National Pet Dental Health Month
Maintaining your dog’s dental hygiene is always important. February has been acknowledged as National Pet Dental Health Month and encourages pet owners to practice good dental hygiene with their furry friends. Keeping up with your pup’s teeth not only prevents bad breath, but also aids in avoiding any dental diseases that may otherwise occur from plaque and tartar build-up. Many owners are oblivious to the dangers that unattended teeth can create; gingivitis and periodontal disease are no joke. Recognizably bad breath, known as halitosis, is a sign of deeper underlying dental issues that your pooch may be suffering from. Gingivitis has stages ranging from mild to severe, and can develop into irreversible periodontal disease if left untreated. In extreme cases a pooch may require tooth extraction. Bring your pup to the vet if you notice symptoms including halitosis, gum bleeding, red gums, drooling, or loss of appetite. Invest in at-home doggie dental care; a dog toothbrush, dog toothpaste, and dog chews. Make it a habit to tend to your pup’s teeth and gums at least once a week to fight off any tartar and plaque building up. Infection and bacteria found in the mouth could extend through the bloodstream to cause heart, kidney, or liver disease. Such diseases could create serious harm to the organs and lead to early death. Make good dental hygiene a habit from the beginning to ensure a healthy, happy dog.
Five Fun Dog Facts
Canines are miraculous creatures with quite an abundance of fascinating facts. Here are five fun doggie facts for all of you dog lovers to enjoy:
1. A one-year-old dog is as physically developed as a fifteen year-old human; this means exercise is vital for dogs. Provide daily walks and playtime for your energetic pooch.
2. Brushing your pooch three times a week during the spring time will conclude in a summer free of shedding; not only will grooming your pooch help keep shedding to a minimum, it will attribute to a healthier hound.
3. If teaching your dog to catch a ball is harder than it should be then switch the tossing item to something softer, some dogs find it easier to catch softer items; invest in one of our plush dog toys for a softer playtime.
4. Typically, when a dog howls in the wild it is to bring the pack together. If you notice your pooch howling it may be because they are lonely and instinct kicks in. To avoid a lonely canine companion, be sure to show much love and attention. When you aren’t at home, keep the television on for sound.
5. Dogs have been loyal pets to people for the past 12,000 years!
11 Facts All Dog Owners Should Know
Having a new furry friend in the house is a very exciting, yet somewhat overwhelming, change of pace. Canines everywhere are finding homes around the holiday season. If this is your first time caring for a pup in your home, or even if you’ve been an owner for a while, here are 11 facts you should know.
1. Dog shampoos are available in various types and scents, but many dogs are slightly allergic to perfume scented shampoos. Mild oatmeal based dog shampoos get the job done while not leaving your pooch itchy.
2. Phobias are prevalent in dogs just as they are in humans – work with your pooch to eliminate fears of thunder, water, hair dryers, vacuums, lawn mowers, etc.
3. Dogs use their tails to communicate – a wag can express aggression, playfulness, or fear. Get familiar with your pup’s tail talking techniques to have a better understanding of how your friend is feeling.
4. Deep wrinkles in dogs should be cleansed daily to avoid dirt accumulation that can cause odors, or even infection.
5. Fleas aren’t the only reason Fido may be scratching his ears. Your pup could be experiencing anything from ear mites to yeast, so bringing your itchy pooch to the vet is the best idea.
6. Mental stimulation is just as important for a dog as physical stimulation – agility training is a great way to knock out both.
7. Canines love a good car ride, just be sure your playful pal is secured to ensure protection.
8. When you point, your dog focuses on the tip of your finger versus the item you are pointing at. If you want your pup’s attention, teach verbal commands for better understanding.
9. Bored dogs create mischief. Be sure to provide the needed attention, love, and stimulation your pooch needs to stay out of trouble.
10. Table begging is usually a bad habit spoiled pups have picked up because of their success in scoring table scraps in the past. Discourage bad table manners by skipping the scrap sharing.
11. It’s a fact: dogs bark. Your pooch may be exercising their vocal chords for a number of reasons; to protect their territory, express a need, or initiate playtime. Excessive barking may either be a warning or a cry for help. Pay attention to your dog’s barking and enforce commands if needed.
Solutions for Dirty Dog Eyes
Solutions for Dog Shedding
Scrub-a-Dub-Dub: Bath Time for Your Dog
Dog Nail Polish: Time for a “PAWdicure”!
Keeping stylish nails on your dog may sound crazy, but the trend is catching on quick! Companies have started investing in doggie nail polishes, with quite an assortment of colors and glitters to play around with. There are even dog nail polish pens for easier application. Get creative and alternate colors on each nail – orange and black is always fun around fall time. Greens and reds are festive during the winter holidays. Or, if you’re heading to a bonfire everybody will not only get a kick out of your pooch’s glow-in-the-dark nails, but your furry friend will be easier to spot. You could even have some fun in breaking good news, paint nails pink and put a sign around your pup to let your family know “It’s a Girl!” Attending a big event? Jazz up a plain color by adding some glitter dog polish to the mix. Whatever the occasion, finding the right dog polish for your pup is just a click away!
How to Groom Your Dog at Home
Regular grooming for your dog is very important to their health and your home. However, taking your furry friend to the groomer can get quite expensive and time consuming. Many groomers get overbooked during the holidays as well. With these few at home tips, you can keep your dog healthy and smelling fresh, making everyone happy!
Whether it is a special occasion or just time for a bath, there are many dog grooming products that can be easily used to keep your dog clean and fresh. The first step to grooming is to untangle matted fur with a good brush. If you don’t brush your pup first, the hair will become even more entangled during the washing process. Dogs with short hair probably only need to be gone over a few times with a rubber curry brush, while dogs with longer hair need to use a slicker brush or pin rake style dog brush. The next step before getting your dog in the tub is to clean their eyes, ears, and teeth. While that initially may sound like a hassle, there are many products that make that process a breeze. Dog ear, eye, and dental wipes make grooming your dog a much simpler task. They are easy to use and gentle on your puppy.
Now you are finally ready to get your dog in the tub! Make sure to choose a dog shampoo that is best suited for your dog’s coat. For sensitive skin, a hypoallergenic formula would be best, or for dry skin, an oatmeal formula would be very beneficial.
After giving your dog a good shampoo, condition, and rinse, you are almost done! Drying your dog is an important part of the grooming process. If your dog has short to medium hair, simply towel drying or using Microfiber Dog Drying Gloves will be just fine. If your dog has longer hair, you may want to blow dry their coat. Make sure the blow dryer is on a cool setting and also do not blow dry completely, as that will dry out their skin. After following these steps, your furry friend will be fluffed, buffed, and ready to go! Now that they are all clean, treat them to a new outfit to show off their new look!
How to Keep Your Dog Clean and Happy
All year round dogs find new ways to get dirty and into things they shouldn’t, especially during the summer when a lot of time is spent outside. From rolling in mud, to jumping in lakes, dogs are constantly in need of a quick bath and brushing. Trips to the groomers for baths can add up quickly. Doggie Vogue offers a wide variety of products to help keep your pet well groomed and with these few simple at home care tips, your dog can stay clean and healthy for less!
Before putting your dog in the bath, lay down a rubber non-slip mat so your dog can stand up okay and not feel uncomfortable. Make sure you have all your supplies ready before starting the water. All dogs have different types of coats, many need certain qualities in their shampoos to ensure proper coat care. With our Ugroom Dog Shampoos you can choose the shampoo to best fit your pup’s needs. For the sensitive dogs and puppies, our hypoallergenic dog shampoo is a gentle, tearless formula that leaves your dog’s coat silky and smelling great without any irritation. If your furry friend suffers from dry, flakey skin then our oatmeal dog shampoo is the perfect fix. This formula features oatmeal, lavender and cucumber extracts to moisturize and soothe itchy skin. Some dogs can be fearful of the water or try to jump out mid bath, so remember to make the bath a fun experience for your dog! Try bringing some water friendly toys in, or giving them a nice massage with the shampoo to calm their nerves.
The real hassle of doggie bath time is when it’s time to get your dog out of the tub and dried off. When your pup gets out of the tub, they most likely will give one big shake to get the water off them, this is unfortunately inevitable. So make sure you’re wearing clothes you don’t mind getting a little (or a lot) wet! Instead of trying to make your pooch stay calm and still while you dry, make it a fun game. By using our Microfiber Dog Drying Gloves you can give your dog a nice belly rub or massage while drying them with this great bath accessory. These gloves make drying your pet quick and easy with their ultra-soft, ultra-absorbent microfiber material. After your dog is dry and smelling great, your mission is complete, until your fur baby gets into the next pile of mud!
Ear Care for Your Dog
Ear care is a very important part of your dog’s health. Your dog’s ears must be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent injury resulting from infection. If an infection is left untreated, it can escalate in severity, causing a great deal of pain for your dog, and eventually causing deafness. A healthy dog’s ears are pale pink and have no odor. It is normal for a dog to have a little bit of wax or dirt in the outer portion of the ear canal and ear leather, however if the canal is inflamed, red, has an accumulation of brown waxy debris, or smells bad, there is probably an infection and you should take your dog to a vet.
Dogs with hairy ear canals should have excess ear hair removed either by you, a groomer, or a vet prior to cleaning. Keeping your dog’s ears clean and dry is the best way to avoid infection. Before you begin, gather your supplies and apply the ear cleaning solution to cotton balls or swabs. This will make the process much simpler. Hold your dog’s ear up in a way that allows you easy access. Inspect the ears for infection before cleaning. Use cotton balls to clean the inside of the ear flap and the outer ear, getting all of the debris out of the grooves and creases. Wipe around the inside of the ear, not going any further than the inner canal. If you find that your dog’s ears are still excessively dirty, apply some of the ear cleaning solution inside of the ear canal. This will provide deeper cleaning. Massage the base of the dog’s ear between your thumb and index finger until you can hear it making a squishing sound and then let your dog shake his head to release the wax and dirt. Clean any left over discharge with cotton balls.
Most dogs need their ears cleaned once a week. Some breeds have waxier ears and may need cleaning twice a week. Routine cleanings will keep your dog healthy and happy. Reward your dog and praise him, making ear cleaning a positive experience for both of you.
