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.
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.
Dental Care for Your Dog
Stinky dog breath isn’t just a nuisance- it’s a sign that something is wrong. Dental disease is the most common disease in canines. Dogs don’t get cavities but they do get plaque, tartar, and gingivitis which all cause foul breath and tooth problems. Poor dental care for your dog can lead to dental infections that travel to your pup’s heart, causing major problems or even death. One quick, simple way to try to avoid this is by brushing your dog’s teeth.
Before you start brushing your dog’s teeth, you should have a vet examine the dog for loose teeth, abscesses, etc. If your dog has gum disease or damaged teeth brushing will be very painful and your dog may associate this pain with teeth brushing. You could even be bitten. Before you start brushing, you’ll want to buy a few things from a pet store or a vet. You’ll need a toothbrush made for dog’s teeth. You can use a regular one with soft bristles, but the brushes made for dogs are much longer and you will be able to reach the back teeth much easier. There are also tooth brushes that fit over your finger and dental wipes for dogs who will not allow a traditional brush. You’ll want to buy a tooth paste made especially for dogs. Do not use human toothpaste. The fluoride compound in human paste can harm your dog and make him ill. There are multiple flavors available like mint, poultry, and beef. Try to find one your dog likes. Also, keep some treats handy so you can reward your dog for good behavior. This will also present teeth brushing as a positive experience.
You should get your dog used to looking in his mouth before you start brushing his teeth. Give him lots of praise and reward him with a dog treat every time he lets you look into his mouth. When you are ready to begin brushing, put your dog on a comfortable surface. Put some toothpaste on your dog’s toothbrush. Gently hold his muzzle and lift his lip on one side. Gently brush in a circular, all the way to the gum line. Make sure you get the back teeth! You can always add more toothpaste if you need to. When you are finished, clean the tooth brush and store it somewhere sanitary. Lavish your dog with praise and give him treats. He’ll probably want to get a drink to rinse out his mouth.
Try to make teeth brushing a daily habit. If you can’t brush everyday, try every other day. You may have a hard time at first, but the more you brush the easier it will be. With a little time and patience, you will find that though your dog doesn’t like having his teeth brushed, he will at least cooperate. His clean teeth and fresh breath are worth the effort!!!
Grooming Your Dog: Bath Time!
Most dogs panic when they hear the word bath and this makes the task of bathing quite uncomfortable. Taking your dog to the groomer to be bathed can be costly, but many people are willing to pay the high grooming fees to avoid getting drenched every time they try to bathe their dogs. Giving your dog a bath doesn’t have to be such a nerve-wracking experience. If you just make your dog feel safe and secure, you will find that you will have a much easier time.
Before you begin, gather all your supplies and take them into your bathroom. You will need shampoo, conditioner (optional), dog brush, towels, cotton balls, and treats. Place a rubber bath mat in the bottom of your bath tub to help your pet feel secure. Brush your dog’s coat our before bathing to remove tangles, mats, and loose hair. You can use a removable hair strainer to prevent your drain from clogging. If you own a detachable showerhead, you may want to use that instead as most dogs are afraid of water running from faucets. This is also easier and helps save water. Put moist cotton balls in your dog’s ears to prevent water from running in. You can get eye drops that keep soap out of your dog’s eyes.
Try leaving the water running ahead of time to get your dog used to the sound before you actually put him in the tub and fill with about 6 inches of water. Wet your pet thoroughly and lather with shampoo from head to tail. Use a shampoo made especially for dogs. Never use human shampoo; it is too harsh for dog’s sensitive skin. Be sure to stay away from their eyes. If you massage and rub your dog while lathering him up, it will relax him and make bath time more enjoyable.
Rinse your dog thoroughly. Make sure to remove all traces of shampoo and get all of the hard to rinse places like his belly, behind his ears, and under his tail. Leftover shampoo residue causes itching and scratching. Rinse with one hand and rub your pet with the other, draining the bath tub while you rinse. If you are using conditioner, apply and leave on your dog for about two minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
While still in the tub, dry your dog with towels in smooth strokes to remove all of the water trapped under fur. Do not rub- this will only tangle the hair. You can use a hair dryer on a low setting to dry hair more quickly. Watch your dog when he is done; most dogs want to run and rub to get themselves dry after a bath and he could get dirty all over again. When your dog is completely dry, brush his coat out again.
Treats and praise a big key to success when dealing with dogs. Make sure to praise your dog throughout the whole process and give your dog treats when you are through. This will present baths as a positive experience. Never yell at your dog or be rough with him while bathing. This will only scare him and make him more resistant to the process.
