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01/03/2023

Do’s and Don’ts of Winter Dog Grooming

Many dog owners mistakenly believe that they can skip dog grooming during the winter months. Often, this is a simple mistake based on good intentions, such as thinking they should allow their dog’s coat to grow during the winter to give him extra warmth. In actuality, winter dog grooming is just as important, possibly even more so, than it is during the summer months.
Alyssa Hill, a dog grooming professional told iHeartDogs, “In fact, in many ways, grooming over the winter months becomes even more important to the health of your dog than at any other time of the year. Long, wet, matted hair easily makes a cold, wet, and infection-susceptible dog.”
If your dog goes without grooming in the winter, you risk that long fur becoming matted. What you may think is adding extra cold-weather protection will actually be doing just the opposite. Hill explains, “Fur that’s matted doesn’t insulate or provide warmth; instead, it provides discomfort, pain, and hot spots. Matting can even lead to infections below the skin.”
Additionally, many dog moms and dads simply pass on dog grooming in the winter because they don’t think their dog needs it as much. Like humans, your dog is likely spending more time indoors during the winter, so she isn’t as smelly or dirty. But, some of the things we do to stay warm indoors, dry out dog’s skin.
Regular dog grooming is important year-round, but here are some do’s and don’ts to pay attention to during the coldest season of the year.

Don’t Wait for Dog Grooming Until Spring
As we’ve established, dog grooming is absolutely necessary during winter. If you wait until spring, your dog’s fur will likely be matted. As a result, it will make grooming much more difficult. Plus, the more often your dog is groomed, the more comfortable he will be during the grooming process.
Don’t Let Them Outside with Wet Fur
One of the key differences when it comes to winter dog grooming is regulating their body temperature. For this reason, you want to make sure your dog is completely dry after a bath. Do not let your dog outside to dry off as you may during hotter months. The issue is that the longer a dog is exposed to the cold, the likelier he will experience a drop in body temperature and may even suffer from hypothermia. This occurs most often when a dog is wet.
Do Bathe Them Regularly

You may think your dog doesn’t need a bath because she doesn’t seem smelly or dirty since she hasn’t been playing outdoors as often. While she may not stink, her skin still needs a good cleaning. Plus, it is a great way to moisturize dry skin. According to Courtney Campuzano, owner of a dog grooming salon, to PetMD, “Dry dog skin can occur more often in winter for the same reason our skin can get drier in the winter—artificial, dry heat […] Maintaining a regular bathing schedule is your best defense. Most dogs should get a good shampoo, condition, blow out and brushing about once a month.” If your dog does have winter dry skin issues, use a special moisturizing shampoo.
Do Continue Haircuts
Whether you choose to keep cutting your dog’s hair throughout the winter, opt for a longer trim, or let it grow, it is important to continue brushing and shampooing it regularly. The reason most dog grooming professionals suggest you do continue cutting your dog’s hair in the winter is that many dog parents fail to regularly brush their fur, which results in serious matting come spring. If you are worried that your fur-baby will get cold with short hair, then invest in winter gear, such as doggie coats.

Do Protect Their Paws
Your pup’s paws need extra protection in the winter – especially if you live somewhere where ice and snow cover the sidewalks. Avoid cracked paws, irritations, and infections caused by winter weather by wiping your dog’s paws off each time he comes back indoors. You should also pay careful attention to the area between his pads (or toes). Dr. Jeff Werber, DVM explains to PetMD, “In the winter, there are a variety of chemicals and salts used to melt ice on sidewalks and outdoor walkways—and they can get stuck in the hair between the toes and pads […] Licking paws after walks over rock salt can lead to gastrointestinal disturbances as well as electrolyte issues, in some cases.”
Note – If you live somewhere with regular winter weather, you may want to consider investing in paw protectors or dog boots.
Do Trim Their Nails
Like humans, most dog’s physical activity slows down a bit in the winter. This means they are not grinding their toenails as much as the sidewalk. Check their toenails regularly to see if it is time for a trim. You don’t want to wait until you can hear them tapping across your hardwood floors. If you plan to trim your dog’s nails at home, check out the AKC’s guide for How to Trim Your Dog’s Nails Safely, which includes step-by-step instructions and a video.

08/07/2022

Health Tips

We may know our canine companions better than anyone else, but it is important to remember most of us are not medical professionals. If you are uncertain how to treat your dog’s medical needs or if you have any questions, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. It is important to keep the following information in mind with the arrival of summer:

Have your dog’s vaccinations updated if necessary. Diseases such as rabies, distemper and parvo are ever-present dangers and necessary precautions should be taken.Beware of insect bites. If your dog is bitten or stung, remove the stinger and watch the site for an allergic reaction. If a reaction occurs or there have been multiple wasp, bee or mosquito bites, take the animal to the vet.Talk with your veterinarian about flea and tick prevention medications.Heartworm is a common problem for dogs. Take your dog to a vet for a heartworm check every spring and follow your vet’s advice for heartworm precautions.Most lawn and garden products may be hazardous. Make sure that plants and fertilizers within the dog’s reach are not toxic.The outdoors exposes dogs to the elements. Dogs may need extra brushing and bathing to stay clean and healthy.No matter how careful and responsible you may be, accidents can happen. Make sure your vet’s phone number is close at hand and available to all family members.General Summer Safety Concerns

Hot weather can make anyone feel uncomfortable, and your dog is no exception. Here are some safety concerns for responsible dog owners:

Never leave your dog unattended in direct sunlight or in a closed vehicle. Heatstroke can occur and lead to brain damage or death. Signs of heatstroke are panting, drooling, rapid pulse and fever. Immediately immerse the dog in cool water and seek emergency veterinary assistance.Never leave your dog unattended in a hot, parked car. When it’s only 80 degrees outside, the inside of a car can heat up to more than 120 degrees in just minutes. Leaving the windows partially rolled down will not help. Your dog is susceptible to heat stroke and possible death in these conditions.Always make sure your dog has access to fresh water.All dogs should have proper identification at all times. The AKC suggests a collar with an ID tag, along with a tattoo or a microchip.Keep your dog on a leash when he is outdoors to prevent accidents and injuries.Try to avoid strenuous exercise with your dog on extremely hot days and refrain from physical activity when the sun’s heat is most intense.

29/06/2022

5 Tips For Summer Dog Grooming

You’re a good dog parent. You never leave your dog in a hot car on a hot day. You give your dog access to plenty of shade and water. And you never exercise your pet in the peak heat of the afternoon.

But outside of the obviously dangerous, and the out-of-the-box fun for your pet, the most effective and regularly overlooked way to take care of your pet and beat the summer heat is by paying attention to your dog’s grooming needs.

By keeping your dog properly groomed throughout the summer you can keep dangerous dog problems at bay and keep your pet cool and comfortable. Because heat stroke and foot blisters are nothing to shake our heads at, we’ve included 5 ways you can pay attention to your pet’s grooming needs and get them ready to face the summer heat.

1. ACHIEVE PROPER COAT LENGTH FOR YOUR DOG
While keeping a shorter coat on your dog might seem like the most logical way to keep your dog from overheating, cutting down the length of your dog’s coat too much can actually cause certain dogs to get sunburned (especially if they have a pink skin tone). A balance needs to be struck between not too long and not too short. A professional dog groomer can lend the experience necessary to achieve the length of coat that will keep your dog cool while protecting them from a painful sunburn.

2. PERFORM A THOROUGH DE-SHEDDING ON YOUR DOG
It’s natural for a dog with a thick, double coat to shed. It’s nature's way of keeping your dog cool. But regular shedding can become problematic for a dog mom or dad looking to keep their house in order. Once we’ve reached our threshold for dealing with our pets shedding we might be tempted to just shave it off and be done with it but this is truly a knee jerk reaction. Shaving your double coated dog is not always the best answer. Not all double coated dogs should be shaved. Talk to your groomer about a thorough de-shedding process. A de-shed will help loosen the undercoat and have them clean, cool and shedding less for the summer.

3. SPACE OUT YOUR DOG’S BATHS
Just because it’s hot, and soaking your dog with water appears to be an easy way to cool down your dog, it doesn’t mean that you should bath your dog daily or even weekly. Over bathing can bring about a whole rash of other issues for your pet. Keep in mind that your pet's skin can be very sensitive and that spacing out their baths is just as important as keeping them cool (even if they do get a little stinky from rolling in the mud or playing at the park).

4. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR PET’S PAW PADS
The pads on your pet's feet are very sensitive. Hot concrete, asphalt, rocks, gravel and sand can be painful and damaging to your pet's pads. Heat blisters, rips, and tears in the pads can all occur. Be mindful of the temperature of the ground you're walking your pet on and avoid hot surfaces that might bring harm. A good rule of thumb is the 5 second rule; place your hand on the surface you’re walking on, if you can’t hold your palm to the ground for more than 5 seconds it’s too hot for your dog to be walking on. You can protect your pets pads by having them regularly conditioned and polished by a professional dog groomer leaving them less susceptible to painful cracks caused by moisture sucking heat and protect them at home, in-between groomings, by purchasing a pad wax like Musher’s Secret Paw Protection for your pup and applying it as often as directed by the manufacturer to keep them hydrated.

5. TAKE YOUR PET FOR REGULAR GROOMING
Lots of people think of dog grooming in regards to the way it makes us feel about our pets and not about the way it makes our pets feel. Enjoying the opportunity to play more outside naturally means that your pet can and will get dirty, faster. This tends to send dog moms and dads into the groomers but regular grooming is more than just for keeping our pets clean. Regular grooming can help your dog stay healthy, feeling great, and even help you cut costs on certain vet bills. Your dog will need to be groomed at least every 3 months to keep his or her skin and coat in tip top shape

About the Author

Dayana Jerkins is the owner of You Heavenly Dog, a Dog Grooming Service in Tennessee, voted the Best Groomer in Fairview for the last 4 years. As a long time dog lover, she took a passionate leap into the pet care world and now spends her days grooming and styling full time. Helping others care for their pets is her number one goal!

14/06/2022

Basic Equipment and Supplies for Dog Grooming

Good dog-grooming equipment is necessary for doing the job right. You don’t, however, need to buy the most expensive supplies to keep your dog’s coat in good condition. In fact, some of the best equipment can be made or purchased without spending too much money.

So what equipment do you need? Much depends on your dog’s breed. For example, an Alaskan Malamute is going to have different needs than a Poodle, and both are going to have different needs than a Bluetick Coonhound. So some of the equipment may not be optional if you have a particular type of dog.

Whatever the breed, this list of basic dog-grooming supplies will give you a solid start:

Comb. A medium-toothed comb is a good all-around comb, but get a fine-toothed comb if your dog has thin hair or a wide-toothed comb if her hair is thick. And get a flea comb for both removing fleas and tangles.
Brush. A slicker brush is a good all-purpose brush, but get a curry brush if your dog has short hair or a pin brush if your dog has a long single coat.pH-balanced shampoo and conditioner made for dogs. Keep plenty of old towels on hand for drying.A toothbrush and toothpaste made for dogs.Dog toenail clippers and styptic powder. The powder helps stop bleeding in case you clip too close to the quick.Otic solution, forceps, and gauze. Use these tools to clean your dog’s ears.Electric clipper. If your dog’s coat needs to be clipped, you need a good electric clipper and blades, including a No. 10 blade.

Gather these basic dog-grooming supplies and keep them in a special “doggy spa” bag or tack box — and remember to groom your dog on a regular basis to keep him happy and healthy.

08/06/2022

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