23 Mar

should i shave my dogs matted fur?...

  • 27559

The new groomer wants to shave your dogs coat right down because she says it’s too matted and it’ll hurt to brush it out. The old groomer used to brush it out, and she always said your dog was fine. It’s cold outside, and you want your dog to have enough hair to stay warm, but you also want to do the very best thing for your pet, so what do you do?

Well, it depends on a number of things. Firstly, you and / or your groomer need to assess the tolerance your dog has for brushing. If your pet likes being brushed, she may tolerate the de-matting process, or she may not. If she does not like being brushed, de-matting will probably not be the best solution for her. Many dogs fall between these two extremes, and you just need to try to find out.

Secondly, the extent of the matting needs some consideration. There are two things you need to look at… 1) how much of your dogs body has matted fur on it? and 2) how close (and tight) are the mats to your dogs skin? A skilled groomer can run her hands over your dogs coat, and very quickly determine these things by feel alone, because her hands are accustomed to what a coat should feel like. You can do this too, with the help of a metal toothed comb (plastic teeth bend too easily), and perhaps your favourite pair of reading glasses. First, know where to look. Areas of friction will start to mat first, so where her ears rub against her head, armpits, where she chews her feet, and under her collar or harness. Part the hair, and you should see healthy skin, and smooth hair shafts growing from it. If you can’t see skin, and the hair is bunched up, it’s a mat. You should be able to take a fine toothed comb (wide teeth for Poodles and other breeds with very tight curls), and completely comb through the hair, root to tip, over your dogs entire body. When your comb gets stuck, you found a mat!

Now, de-matting can be done a number of ways, with various tools. If there are just a few small mats on your dog, this usually is not a problem, with the exception of a very few dogs who have especially sensitive skin. A caring, patient, and skilled groomer can remove these gently, without causing pain or stress to your loved one. (Please note, this procedure takes time, skill, and above all, patience. If your groomer isn’t applying any extra charges, you may want to ask yourself why.) Another option is to spot shave these mats. Once again, a skilled groomer may be able to hide these shaved areas with the surrounding fur.

If the mats cover large areas of your dog, or even her whole body, simply having them can be quite uncomfortable for your pet. But not just that. Mats pose a health risk for a number of reasons. If your dog has acquired any sort of skin irritation, either due to an allergic reaction, an injury, or something sharp caught in her fur like a twig or thorn, you won’t know about it in order to help her, because you can’t see it. The irritated skin can’t heal well because air can’t circulate properly, and it can’t be kept clean. Additionally, if your dog loves to swim, or she has frequent baths, the coat takes much longer to dry, especially against the skin, which can cause further problems. This moist environment encourages bacteria, fungus, and yeast growth, as well as exacerbating any irritation which may already be there. One of the most unpleasant consequences of a matted coat, is that it is a perfect environment for fleas to congregate and multiply, and nobody wants to invite fleas to the party. In summary, these effects can be quite taxing to your dogs immune system, compromising her health, and making her susceptible to other health issues. Regularly grooming your dog is a very important part of keeping her healthy.

So, should you, or shouldn’t you, shave your dog?

Well, often, the best choice is the lesser of two evils. Generally speaking, shaving mats is more humane than brushing, especially for large matted areas. If you do choose to have your pets mats brushed out, ask your groomer if it’s okay if you watch. If you’re not welcomed to do so, you may want to reconsider either your choice of haircut, or your choice of groomer. If you opt for shaving the coat off, you’ll want to put a cozy sweater or coat on your pet before venturing outside. Fortunately, these are widely available, with increasing selections of locally made, eco-friendly fabrics. So, don’t feel sorry she has a very short haircut; be happy she will be far more comfortable, and one step closer to optimum health.

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23 Mar

how do i know if my dog has fleas?...

  • 31066

Dogs scratch for many different reasons. But if you suspect fleas may be the culprit, the following easy to perform tests can put an end to the guesswork, so you can begin to help your pet.

1) Have your dog stand on a clean surface, with a damp white cloth or paper towel handy. Now, fleas tend to congregate on the back near the tail, so give her hind end a real good scratch. She’ll absolutely love you for this! Wipe the table or floor below where you’ve been scratching, and look at the debris on the white towel. Wait a minute or two, and any black specks which melt into red smears are flecks of dried blood, commonly known as flea dirt. This is the most accurate way to determine if your dog is afflicted by fleas, other than actually seeing them.

Alternatively…
2) If you have a hair dryer with a cool setting, pass the air over your dogs coat, parting the hair in a methodical manner. You can sometimes catch a glimpse of a flea before it scurries away. This method works if the dogs coat is not too thick or matted.

3) Use a flea comb which you can purchase at a local pet shop – a metal one is best as the teeth won’t bend. This works best on a dog with a short coat with no tangles. Run the comb through your dogs hair, being sure to go over her entire body. The comb will pull the fleas off because the teeth are so close together, and you can use this method to remove the fleas as well, but, since fleas move around quickly, you’ll need to go over her multiple times.

Now that you’ve determined your dog has fleas, the healthiest way to get rid of them is with a natural flea bath.

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20 Dec

when should i take my puppy to the groom...

  • 25876

“Even if your puppy doesn’t need a bath or haircut just yet, it’s the experience which is most important.”

The newest member of your family has four legs and fur, and is just about the cutest little bundle of joy you ever did see. And now, along with the pleasure of enjoying your new puppy, you’ve also taken on the responsibility of keeping him healthy by feeding him whole foods, exercising with him, and keeping him well groomed.

When it comes to grooming, most dogs have coats which wouldn’t normally be found in nature, and it’s simply not possible for them to groom themselves. That’s where you come in, and you have a couple of choices. You can take your puppy to a professional groomer, or, with a little bit of know-how, you can groom him yourself at home.

Whichever choice you make, it’s best to take him to a professional groomer for his first few dates with the bathtub and clippers, while he is young and curious. This serves a couple of purposes. Most importantly, it exposes your dog to grooming in a studio environment while he is at the learning stage in his life, and therefore most accepting of new things; this is the time when his mother would be teaching him about the world and it’s many wonders. Later, when his mother would naturally wean him, he’ll begin questioning new things, and be wary as a means of survival. At this point, introducing new experiences becomes considerably more challenging.

So even if your puppy doesn’t need a bath or haircut just yet, it’s the experience which is most important! Even if you plan to do your own grooming, there will probably come a time when you require the services of a grooming studio; you may move to a smaller home, you may leave him with someone who isn’t able to groom him, it may become difficult for you as your dog ages, or you simply might decide you don’t want to do it anymore. The point is, you never know what the future holds.

Visiting a professional groomer also gives you the opportunity to learn which brushes and tools are best suited to your dogs coat type, and just as importantly, the correct way to use them to achieve the best and safest results. She may also be able to give you some tips and tricks to make grooming at home easy and enjoyable.

So, back to our original question of when should you take your puppy to the groomer for the first time. I usually tell people “a week after you bring him home” as a good rule of thumb. If he’s eight weeks old when you bring him home for the first time, give him some time to adjust to his new surroundings, then visit your new groomer when he’s nine weeks. Ideally, you would have already chosen and met with her – you’ll feel much more at ease leaving him there for the first time, and if you’re at ease, he’ll be at ease.

Remember, dogs mimic our moods because we are taking the roll of their mother, and that’s who they learn behaviour from. So take your puppy to the groomer early and often while he is very young. This investment will make for a smooth and stress free lifetime of good grooming and good health.

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19 Dec

when should i cut my dogs nails?...

  • 28292

The clicking of your dogs nails on the hardwood floor should not be a call to action to book an appointment with your groomer. Nor should you wait for the next time his doggy aroma signals bath time, to think about trimming his nails. Unless you visit your groomer every four to six weeks, his nails will require you pay them a little bit of attention.

Now, while some dogs are highly active in the great outdoors, most pet dogs spend their leisure time on soft grass, groomed trails, and indoor flooring, which means they don’t wear down their nails on their own, and a little intervention is required on the part of homo sapien.

The reason it’s important to keep your dogs nails trimmed to an appropriate length is twofold. Firstly, allowing them to become too long can lead to improper foot placement, which affects the movement of your dog up through the bones of his feet, into his legs, hips and shoulders, and, if left unchecked, can in turn lead to arthritis. Secondly, some nails will grow into a curled shape and can become embedded in the soft tissue of the pad, where they continue to grow more deeply. This is a painful condition, made worse with every step taken, added to the risk of infection. The good news is, these conditions are completely and easily preventable.

To start with, ask your groomer to suggest a nail trimming schedule for you based on your dogs activities. Your groomer will also be able to guide you in what to look for, so that you too will be able to recognize when it’s the appropriate time to trim his nails. If you don’t already have a groomer, ask the folks at your local dog park whom they recommend, and be sure to choose somebody experienced and reputable.

What happens if his nails are already too long? Well, in a dog whose nails have been overgrown for a long period of time, the quick – which provides blood and contains nerves – enlarges along with the nail in order to nourish it. The problem arises when the time for a nail trim does come, and the nail can only be trimmed as far back as the quick will allow. Often times, the length of the nail after trimming is still too long for good health, in which case the quick needs to be encouraged to recede. This is done by trimming the nail very close, but not into, the quick on a regular schedule of every 7 – 14 days. This procedure is best done by an experienced dog groomer, as it is quite precise.

In closing, every dog is an individual, but if you don’t have a groomer, and you want to trim your dogs nails yourself, a good rule of thumb is to trim them every 4 – 6 weeks.

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