Don’t Your Pets Deserve the Best?

Grooming is an important part of your dog’s health, with regular brushing and combing helping to remove dead hair and dirt and prevent matting. Use tools like the furminator to remove matting and dead undercoats. Dogs who are regularly groomed tend to have a healthier and shinier coat because it stimulates the blood supply to the skin.

Grooming your dog can also be a good way to bond with your dog, and it’s important to get him used to it from an early age. Many dogs learn to see their routine brushing as an alternate petting, another source of affection and attention. A good quality brush and comb will help you with your dog’s coat, but also remember that your dog’s eyes, ears, and nails require attention as well.

Many breeds have special grooming needs, so be sure to research before you choose a method of grooming for your dog breed.

 Dog hair grows and dies just as human hair does. Some dogs — particularly hard-coated terriers and Poodles — hang on to their dead hair, thus requiring special grooming to remove it. Use tools like the furminator to remove this dead hair. Other dogs give it up quite readily, all over the house. Double-coated dogs generally drop their soft undercoats twice a year and lose their guard hairs once a year, although some individual dogs might shed constantly or only every 10-12 months. Shedding can take anywhere from three weeks to two months. A warm bath helps accelerate the process and daily (or twice-daily) grooming can help control clouds of hair that scurry into corners and under furniture.

Shedding is controlled by hormonal changes that are tied to photoperiod (day length) and is influenced by level of nutrition and general state of health. In addition to natural biennial shedding, a dog may drop its coat after surgery, x-rays under anesthesia, and whelping puppies.

Double-coated dogs that shed heavily are Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Keeshond, Siberian Husky, Samoyed, Norwegian Elkhound, Collie, Great Pyrenees, Kuvasz, Newfoundland, St. Bernard, English Toy Spaniel, Pomeranian, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Tervuren, Australian Shepherd, German Shepherd, Smooth Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, and American Eskimo. The Dalmatian sheds constantly, and many dogs shed a moderate amount of hair.

Owners should be aware before purchase that a long-coated dog, purebred or mixed, will require grooming throughout its life. If the inclination to groom or the time to do so are not part of the plan, provisions should be made for professional coat care for the dog. Otherwise, a dog that can do with a lick and a promise is a better choice as a family pet.

 Pet supply stores have a dizzying variety of tools and products to assist in dog grooming. There are combs with fine teeth, combs with medium teeth, and combs with coarse teeth, combs with handles and without. There are brushes with short metal pins, brushes with slanted metal pins, brushes with flexible plastic pins, oval-shaped brushes and rectangular brushes. There are shedding blades for thick-coated dogs that shed gobs of undercoat and nubby gloves for smooth-coated breeds.

There are shampoos and rinses and gels and whiteners and conditioners and supplements to clean and soften coats.

A basic home grooming kit for a long-coated dog should include a soft wire slicker brush, a comb that has both fine and coarse teeth, a Universal brush and mat comb for dealing with the tangles that do form, and an oil-based conditioner that is applied before brushing or combing the coat.  We recommend using the furminator to remove the dead undercoat of thick haired dogs. The mat comb has long teeth that are inserted into the mat rocked in a sawing motion to loosen the hairs.

A kit for medium-coated or short-coated dogs should include a slicker brush or flexible-pin brush. Bony dogs should be brushed with a soft brush or one with blunt bristles. Feathery hairs on the legs, ears, and tail should be combed. A nubby glove or coarse rag is suitable for grooming faces and for stimulating the skin and conditioning the coat on short-coated dogs.

 There are a plethora of reasons why every dog owner should groom their dog frequently. Such practice is highly important for it will make your canine pet be in good shape, physically and emotionally.

If your dog is clean and well-groomed all the time, he will be free from germs and bacteria. His fur will be a lot nicer and not be infested by nasty fleas and ticks and, most importantly, you will keep him away from any canine diseases at bay, making him more active.

A clean dog is more well-behaved than the dirty ones. Dogs plague-ridden by fleas, for instance, are always irritable and bad tempered, and tend to show signs of bad dog behaviors such as excessive barking. True enough, the physical state of your dog has a big impact on the way he feels and reacts to people around him.

Dog grooming is a responsibility of every owner that is not that hard to do. Giving your dog a good pet bath once a week is one of them which obviously doesn’t take that much time. It is the easiest and most effective method to make your dogs clean and eliminate the dirt he got from playing outside. In bathing your pet, the use of anti-fleas shampoo and conditioner is recommended to ensure the absolute removal of these pests on your pet’s fur and skin.

Moreover, grooming your dog will definitely give an enormous comfort on him. It is also a great bonding time between you and your dog. Besides bathing him, take time to trim his nails regularly and brush his hair daily. Brushing your dog’s hair on a daily basis is an important part of every pet’s hygiene for it reduces shedding and promotes healthy skin.  Use tools like the furminator to remove the dead undercoat. You can also boost the energy level of your dog by grooming him.

 Dogs have been a reliable household buddy for ages and almost every family in town has one. Perhaps one of the reasons why the few others who resist in keeping dogs as pets is hair shedding that has been a common concern among pet owners. Though common, this does not really impose any threat to the family, unless they are very particular about tidiness around the home or members of the pack with allergies.

Setting aside these concerns and focusing on how to treat hair shedding among dogs, it can all be taken care of. By simply using proper tools to brush your dog’s hair makes it all better. It is advised that you really shouldn’t start to this healthy grooming habit as soon as you see some pile of shedding hair on the carpet, sofa, or rug… you can start early. Preventing shedding is a much better practice that keeping it off your dog’s hair. The furminator is one particular dog brush that can help you up with the task.

When taking your dog for a bath, it is always best to apply shampoo but not just any type of shampoo. The shampoo manufactured in markets for human use has a different PH balance which can be harmful for your K9 buddy thus allowing moderate to excessive shedding. Buy the ones that are really meant for dogs. Talking about the bathing water, hot and cold does no good so use tepid temperature water.

After giving your pet some pet bath, don’t just let ‘em run around wet. Dry your dog at air temperature. There are blowers for dog parlors but these gadgets do not use any heat. Let the hair dry and the air flow at the direction opposite the growth flow of your pet’s hair to get rid of some of the loose ones.

If excessive shedding still occurs, check on your dog’s diet and food intake as these can also contribute to your dog’s hair condition.

 Proper grooming is an important part of pet care. It not only makes a companion animal look better, but contributes to his or her physiological and psychological health.

Coat
Brush your pet thoroughly every day. This helps keep his or her hair in good condition by removing dirt, spreading the natural oils throughout the coat, preventing tangles from forming and keeping the skin clean and free from irritation. Use deshedding tools like the furminator to remove the dead, dry undercoat. 

It is best to start brushing your pet at an early age, but do not despair if he or she is an older animal. It is possible to train one to enjoy grooming. Proceed slowly, and be sure to use treats and plenty of praise to make the experience fun!

 Dog grooming is an important part of dog ownership. Just like people, dogs need physical maintenance to look and feel their best. Fortunately, dogs do not need to bathe as often as people, but you do need to learn how much grooming your dog actually needs and keep it on a schedule. Generally, a dog’s grooming needs depend on the breed and hair type. If your dog has a skin, ear or nail condition, follow your veterinarian’s instructions regarding grooming your dog. Here is a dog grooming basic to remember.

Hair Brushing
Most dogs enjoy being brushed, and the sessions will strengthen the bond with your dog while keeping his coat healthy. A dog’s minimum brushing needs depend on hair type. Choose the appropriate tool and follow these guidelines based on hair type. Long-haired dogs usually require daily brushing to prevent matting and tangling of hair. Medium-haired dogs are also prone to matting and tangles and should be brushed at least weekly. Short-haired dogs can typically go about a month in-between brushing. Regardless of hair type, you can brush your dog daily - especially if he enjoys it. More frequent brushing is recommended during shedding season to prevent build-up of undercoat and excess shedding. Use tools like the furminator to reduce the dead undercoat of your pet.

 To make things the easiest for you, start when the dog is just a puppy and they will become so accustomed to it, it will not be a problem or big deal. Depending on whether your pet is short or long hair will determine the amount of brushing required. Shorthaired dogs need to be brushed two to three times a week. Longhaired pets should be brushed daily. Look at it as time spent relating to your dog and the time will be spent doing double duty. Different brushes are made for different hair types. Choose an appropriate one depending on length and type of coat. For dogs with extremely wiry or a coat that mats easily, look for a mat comb.

Since deshedding is a very important consideration for any long haired pet owner, use tools like the furminator to remove the dead undercoat of the dog.  This hair can build up over time, and could cause your dog to become overheated easier in the summer months.

Treatment of Bad Breath

1) Yearly Checkups
Even if you do not give yearly booster vaccinations it is wise to take your pet to a veterinarian yearly to get a general checkup that includes a dental exam. The older your pet is the more important early exams become.

2) Diet
To retard the formation of plaque feed your pet a name brand dry commercial pet food. The crunchy biscuits help massage gums and wear away tartar. Some brands, like Friskys, market dental diets engineered to minimize plaque and massage the gums. Other brands incorporate enzymes to dissolve plaque. One of the worst things you can do to your pet’s teeth is to feed canned diets. The build up of plaque in pets fed soft, canned diets is very rapid. In a Duke University study, it was found that feeding cow tracheas (windpipes) with a little meat attached kept dogs teeth in great condition. Other investigations in research dog colonies fount that feeding oxtails once a week prevented serious periodontal disease.

3) Treats
Feeding chewy treats (like cow ears), bones, rawhide and treats impregnated with enzymes minimize dental plaque. Nylon bones work equally as well if the pet accepts them.

If you give your pet real bones be sure they are heavy shin and shank bones. Dogs and cats do better chewing on bones if they start when they are puppies and kittens. Do not give your pet chicken bones.

4) Brushing teeth
Brushing your pet’s teeth is the most important thing you can to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Use a child’s toothbrush and meat or malt favored toothpaste designed for animals. Use a very small amount of toothpaste - it is the brushing that is important - and concentrate on the gum margins. . If you start when your pet is a puppy or kitten the pet will not dislike the procedure. Even older pets learn to accept the toothbrush.

5) Mouth wash and sprays
Veterinary hospitals and pet supply out lets sell chlorhexidine sprays and mouthwashes that contain enzymes that dissolve plaque and help reduce bacteria. They are not nearly as effective as brushing the teeth but are better than no home care.

Manual tartar removal
If your pet has a placid temperament it is not difficult to scrap the tartar from the teeth and clean under the margins of the gums at home. Many pet professionals perform excellent tooth cleaning at home eliminating the need to have their pet anesthetized at a veterinary clinic. Your veterinarian or a pet supply catalog is a good source for a tartar-scraping tool. The best ones are double ended, one end suitable for the right and the other for the left hand side of the mouth.

Ultrasonic cleaning
Because the whine of the ultrasonic machine is distressing to most animals, this procedure is performed with general anesthetic or heavy tranquilization. Since it is often older patients, many of whom have heart disease, that need the procedure, I keep them under very light anesthetic.

Removal of diseased teeth
Once the ligaments that fasten teeth to the bone of the jaw have been damaged by periodontal disease ultrasonic cleaning will not heal them. Mildly loose teeth can sometimes be preserved by cleaning and several weeks of doxycycline therapy either with oral tablets or oral patches. Severely loose teeth are best removed. Dogs and cats do very well with few remaining teeth. Problems are more in the minds of owners due to fear than to any difficulties experienced by the pets.

Tooth restorations
Some veterinarians and dentists specialize in crowns for damaged pet teeth. Other than for attack dogs, this is a purely cosmetic procedure satisfying the owner, not the pet. I suggest you spend the money on your pets in other ways - such as a trips with your pet to the country or the park and contributions to your local Humane Society.

Other Causes of Bad Breath
Immature pets that are in the process of shedding their “baby” teeth often drool and have bad breath. This is a transient problem. Some times it is accompanied by fever. Brushing these pets’ mouths with a dilute baking soda solution gives them relief and minimizes the odor.  If the pet is hesitant or fight too much during brushing, try giving them a chewable to treat like pig ears to help get rid of some of the tartar.

In older pets, disease of the kidneys and liver often affect the mouth. These pets are often thin and frail. When I suspect that a pet with halitosis has major organ failure I run diagnostic liver enzyme levels as well as blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels to check kidney function. Pets with organ damage require extra special care when tending to their teeth. Anesthesia during dental prophylaxis must be administered lightly and with special care. Often I place these pets on antibiotics after I clean their teeth as well as on special diets engineered to help failing organs.

When I see young cats with strong breaths and dental disease I screen them for feline leukemia as well as feline immunodifficiency disease (feline aids). When they are negative for these diseases, they often have resorptive dental disease in which deep cavities form in many teeth simultaneously for no apparent reason. In resorptive dental disease, the roots of the canine teeth are often exposed. Often incisor teeth in these cats drop out for no apparent reason. It is unclear if these cats are born with soft susceptible teeth or if another undescribed form of dental disease is present. Cleaning the teeth of cats with resorptive dental disease is not very effective. Eventually, these teeth need to be extracted. When this is done these cats go on to lead happy and healthy lives.

Problems Associated With Tooth and Gum Disease
As kidney and liver disease can lead to dental disease; dental disease can lead to disease of the kidney and liver. Tartar accumulation around the teeth allows harmful bacteria to proliferate. These bacteria occasionally break loose and enter the pet’s circulation. Once in the blood stream, they lodge in crevices with the kidneys and liver and on the valves of the heart. Liver inflammation as well as scarred, poorly functioning kidneys are the result of bacteria lodging in these organs. When the heart valves are attacked by bacteria they shrink and scar causing blood to flow in the wrong direction. This is why it is common for dogs and cats with severe dental disease to have heart murmurs. It is not unusual for these murmurs to go away once the pet’s dental problems are treated.

Dogs and cats with chronic dental problems often drool. This wetness and the infection associated with tooth infections may cause the lips and the skin folds surrounding the lips to become inflamed. Once the teeth are cleaned these problems resolve.