Should you ever experience a skunking (and I hope you don’t) STAY AWAY FROM WATER – DO NOT BATHE!  Skunks emit an oily substance and bathing without properly neutralizing the stench first will only make matters worse; it will spread the oil into the skin. 

The old remedies of tomato juice, lemon juice, and vinegar just don’t work.  Contact your Groomer or Vet right away for instructions on what to do next, you’ll be glad you did.

Mats happen and Groomers understand; that is until a dog is brought in whose owner absolutely refuses to properly comb/brush it.  Think about this, if we went for weeks without brushing our hair imagine what shape it would be in (unless you have a very tight crew cut).  Not caring for a pets coat is in fact a form of neglect and one that could be easily remedied with just a few minutes of care a week with the proper grooming tools; you can even watch TV while doing it.  Coat matting causes all kinds of skin issues, is very painful, dirty, smelly, can lead to maggots on underlying sores (very gross), and, it costs more at the Groomers!  At Wash & Wag Grooming we are more than happy to show our clients the proper tools and techniques required to care for their specific breed coat. 

Just because a pet has Poodle or Bichon type hair doesn’t mean it’s not prone to matting, in fact those can be the worst kind known as “pill” matts.  These types of tangles are usually all over the entire body and look like little curls blending in with the rest of the coat.  Remember, every type of pet coat requires some sort of maintenance to remain healthy and beautiful.

So, next time you wonder if your pup is matted, do a simple test..  run a comb (not a brush) through the coat down to the skin from face, to feet, to tail.  If you can’t easily comb through at least 90% of your pets coat it is considered “excessively matted”, and in some cases a “severely matted” coat may require a trip to the Vet for sedation with a shave down to the skin (expensive!).   And, no mat should ever, EVER be tight down to the skin. 

A good comb out is a wonderful time for bonding and an opportunity to spare your pet the pain and suffering that comes along with matting.  But, if you just don’t have time to do it yourself (or don’t want to), then in all fairness to your pet it needs to be put on a regular 4 week bath and brush schedule with a full groom as needed and appropriate coat length to suit your busy lifestyle.  Put yourself in their fur!

This wraps up the Puppy Series, I hope it’s been helpful in understanding some of the behaviors your new best friend is or will display and provide you with a little more patience in knowing what’s to come.  Puppies are fun, but mostly a lot of work.  If you put the time and effort into training now they’ll be such a pleasure to live with for all the years of love and companionship to come.

Next post 6 to 18 month stage

Next post 7-9 months stage

Next post 3-6 months stage

Next post 3-12 Week Stage

0-2 Weeks = Neonatal Stage; when a puppy is most influenced by their Mother, their touch and taste are present at birth

Next post 2-4 Week Stage

In fact, many show dogs are bathed as much as 2 to 3 times a day.  So next time Fido or Fifi decides to do a dirt roll or starts to get a little stinky, don’t hesitate to bring’em on in.  There’s nothing better than a fresh, clean puppy dog!

So, imagine for a moment the pain we feel when we have a nail that is accidently broken or torn down into the quick, now imagine the pain (not to mention bleeding) your pet endures when overgrown nails are trimmed back after months of growth without care.  Groomers have only two choices when trimming overgrown nails, 1. cut just the very tips to avoid quicking the nail, therefore leaving a long nail and possible health problem unattended to, or, 2. inadvertently quicking the nail while trying to trim a nail back to a shorter, healthy length.

The Verdict… a dogs nails need to be cared for on a monthly basis, especially if they tend to not be outdoors on a hard concrete surface often, and all dogs should have a nail trim at least every six weeks.  And, if you’re fearfull of caring for your pets nails use a nail file if you have a little dog, or for the bigger pups learn to use a Dremel with Peticure attachment (my personal favorite).  A Dremel gives you more control to file a little then check to see where you’re at, verses a nail clipper where its one shot and you hope for the best.  When using a Dremel just be sure not to overheat a nail, if the nail starts to get warm move on to the next nail while the other cools and then come back to it.  My dog actually lays down on his side and takes a little cat-nap while getting his nails Dremeled.  He likes it, though it does tickle at times. 

Finally, an easy way to keep up with your pets nail care is the next time you manicure your nails – give your pet a manicure too.  Your pet will be forever grateful not to experience the trauma of a quicked nail, and so will your Pet Groomer!