The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : FURminator The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : FURminator
Showing posts with label FURminator. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FURminator. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

How To Remove Matted Hair From Your Dog


Your little dogie is  matted…don’t panic! It’s not as bad as it seems. The very first thing that you DON’T do, is use scissors to try to cut it out.  When you pull a dog's hair you will noticed that the skin will move with the hair. For this reason you should not try and cut your dog’s mats off with scissors.  There is a good possibility that you will cut through the skin, which will need to be sutured closed by a Veterinarian

Having two Shih-Tzu’s, I have experienced this first hand. If you have a long-haired dog you can’t wait for their hair to get long like the ones in the dog shows. I quickly found out that the dogs in the dog shows were being groomed every day and several times a day at dog shows.

I tried to keep my Sugar’s hair up in the topknot, but Domino wasn’t having it!  I would brush both of them and they would look cute…for about 10 minutes! Domino would pull her topknot down and I would find her bow in the floor.

After working everyday, coming home and trying to tackle them to brush their hair, I gave up. I started seeing matting on Sugar. I took them to the groomers and they suggested that I get them the puppy cut. I kept them with the puppy cut. I no longer felt the need to see them with the long flowing hair like the show dogs. They liked it, especially in the summer!

If your dog is matted you have a couple choices:

1. If your dog will let you comb their hair, start combing as a regular habit while watching tv and sitting on the floor with your dog. A little at a time. Don’t rush and no pulling. Just slow, methodical combing a little at a time, and before you know it, the mats will be gone. It’s good to start the combing method on puppies. This way as they grow they will get used to the grooming. Never attempt to cut mats around their private areas. Matting in this area should always be removed by a professional groomer.
.
2. Finally, depending on the type, and location of the mat, your dog may require shaving.



FOLLOW US!
/

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Tips on Keeping Your Dog’s Coat Healthy


Anyone with a furry friend can tell you that keeping up with a dog’s shedding is a full-time job.  Some dogs can grow 100 feet of fur per day...that’s adding up all the new strands covering the entire animal end-to-end, including the fluff between your dog’s toes. So it’s easy to see why taking care of your dog’s coat can sometimes seem overwhelming. But all that fluff’s got real substance! You may not know it, but your dog’s fur:



  • Is eight times warmer than wool 
  • Is fire-resistant
  • Wards off dirt
  • Repels static
  • Protects from parasites

So how do you keep your dog’s coat healthy and handsome? Use these tips and tricks from the experts! 

A Healthy Diet
Like humans, dogs are only as healthy as what they eat, says Michael Weiss, a veterinarian at All Creatures Veterinary Care Center in Sewell, N.J. Two things to look for in your dog’s food:

Protein
If your dog lacks this vital nutrient, its body will dedicate protein to muscle first, leaving its fur and skin dry and dull. Make sure your dog’s food is rich in protein. Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. These essential building blocks keep your dog’s coat healthy, thick and lustrous. They may also help reduce itching, dandruff and allergy-related skin problems. On the ingredients panel, look for fish oil, fish meal or flax, all excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

Exercise
Exercise not only keeps your dog slim, it may also help keep her fur in top condition. Weiss says regular exercise benefits your dog’s overall health -- and a healthy dog is more likely to have a healthy, shiny coat.

Grooming
The fact is you can’t keep your dog from shedding. But with a few key products and techniques, you can easily take great care of your dog’s coat at home to keep it looking its best:

Brush at least once a week. In order to keep your dog’s mane manageable, give the fur one good brush each week with a de-shedding brush to get out the undercoat, says New York City-based groomer Lisa Caputo from the dog service company Biscuits and Bath. Part the hair and brush from the skin out to avoid matting, moisture and heat build-up, which can cause yeast and bacteria. For an even slicker look, give your dog a quick brush every day. Bathe with gentle shampoos and conditioners. If your dog has sensitive skin, try a hypoallergenic or oatmeal shampoo. It is recommended that you wash your pooch every four weeks.

Medical Checkups
If you notice your dog has consistently itchy, uncomfortable skin or is shedding more than usual, your best bet is to take him to a veterinarian. It could be something as small as a food allergy to a more serious problem, like ringworm.

FOLLOW US!
/