If it isn't close to the skin, use corn starch liberally on the spot and comb or brush out a little at a time. The corn starch will help loosen the knott.
What Can I do To Reduce Shedding?
1. Use a furminator several times a week to reduce shedding in your home. 2. Your groomer can also shorten the length of your dogs hair by layering to reduce shedding. Try to avoid shaving your dog. Although it reduces shedding, it is not recommended for skin, coat and health reasons. 3. Nutrition is a huge factor. Buy specialty all natural brands (ex. Nature's Variety, Prairie, Fromm, Innova, Taste of the Wild, Canade, Evo, etc.) Avoid (ex. Beniful, Purina, Science Diet, Iams, Nutro, etc). 4. In conjuntion with a specialty brand - feed a half tablespoon to 2 tablespoons of Coconut Oil (purchased in a can from stores like Sprouts or Central Market) in their food. The doesage is based on dog weight. NOTE: Items 3 and 4 are most important.
Should I Shave My Dog Down in the Summer?
No. Never shave a dog down, especially in the summer. Not only does shaving change the texture of their hair forever, but shaving can add to heat stroke in the summer. Their hair acts to both cool them in the summer and keep them warm in the winter. Your groomer can shorten the length of their hair by layering it to keep them cool and also reduce the shedding. Please, consult a reputable groomer with education and credentials before asking for a shave down.
How Often Should I Trim My Dog's Nails? (more about nails below)
While some might think the answer is as simple as “when they get too long”, there really is a little more to it than that. In ideal conditions, you wouldn’t have to trim the dog’s nail at all (except for the dew claw). That is because if given proper exercise under the right conditions, the nails would naturally be kept to a perfect length.
When you take your dog for walks, the nails will wear down a little with each step. This is nature’s way of keeping a dog’s nails trimmed. When a dog does not get enough exercise, the nails will grow so long that you can hear them tapping when they walk across the floor. That is when you will have to start trimming.
The exception to that rule is the dew claw. This is the claw that grows on the inner side of the paw. Because this claw doesn’t touch the ground during exercise, it will need to be trimmed regularly. If the dew claw is not properly trimmed, it could bend and grow right into the dog’s skin or pad. The only remedy for this is surgery, which must be performed as soon as you notice the problem. Otherwise, infections and other can result.
How Can I Prevent Matts?Spritz your dog before and after they go outside with a detangling, conditioning, hydrating spray then comb as usual. Problem spots are behind the ears, the belly, the arm pits and the hind quarters. Local pet stores sell a product for this purpose. Nature's Specialties also sells bottles of gel and conditioners to help with matts and tangles. It is applied to a dry coat and diluted 4 to 1. It's a professional product and a bit pricey, but worth the money. Combine these products with the brushes below.
What Tool Can I Use To Dematt My Dog?
Les Pooches sells a variety of professional brushes designed for each breed and coat type. They are a lot less destructive on the coat than the typical brushes sold at your local pet store. Just Google Les Pooches brushes. They are a bit pricey, but worth the money.
What Breeds Need Hair Pulled From Their Ears?
Lots of breeds grow hair in the ear canal and should be pulled to prevent infection. The most common breeds are: Poodles, Bichons, Schnauzers, Shih Tzu, Havernese, Maltese, etc.
Can I pull Ear Hair Myself?
Yes, but purchase an ear powder from your local pet store or PetEdge.com. It comes in a bottle with an attached nozel or spout. Put some powder in each ear and wait a couple minutes. The powder absorbs the moisture in the ear and allows the hair to come out easily just by pulling with your fingers. Only pull the hair inside the ear canal. If some hair remains, repeat the process. Some dogs will cry at first if they aren't used to the process. After frequency it becomes easier on you and them. Most dogs don't even mind.
How Can I Relieve Itchy /Dry Skin?
Start by using an oatmeal, hypoallergenic or medicated shampoo and wash with cool water - not cold. You can also try administering an oral Omega-3 fatty acid supplement. Your groomer can also try using a hot oil treatment, a Hibiclens Antimicrobial and Antiseptic Wash, or a mud bath. Also look at nutritional elements. The food your dog eats may be contributing. Move to an all natural product sold at dog specialty stores. Also try giving your dog Seseme oil, fish oil and or Coconut oil. The benefits of these can be found on this page.
Coconut Oil - What are its benefits?
1. Coconut oil improves overall skin health, and clears up skin conditions such as eczema, flea allergies, contact dermatitis, and itchy skin.
2. Incredibly emollient, coconut oil helps moisturize the dryest K9 skin and makes a dog’s coat gleam with health – whether you add it to her diet, her shampoo, or both!
3. Applied topically to the skin, coconut oil promotes the healing of cuts, wounds, hot spots, bites, and stings.
4. The antibacterial and antifungal properties of coconut oil help reduce doggy odor, and its pleasantly tropical aroma imparts a delightful scent to a dog’s skin and coat.
5. Coconut oil prevents and treats yeast infections, including candida. Its antiviral agents also help dogs recover quickly from kennel cough.
6. Digestion and nutrient absorption are improved by the addition of coconut oil to a dog’s diet. It can, however, cause stool to loosen; if that happens, just add a few spoonfuls of canned pumpkin to your dog’s diet.
7. Coconut oil reduces – and sometimes eliminates – doggy breath. Some dog lovers even brush their pets’ teeth with the stuff! Which makes sense, as dogs love the taste of coconut oil, and that makes the chore less arduous for brusher and brushee.
8. Like cinnamon, coconut oil helps prevent diabetes by regulating and balancing insulin. It also promotes normal thyroid function, and helps prevent infection and heart disease.
9. Helping to reduce weight and increase energy, coconut oil also promotes mobility in dogs with arthritis and other joint issues.
10. Again like cinnamon, coconut oil is excellent for brain health; it’s being used to stave off dementia in humans, and it’s a must to keep senior dogs’ minds from becoming cloudy.
Medicinal fatty acids are divided into omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. In general, omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation, whereas omega-3 fatty acids act to reduce inflammation. As such, omega-3 fatty acids are used in diseases in which anti-inflammatory activity is needed. The fatty acids can substitute for medications such as corticosteroids in the treatment of inflammation.
The most commonly used supplements that provide fatty acids are fish oil and flax seed oil. While flax seed oil contains more omega-3's than fish oil, the omega-3's found in flax seed oil are in an inactive form. The omega-3's found in fish oil are in an active form. In research studies, fish oil has shown positive benefits in helping people and pets with disease, whereas flax seed oil has not been as beneficial. For this reason, fish oil is generally recommended as the omega-3 fatty acid supplement of choice.
The active omega-3's, (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) are derived from fish oils of coldwater fish (salmon, trout, or most commonly menhaden fish.) Also called linseed oil, flaxseed oil is derived from the seeds of the flax plant and has been proposed as a less smelly alternative to fish oil. Flaxseed oil contains alpha-linolenic acid (
Similar to the situation with fish oil, pets with inflammatory diseases may respond to supplementation with flax seed oil. However, many species of pets (probably including dogs and cats) and some people cannot efficiently convert ALA to the more active non-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA.) In one study in people, flax seed oil was ineffective in reducing symptoms or raising levels of EPA and DHA. In pets with kidney disease, flax seed oil was not as effective as fish oil. While flaxseed oil has been suggested as a substitute for fish oil, there is no evidence that it is effective when used for the same therapeutic purposes as fish oil. Unlike the case for fish oil, there is little evidence that flax seed oil is effective for any specific therapeutic purpose with the following exceptions. Flax seed oil can improve the coat and skin of pets. Also, the lignans contained in flax seed oil may have anti-cancer benefits.
Fish oil supplementation may be helpful for pets with inflammatory diseases including allergies, arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease, and cancers. People with diabetes may have fatty acid derangement and require supplementation; this may also be true in pets. Fish oil has demonstrated benefits in people and pets with allergies, kidney disease, and heart disease. It has also shown benefits as an anti-depressant in people with mild depression. Fish oil appears to have benefits in pets with arthritis as well. Pets with any type of inflammatory disease may benefit from fish oil supplementation. In general, more severe disease requires doses higher than those commonly recommended and often additional supplements are necessary as fish oil is not often useful as the only supplement.
Fish oil is very effective in some pets with allergic skin disease. It is easy to administer (via gel caps or liquid) and can reduce the amount of corticosteroid or antihistamine needed to control itching. The response is variable in other diseases (such as kidney disease) but fish oil appears effective in research studies. In pets with some types of cancer, fish oil has slowed down the growth and spread of the cancer. While more studies are needed on other types of cancer, the general recommendation is to add fish oil to the diets of all pets with cancer.
In my opinion, any pet may benefit from fatty acid supplementation. While we don't always have hard "proof" that they work in every case, the science is there to show how they work and suggest their usage any time inflammation may be a problem. In most pets in my practice, fatty acid supplementation forms the "baseline" of supplements that I use, adding other supplements as dictated by clinical response or the nature of the disease.
While there is concern about the contamination of fish meat with environmental contaminants such as mercury, this concern does not apply to fish oil. Supplementation with fish oil can result in decreased levels of vitamin E; therefore, fish oil supplements have extra vitamin E added to them.
A is true with many supplements, your veterinarian may have favorite supplements that he will sell you or recommend to you. Pet owners are cautioned against buying supplements without knowledge of the manufacturer, as supplements are not highly regulated and some supplements may not contain the labeled amount of fish oil.
Safety - Fish oil supplementation is very safe. The most common side effect seen in people and pets is a fish odor to the breath or the skin. Because fish oil has a mild "blood-thinning" effect, it should not be combined with powerful blood-thinning medications, such as Coumadin (warfarin) or heparin, except on a veterinarian's advice. Fish oil does not seem to cause bleeding problems when it is taken by itself at commonly recommended dosages. In people, high doses of fish oil (4 grams or more each day) when combined with ginkgo biloba has caused serious bleeding problems. Fish oil does not appear to raise blood sugar levels in people or pets with diabetes despite earlier concerns about this. Flax oil does not appear to cause "blood thinning." In my practice, I've never seen any side effects and I use a lot of fatty acids. Very rarely, I have had a few of my canine patients smell fishy. This side effect goes away as the dosage is lowered. While many owners worry about giving extra "fat" to their pets, especially in cases where the pet is overweight, take comfort. Fatty acid supplements contain only a handful of calories and supplementation is unlikely to hurt any pet on a diet.
Tip - In studies done in people and pets, dosages much higher than label doses are needed to achieve results. As a rule, I try to start with 2-4 times the label dose when treating diseases and adjust the dose depending upon the pet's response. I use the label dose when recommending fatty acids as a coat or skin supplement.
Conclusion - Fatty acid therapy is becoming a part of our mainstream therapy for many pet disorders, In general, fish oil is preferred to flax oil as it contains the more active omega-3's. To get the best results, dosages higher than those on the label are needed and in most cases, fish oil should be combined with other supplements for maximum effectiveness.
When Should I Begin Clipping My Dog's Nails?
Dogs are often reluctant to have their nails clipped, therefore, starting the process at a very young age is a good idea.
Initially, get your dog accustomed to you simply holding and stroking their paws. Then progress to applying light pressure on their paws and nails - lightly pinching their nails between your finger and thumb. Reward them for allowing this.
Then, after a lesson from your vets in how to cut a dog's nails, lightly trim a couple of nails a day. Just trim off the tips - this lessens the chances of you cutting too deep and frightening your dog off.
Talk to your dog in a soothing voice all the time and reward him with his favorite treat and a romp straight after. He will gradually grow accustomed to this unpleasant procedure and learn to at least put up with it.
Tools You Will Need - when you're wondering about how to cut a dogs nails, there are a variety of nail clippers and trimmers on the market. The guillotine type is my favourite tool when trimming dog nails, though a strong claw cutter may be required for the bigger breeds and basset hounds - they have incredibly large claws!
Sometimes you may want to use a small file or a dremel tool to file down any jagged edges after trimming a dog nails, but frankly, my dogs can't wait to get away from me, so I'm happy to let them round off any rough edges in the normal course of their everyday walks.
It is also advisable to keep a styptic pen handy just in case you clip into your dog's quick - but we'll discuss this later.
Anatomy Of A Dog's Nail - Knowing how to cut dog's nails is easier when you know the anatomy of a dog's nail.
A dog's nail is constructed of a hard outer cover, which protects the quick which is the inner soft part containing blood vessels and tender nerve endings. In dogs with light coloured nails, the quick can often been seen as being faintly pinkish in color and is thus easy to avoid cutting into.
In the more common black nailed variety, the quick it totally invisible. Therefore, knowing exactly how to cut a dog's nails in this case is imperative. In these cases, trimming off little nibbles instead of large slices is more advisable.
Keep checking the clipped part of your dog's nail and look out for a dark spot in the middle of the newly clipped area - this shows the start of the quick - do not cut too far into this. Taking just tiny nibbles, you will then start to see a pale third inner circle. Stop there - or else you are likely to hurt your dog.
Also, don't forget your dog's dew claws. Growing on the inside of his legs and not in contact with the floor, these do not get worn away and will sometimes curl completely over causing your dog to get snagged in undergrowth, his bedding, etc. This can be very painful, so do keep those neatly trimmed too.
