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Stripping – A Dog Grooming Procedure

11 May 2011

Dog grooming is an essential part of dog ownership. Different dog breeds have different grooming requirements. Grooming routines of some dogs are too easy to be done in a few minutes while other dogs’ grooming routines would be so tedious and time consuming. Dogs are so affectionate they always want to be cuddled and petted but try grooming the ears or the feet and the dog would try to scamper instantly. This grooming difficulty can be resolved by introducing the grooming procedure to the pet while it is still a puppy.

Regular brushing, trimming and stripping are the basic routines for grooming the dog’s coat. To maintain the health and appearance of the coat, wiry coated dogs like most terriers breeds, Dachshunds and Schnauzers are stripped about twice a year. Dog breeds with wiry coats have two types of hair – a downy under coat and a coarse top coat. This top coat will be thick, well pigmented and strongly rooted to the dog’s skin. At the end of the hair’s life span it will become less healthy so that the follicles will become thinner and less strong.

Stripping is necessary to remove the dead hair root. Trimming the hair at this stage will ruin the coat as the dying root was allowed to remain. The silky texture and the natural color of the coat is affected if the hair is trimmed instead of stripped. The hair can be trimmed but this procedure will not remove the roots of dying hairs thereby preventing new hair from growing, a condition that will bring discomfort to the pet when the undercoat overtakes the weakened guard hair.

Stripping is the process of removing dead hair from the dog’s coat using a stripping knife or latex finger cots. This coat grooming procedure can be done by hand, by the processes known as rolling or carding. Stripping the dog’s coat is a labor intensive task. Stripping a small dog cannot be done in one session. The process can be speed up by using a stripping knife as it would enable the groomer to have a good grip on the coat thereby removing more hair with every stroke. Scraping the coat to remove dead hair is another procedure of stripping known as carding. In the rolling method, the skin of the dog is rolled with one hand while the other hand removes the dead hair.

Stripping must be started when the dog is about 6 months of age. Before the process is done it would be necessary to brush the coat thoroughly to remove tangles. Dog owners should not worry that the pet will be hurt when stripped as most dogs would even enjoy the attention especially if it is coming from its favorite person.

Learn more about dog grooming and stripping at Sarah’s Dogs.

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Managing Dog Shedding with Good Grooming

11 May 2011

The shedding of dogs is a normal process that cannot be stopped. Short coated dogs are not heavy shedders thus shed hair are usually seen only on its sleeping area. Most long coated dogs would shed excessively so that the pile of shedding of the pet would appear as if it is another dog. Shedding is a usual concern of dog owners as hair dropped off by the pet would float in the air and cling to clothes and land on all surfaces and on foods.

Shedding though is a normal process and dog owners just need to live with this fact or get one of the hairless breeds. Long haired dogs require a lot of grooming thus this point must be considered in getting a dog for a pet especially if the owner does not have much time to spend in grooming the pet. The need to frequently groom the pet can be done by professional groomers if the owner have no time to do the task. Grooming sessions are ideal bonding moment for owner and pet and the chance will be lost if grooming the dog is left to the hands of groomers.

Before taking a dog for a pet, the prospective pet parent has to understand the shedding pattern of the breed. While some dog would shed the whole year, others would blow their coats excessively when the season change. Some dog breeds would appear not to shed at all because dead hair gets entangled with the live hair. Poodles need regular brushing because they shed their hair this way. Shedding is a normal process that can turn excessive because of hormonal change or health concerns.

All dog owners can be heard complaining about the shedding of the pet. The dog’s shedding cannot be stopped but owners should not be intimidated by the surplus of hair inside the house as this concern can be easily remedied with regular grooming. Heavy shedding dogs are best groomed everyday to remove dead hair that would have dropped off and fall on all surfaces inside the house.

Grooming tools doffer from breed to breed. A wire or steel pin brush and a wide toothed comb are ideal grooming tools for long and thickly coated breeds as they can easily remove mats and dirts. For short and medium coated breeds, a blunt bristled slicker brush and a flexible pin brush would accomplish the grooming routine in no time. Brushing the pet’s coat regularly will not only control shedding but also promote the distribution of the natural oils that moisturize the skin and give the dog a healthier looking coat.

Learn more about dog grooming as well as shedding at Sarah’s Dogs.

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Why do dogs need their teeth brushed

28 Feb 2011

Dogs are one of the most spoiled pets – they are kissed and they are allowed to kiss their owners as well. This would make you wonder why dog owners often neglect the dental care of the pet? Brushing the pet’s teeth is one of the grooming routines that most dog owners forgot. Dogs have a predilection for spoiled food and for feces. To the consternation of owners; dogs have an unaccountable liking for toilet bowl water too. Owners that kiss and allowed to be kissed by the pet will gag at the stench of the dog’s mouth.

The health of the dog generally depends on the kind of food the pet eats. Healthy teeth are important for our furry friends as unlike humans, dentures will not be available to help them in tearing and grinding their food. Imagine how hard it would be for toothless dogs to eat. Dogs in the wild heavily rely on their teeth in hunting the prey. Pet owners ensure that the dog is regularly provided with food thus these animals no longer need to hunt to survive. All the same, strong healthy teeth will still be necessary for easy eating.

Similar to humans, a dogs oral hygiene can be maintained with regular brushing. Poor dental hygiene that result to plaque and tartar build up, tooth and gum problems as well as other periodontal diseases can affect the quality of the dog’s life. We know how dogs love to eat things that we humans find disgusting. With the dog’s unhygienic eating habits it is for certain that dog have lots of germs in their mouth.

This germs will cause bad breath but a more serious concern would be the gum and teeth problems that will created. Infections that can develop from dental concerns can spread to other parts of the body and result to more health concerns. For instance, the infection from a gum disease can result to the development of a heart ailment.

A dental care routine is best started while the dog is still a puppy. Specially designed toothbrushes must be used. Toothpaste formulated for dogs must be used as well. Because dogs love these flavored toothpaste for pets, brushing the dog’s teeth will be easier. Brushing the dog’s teeth once or two times a week would be enough to maintain the dog’s oral hygiene. Taking the pet to the vet’s once in a while to be professionally brushed would be a good idea.

At Sarah’s Dogs you can find out more about why dogs need their teeth brushed as well as if you need to brush your dogs teeth.

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Why do dogs chase their own tails

28 Feb 2011

Dogs are truly man’s best friend as these animals have been the loyal companions of man for untold number of years. It can be safely said that dogs have the uncanny ability to understand humans because these animals are highly attuned to the emotions of their human friends. However, humans are at times perplexed with the weird behavior of dogs. Chasing their own tail is one of the canine behaviors that humans find inexplicable.

All dogs chase their own tails but this behavior is most common in puppies. Puppies are adorable but a tail-chasing one would certainly be the apple of the eye of the family. Normal tail chasing that is shown when the dog is playing should not be a cause for concern. Dogs love to run and to chase because they are natural hunters. On the other hand, if the tail chasing behavior of the dog becomes excessive it will become a problem especially when the dog is injured because it can no longer be stopped from chasing its tail. For sure dog owners would not laugh if the tail chasing pet falls down from the stairs and seriously injured.

Tail chasing or the constant and repetitive whirling movement can be due to behavioral or medical causes. No specific cause was given for the dog’s tail chasing behavior but it is commonly believed that boredom and anxiety triggers this bizarre behavior. Being social creatures, dogs would crave for attention. Dogs are intelligent animals and it seems that they know that tail chasing is a no-fail method of gaining the family’s attention. Whirling around to chase the tail would bring forth laughter from the family. Realizing that it has gained the family’s attention, the dog would continue to chase its own tail.

Another reason for the dog’s bizarre behavior is boredom and anxiety. Dogs that are cooped inside the house for the better part of the day with no toys and no other dogs to play with will find any kind of activity to while away the time. For lack of something better to do, a dog will chase its tail to combat boredom. Anxious people waiting in line for a job interview or a dental appointment would either twirl a lock of hair or bite a nail. The dog’s tail chasing behavior is also attributed to anxiety.

A medical condition can be the reason for the dog’s odd behavior. The dog may be infested with intestinal and external parasites or may have an impacted anal gland. Flea bites on the dog’s tail will be extremely itchy. The discomfort can be caused by an impacted anal gland or worms in the dog’s rear end. A dog trying to ease the discomfort arising from these conditions will chase its tail.

Sarah’s Dogs provides more information on why dogs chase their own tails as well as why dogs wag their tails.

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Dog First Aid – Limping

12 Jan 2011

There are various reasons why a dog would limp. Walking without putting weight on one limb is one of the tricks that can be learned by the pet. But we are aware that dogs are very active animals and they also have high prey drives thus injuries that would cause the dog to limp can happen. A sprain will make a dog limp in the same manner that a stone lodged in the dog’s toes or a thorn in paw will prevent the dog from walking normally. The limping of the dog can be due to a broken nail. These minor problems would often resolve by itself even without treatment.

Treatment though would be necessary for some kinds of limping. Urgent treatment may be necessary to prevent further damage that can cause permanent lameness. Limping is more common in large breeds of dogs as the weight of the body makes it easy for paw, the foot or the fragile leg to get injured. Dogs are playful and energetic animals thus cuts on the paws and legs, sprain and torn ligaments can occur while the dog is doing its normal activities.

Administering first aid is part and parcel of being a dog owner as these animals often sustain injuries because of their active lifestyle. Ignoring the dog’s condition can lead to irreparable damage that would debilitate the pet for life. Moreover, the pet would suffer more pain. Fortunately, unlike other injuries that would not be easily apparent, limping would be easily noticed by the owner.

The dog owner has to evaluate the injury of the pet. The foot, paw and legs will be thoroughly examined. Debris and foreign objects stuck between the toes must be removed. It is necessary to manipulate the toes and the joints of the foot. The dog would yelp if the sprained foot is manipulated. A cut paw can be the reason for the dog’s limping.

The dog’s wound must be thoroughly washed. Sterile gauze must be used to bandage the wound after an antibiotic ointment is applied. Fractures or dislocation can be the reason why the dog is limping. Setting fractures and realigning dislocated joints must never be attempted by the dog owner. Treatment methods for these kinds of injuries must be performed only by vets. However, the dog owner can prevent further damage by splinting the injured foot with rolled newspaper or with a flexible wire that can be bent into the shape of the dog’s foot. Wrapped in gauze or a strip of cloth, the splint will immobilize the injured foot to prevent further damage.

Learn more about limping as well as first aid for dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.

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First Aid – Dog Bleeding

03 Jan 2011

Profuse external bleeding is a condition that can take your dog away from you. External bleeding can be easily seen but a dog owner has to recognize the symptoms that the pet is bleeding internally to be able to rush the pet to a veterinary facility as there is no first aid for internal bleeding. Accidents can happen to the dog because these animals jump, climb, explore, run and chase prey oblivious of oncoming traffic. Administering first aid is one of the responsibilities of pet owners. To be able to help the pet, the owner has to remain calm, to have presence of mind and most importantly to know what must be done to the injured pet.

The energetic and curious behaviors put these animals at high risk for accidents. Competency in administering first aid to the pet is an essential attribute of a dog owner. Luckily, the injuries commonly sustained by the pet are not serious and can be treated using the dog’s first aid kit. For serious injuries that need professional medical care, the owner’s first aid know how will be important to stabilize the pet before it is transported to the veterinary facility.

A nail trimmed too short would cause the dog to bleed. The bleeding of a nail cut too short would seem to be profuse but this is not a serious condition as the bleeding can be easily resolved with Kwik Stop. What first aid methods can you administer to a dog with a profusely bleeding wound?

First aid for pets is pretty much the same as first aid for humans. First aid methods to stop bleeding are very necessary as a dog can go into shock if two teaspoons of blood per pound of body weight is lost. To stem the bleeding, a bandage or a towel applied directly to the wound will put on pressure that will control bleeding. To maintain the pressure, the soaked through towel must not be removed. Another first aid method that controls bleeding is to elevate the bleeding body part above the heart. Applying pressure to the pressure points is one effective way to control profuse bleeding. Tourniquet can stop heavy bleeding but this dangerous method must be administered only by a competent person.

Internal bleeding is a serious condition. Internal bleeding commonly results when the dog was hit by an oncoming car or had fallen from heights. Symptoms of internal bleeding are weak pulse, shallow breathing and pale gums. Internal bleeding cannot be resolved with first aid. The pet must have immediate medical attention.

Bleeding? More information on this and first aid for dogs can be found at Sarah’s Dogs.

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Dog First Aid – Hot spots

03 Jan 2011

Moist eczema or acute moist dermatitis is commonly known as hot spots. These circular lesions are commonly found on the head, face, side of the hip and chest. These hairless patches of moist, raw, red and inflamed skin will be very itchy and at times painful. Licking and chewing are natural behaviors of dogs thus anything that causes them pain and discomfort will be constantly worried by the mouth and tongue. A flea bite that causes minor irritation will be incessantly licked and gnawed by the pet. A coin sized mild abrasion can speedily turn into inches wide troublesome itchy sore that has a smelly pus discharge in a matter of hours because of the dog’s self mutilation. Pyotraumatic dermatitis is the other name for hot spot purportedly given because this skin infection is worsened by the dog’s self mutilation.

All breeds of dogs can have hot spots but this skin lesions are often seen in dogs with long coats and dense undercoats. Hot spot is a common concern of dogs living in hot and humid climates. It is a good thing that hot spots is not really a serious disease as this skin infection has the tendency to recur. Moreover, first aid treatments that could have prevented a small lesion from developing into a hot spot is oftentimes not administered by the owner as the sore spot will be hidden by the long and thick hair of the dog.

This type of skin infection could have started from a flea or mite infestation. Dogs with histories of food and inhalant allergies, with anal gland concerns and ear infections are most susceptible. Dogs that are not regularly groomed are prone to hot spots because bacteria thrive in the moist tangles and mats in the dogs hair.

First aid treatment is necessary to control the spread of infection. First aid treatment is necessary not only because the hairless and raw lesions would not be a pretty sight but more importantly, the treatment would alleviate the pain and discomfort of the pet. The hair in the affected area must be removed to expose the edges and to prevent the spread of infection. By trimming the hair, air will be allowed to dry the infected tissues. The hot spot must be cleaned daily with a sterile saline solution. Application of antibacterial ointment will prevent the spread of infection and speed up the healing process.

Hot spot is recurring skin infection thus to do away with this disease it is necessary to deal with the identified cause of the disease. External parasite infestation has to be controlled. Regular grooming is necessary to prevent the development of this skin infection.

Want to know more about hot spots and first aid for dogs? Visit Sarah’s Dogs.

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First aid kit for the dog

03 Jan 2011

A well stocked medicine cabinet is a very necessary accouterment in every home especially when there are children and senior members of the family. Children and older members of the family are often affected with health problems. The medicine chest will ensure that immediate treatment will be given to the injured family member. The same thing applies to pets. Dogs are as well prone to accidents because of their very energetic and inquisitive nature. Giving first aid to the pet would not be a problem as long as right equipments and medications are at hand. Emergency care using the first aid kit will not only prevent the worsening of the pet’s condition but in a lot of cases save the life of the pet.

Dog owners must always be prepared for any emergency. As caring for a dog is comparable to caring for a baby, a medicine kit for the pet will be very useful given the fact that accidents can never be prevented. A veterinary facility next door should not be a reason for a pet owner not to get a first aid kit. A vet consult for minor injuries would be very costly. A vet will not be available at all times.

With a medicine kit in the house, an owner will be able to administer emergency care even late at night when vets may be difficult to find. Dogs are wonderful buddies thus they are taken anywhere the master goes. A well stocked first aid kit can be a life saver if the dog is injured in the wild where a vet is not available.

A pet owner can buy a ready made first aid kit for the dog or build a customized kit that will be most suited to the lifestyle. As expected, the first aid kit of an owner that lives in the city would not be as complete as the kit of an owner that lives in remote areas.

Basic equipments for the dog’s first aid kit are scissors, rectal thermometer, cotton balls and swabs as well as leash and muzzle. A dog’s first aid kit should contain different sizes of bandaging materials. Diarrhea, allergies and infected wounds are common concerns of dogs thus the first aid kit should have antihistamines, antidiarrhea medications, as well as wound disinfectants and antibiotic ointments. Activated charcoal and hydrogen peroxide would be very necessary because dogs are prone to ingesting poisonous substances. Lastly, it would be a better idea if the contact numbers of the vet will be written on the cover of the first aid box.

Find out more about first aid kit as well as information on first aid for dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.

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Dog First Aid – Hypothermia

03 Jan 2011

For comfort and for other reasons, people would ensure that they are adequately protected from cold temperatures. Cold weather would spur people to take out cold weather clothes from storage. These measures are done as protection against frostbite and hypothermia. Dogs are protected by the all-weather coats. Northern dogs can stay in freezing temperatures for long periods of time but this does not mean that a Husky or a Malamute would not succumb to hypothermia. Hypothermia will occur when the dog’s normal body temperature plummets down because of extremely cold environment and prevents the body from performing its normal functions. If mountain dogs that are protected from freezing temperature by their long thick coats can still suffer from hypothermia how much more will short haired dogs be affected.

The normal body temperature of a dog is between 100Â°F to 102Â°F. A dog will start to shiver if the temperature drops to 90Â°F. Shivering is an involuntary reaction of the muscles spurred by the body’s attempt to generate heat to be able to normalize body temperature. Making the hair stand to trap the air between the skin and the hair is another way by which the body fights off the cold. The trapped air will act as insulation against the cold. Hard and cold extremities should cue the owner that hypothermia has set in. The body will shut off the flow of blood to the extremities and direct blood flow to the vital organs so that the face, ears, legs and tail are at risk for frostbite.

Hypothermia can cause the dog to go into shock. This fatal condition needs urgent treatment. Aggressive first aid treatment that will normalize the body temperature of the dog is very necessary. The pet must be taken in a warm room and wrapped in warm blankets. Hot water bottles wrapped in towels and placed on the dog’s less hair covered area will help in elevating body temperature. Water bottles on the dog’s legs and body walls will help in normalizing body temperature.

A hair dryer can be used to direct warm air to the chilled do. This first aid method though can burn the skin of the dog of the heat of the dryer is directed to one area of the body for a few minutes. Hypothermia can make a dog go into shock. Karo syrup rubbed on the gums of a shocked dog is an effective first aid treatment.

After the warming process, the dog will be in pain as the tissues begin to warm up. Dogs have different personalities and even a well tempered pet can turn aggressive when revived because of the pain. To be safe, exercise caution in approaching the revived dog.

Sarah’s Dogs has more information about hypothermia and first aid for dogs.

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First Aid Treatments for the Dog’s Lick Sores

22 Dec 2010

Dogs lick – a lot because like barking, scratching and chewing, licking is innate in dogs. Any of these behaviors would become a problem of the dog owner if it becomes excessive. Lick sores also known as lick granuloma, or acral lick dermatitis is one of the results of excessive licking.

The dog would start licking a spot on the ankle. The hair on the spot continuously licked by the dog will fall off and the skin will harden. Insensitive to the pressure created by the tongue, the dog will incessantly lick the spot until the skin breaks and become infected.

Lick sores usually develop on the wrist area of the front and hind legs as these spots can be easily licked by the dog. Due to the short hair, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers and Irish Setters are more prone to develop this skin condition. Lick sores usually start from fungal or bacterial infection or when a spot bitten by an insect or a flea is persistently licked by the dog. Lick granulomas are believed to have a psychogenic origin as pets that are usually left alone all day would develop this skin concern. Lick sores therefore are associated with boredom and inactivity.

Lick sores can arise from various causes thus no single method can effectively and totally resolve this concern. The lesions may be healed for a time but because of the dog’s licking, the sores will again resurface. To totally eliminate the problem, treatment must be focused on eliminating the causative factor before the skin lesions are treated.

Lick sores can be a headache because the lesions recur. Lick sores can be treated with laser surgery. But apart from the cost, the cured sore can recur because of the dog’s tendency to lick. The lesion can be treated with antibiotic and other topical ointments. The dog owner can modify the dog’s licking habit by using some effective methods. Self mutilation can be prevented by bandaging the affected leg. Bitter apple, Tabasco and other bad tasting substances can stop the dog’s self mutilating habit. Another method is to use Elizabethan collar.

As lick sores are hard to cure it would be best to prevent the development of the lesions. As soon as the owner noticed the pet developing an excessive licking habit, the preventive methods must be used at once.

Find out more about lick sores as well as first aid for dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.

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Tag-Archive for » dog «

Stripping – A Dog Grooming Procedure

Managing Dog Shedding with Good Grooming

Why do dogs need their teeth brushed

Why do dogs chase their own tails

Dog First Aid – Limping

First Aid – Dog Bleeding

Dog First Aid – Hot spots

First aid kit for the dog

Dog First Aid – Hypothermia

First Aid Treatments for the Dog’s Lick Sores

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