog and avoid a trip to the vet.

Dog Immuse System

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Depending on the strength of your dog’s immune system, your trips to the vet can be more frequent or less frequent. Some things about your dog’s immune system you can’t change because when your dog was born, he might have inherited a very weak or a strong immune system. If your dog has an immune system which is weak, your dog’s immune system can be strengthened to help prevent your dog from getting sick. There are three main causes why your dog’s immune system may become weak. Stress, no exercise, and a poor diet. Any or all three of these situations can cause your dog’s immune system to weaken and your dog to become ill more often.

Your dog’s diet may need different things depending on what the size of your dog is, weight, and the age of your dog. Some dog foods have been designed for particular age groups or weights. Dog food with vitamin C can help keep your dog’s immune system strong. Exercising your dog is necessary for him to become healthy and is good for his immune system. Walking your dog several times a week can help your dog maintain a health weight and keep his immune system healthy. Playing with your dog can also help reduce stress and you can also get exercise for your dog at the same time. This is a great way for getting exercise in, and it can get two of the things that cause a weaken immune system taken care of.

The amount of time you spend exercising and what you feed your dog will depend on your dog’s weight, age, and size. But the time you spend with your dog is all up to you. At least spend ten to twenty minutes a day with your dog to keep him happy and healthy. Keeping your dog’s immune system strong can help keep your dog healthy longer, and keep him alive longer.

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.

Heat Exhaustion in Dogs

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While you’re out walking or at the dog park with your dog during a hot summer day, there is one deadly risk associated with these activities…heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion can affect dogs differently depending on if you have a long or short haired dog. If you have a long haired dog, you’ll want your dog stay out of the heat for longer periods of time then a short haired dog. An average dog’s temperature will be around one hundred to one hundred and three. If the temperature is above one hundred and four, your dog will probably start reacting to the heat and will start to show problems.

If a dog is suffering from heat exhaustion, he will start to look distressed and may start circling or pacing, and may have his tongue hanging out of his mouth at weird angles. Your dog may also have glazed over look in his eyes that can also be a sign of heat exhaustion. You may also want to feel the temperature of your dog’s fur to know how hot it is. If it feels like it’s on fire, you will definitely want to take your dog over to a shady area or into some water to help him cool down.

If your dog happens to get heat exhaustion take him into a cooler area like under some shade, or if possible, inside. Once in a cooler area, put some lukewarm to cool water on your dog’s belly to cool down your dog faster. If you put the water on your dog’s back, it won’t cool your dog down as fast because the hair on your dog will get cooled more from the water meeting contact with that first. You also do not want to dump a bucket of cold water on your dog if he has heat exhaustion. That can lead to putting your dog’s body into shock and killing him. Avoid the use of ice because it may do more harm than good…cooling your dog down slowly is more effective…you do not want to make your dog shiver as this may raise his body temperature. Also, do not let your dog drink ice water when he is over-heated, this can lead to stomach cramps and possible bloating which can also result in death. If you decide to try and drive your dog to the vet, make sure the car is not hot, and you keep your dog’s temperature down on the ride there.

If you go outside with your dog during a hot day, make sure your dog can get plenty of water and make sure he stays cool. Also do not leave your dog inside a car without air conditioning. This will cause your dog to over heat quickly and possibly kill him. So remember to keep your dog safe when you go out into a hot place. You don’t want your dog to get heat exhaustion.

Why Your Dog Eats Grass

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Sometimes when you take your dog out to the dog park or into your backyard, you’ll see your dog eating grass. But why does he eat it you might wonder? Dogs, both young and old, well trained and not trained,  healthy and sick, eat grass sometimes. Most of the time, your dog’s stomach is not settling well and grass will help remove that food or whatever he just ate by vomiting. If you’re going to let your dog eat grass, try to keep him from coming inside and vomiting. If you don’t want him to do that, try to limit his ability to eat grass outside. Or you may end up with a mess or two.

Your dog eating grass can be good, and yet bad at the same time. If your dog has not been feeling well after eating something, this will help get rid of it. But if your dog goes and eats some grass that has just been covered with fertilizers or any other type of products made from chemicals, it can lead to worse things if eaten. So if you happen to let your dog eat grass as a usual practice, make sure you know it’s safe for him to eat it. The best place, if your going to let your dog eat grass, is in your back yard. This way, you’ll know if it’s safe for him to eat the grass or if it isn’t.

Your dog eating grass isn’t a bad thing, it can be a good thing. It is a natural instinct for your dog to eat grass. Just watch out for your dog eating grass that could be poison to him, otherwise he should be fine.

Submissive Urination And How To Stop It

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Some dogs will get excited when you come home or go to greet him, and he will roll over or squat and pee. This is good and bad. It shows that you are more dominant, but your dog still pees on the floor. Submissive urination can sometimes lead to your dog thinking that it’s alright to pee in that spot. There are a few ways to deal with this situation, and there are many different things that will cause your dog to do this.

Loud sounds (especially yelling), making eye contact, and/or bending over to pet your dog are a few of the things that can cause your dog to pee from submissive urination and should be avoided at all costs. One of the things that you should do when you open a door to greet your dog is to walk past your dog and try to walk to a spot which your dog can pee in. Call your dog to come to you once you are at one of those spots. There you should try to get your dog to go to the bathroom so he will not pee from submissive urination.

Another way to prevent it is to not let your dog drink too much water. Especially if he has been stuck in a room for hours and needs to go to the bathroom. But remember to not yell at your dog if he does pee out of submissive urination. This could also lead to him peeing again. And don’t stop to pet your dog if he has been in a room for hours. Just walk away to a spot which he can go in and call him to you so he can go to the bathroom before you pet him.

There are many other ways that you can train your dog to prevent submissive urination in a spot which your dog shouldn’t go in. These are just tips on what can cause your dog to do this, and how to prevent it. So if you find another way that works, stick with it.

 

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