Canine Grooming Tips

Canine Grooming Tips by Dr. Jane

Lifes Abundance Blog Wednesday, 24 August 2011 09:37 by Dr. Jane

Family Washing Dog Using
Lifes Abundance Grooming Products

No one likes a bad hair day … and that includes your dog. Just like with humans, the skin is the largest organ of a dog’s body. Every day, their skin and coats are exposed to UV rays, pollution, infectious agents, drying heat or wind.

Because it can contribute to a dog’s overall health, grooming should be an essential part of companion animal care. However, despite your best intentions, it’s not unusual for grooming habits to hit a glitch. Or two. Or three! While bathing a dog, I think all of us have experienced getting wetter than your dog, being interrupted by phone calls, or, worst of all, a sudsy canine tearing off, leaving a wet, sudsy trail behind him. As a veterinarian with a good deal of grooming experience, I can tell you that planning ahead can reduce unwanted problems and stress, so here are a handful of my best tips.


BEFORE THE GROOMING SESSION

Unfortunately, bathing can be stressful for some dogs, as some just tolerate it better than others. For those pups who are particularly skiddish, consider brewing some chamomile tea to calm your dog. Thirty minutes before you bathe, give your dog a cooled cup of chamomile tea with honey, followed by a dog treat that’s rich in carbohydrates, like our Antioxidant Health Bars. The carbohydrates will help deliver the calming tea straight to your dog’s brain. Better yet, you can both sit down with some tea and play soothing music, to set a calming tone for your upcoming grooming session. You can also give your dog tea during the grooming session. As we’ve already mentioned, just make sure the tea has cooled off (no hotter than room temperature). 

I recommend the use of a grooming apron with pockets that covers you from chest to mid-thighs, to protect your clothes. While you can always put your clothes in the laundry later, dog hair can be difficult to remove from a washing machine. A full apron not only protects your clothes, in the pockets you can keep treats, shampoo, conditioner and a brush. The treats you choose must smell appealing to your dog - like our Tasty Rewards Training Treats - and keeping them in your apron pockets will leave your hands free for grooming.

If your dog is of a long-haired breed, brush with a fine-tooth comb prior to bathing, so you don’t have to contend with knots while shampooing, potentially making a bad problem worse.

DURING THE GROOMING SESSION

Whether you bathe your dog in the tub or the backyard, sit on a low stool to prevent stress or injury to your back and knees. If you’re outside, I advise that you use a six-foot leash. Tie it around your waist or hook it on your belt to free up your hands and prevent your dog from slipping away for a sudsy romp.

If you’re using water from an outdoor hose, keep in mind that, while it might be warm outside, the water will feel cold to your dog, not always without substantial discomfort. If at all possible, use tepid water, either by running extension hoses from the sink in your house, or simply bathe your dog indoors in a tub.

When you apply the shampoo, make small circles with a hairbrush with plastic nubs to distribute the shampoo evenly through the hair and onto the skin. This will also exfoliate the skin and allow the herbs in the shampoo to penetrate the skin. Leave the shampoo on for about three minutes, but don’t allow it to dry as this can irritate the skin. Our Revitalizing Shampoo suds well, rinses easily, and features rosemary to help increase blood flow, ultimately contributing to healthier skin and hair.

Most animals really don’t enjoy having their heads washed, so I suggest that you simply wet the head using a wash cloth. That way, you’ll be sure to prevent shampoo from entering the eyes or ears, making the entire experience more enjoyable for your canine companion.

AFTER THE GROOMING SESSION

I recommend towel drying your dog versus using a blowdryer, which can excessively dry or even burn skin, and frighten some dogs with the sound generated by this device. The best method for towel drying is by patting rather than using a circular motion, which can often lead to matting.

In most cases, you’ll be able to see an immediate change in your dog’s appearance following a bath. You’ll know that you’re using a high quality shampoo when your dog has a shinier, fuller coat, less dander and no more “doggie smell”. With moisture-activated odor neutralizers, our Revitalizing Shampoo features antioxidants and organic extracts of rosemary and sage, nutritive herbs that penetrate into the hair shaft and promote coat health. Also included are kiwi and mango essences, selected because they too enhance the health of the skin, as well as leaving your dog’s coat smelling clean and fresh.

You should not bathe your dog more often than every two-to-three weeks. If your dog’s coat could do with some freshening in between baths, use Bath Fresh Mist to neutralize odors and condition the skin and coat. This product is so simple to use … just spray and brush into in the coat. You will love the aroma and your dog will love the attention!

And what about you? Do you have any “must-know” grooming tips that you’d like to share with your fellow blog readers? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place for companion animals!

   Dr. Jane Bicks

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Today's post suggested by Lifes Abundance Dog Food

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Holistic Dog Care Defined

Holistic Tips
by Dr. Jane Bicks, Lifes Abundance Blog Post, April 21, 2011

The holistic approach to veterinary care has different meanings for different people. Essentially it means just what the name indicates - looking at “the whole” and not the individual parts.

Holistic practitioners consider the whole of a companion animal’s being and how every discrete part works in relation to every other part. Fundamental to this mindset is that everything is interrelated and nothing occurs in isolation.

Furthermore, holistic veterinarians don’t only focus on physical aspects; they also consider the emotional, mental and spiritual elements. Holistic health boils down to balance; imbalance leads to dis-ease. It’s important to remember that physical signs of illness may often be the last to appear, and that mental and emotional imbalance can lead to disease, too.

In the United States, veterinary medicine is usually divided into conventional and holistic medicine. In the conventional tradition, veterinarians focus almost solely on the physical evidence. Holistic medicine, which originated from ancient cultures (such as, Asian, Indian, African and Native American Indian) takes into consideration the mental and spiritual aspects, as well. In the treatment of their patients, holistic practitioners often use herbs, vitamins, minerals, homeopathy, energy medicine and other alternative methods. I believe in an integrative approach, taking the best of all forms of medicine and combining them to produce a modern holistic approach.

In addition to the internal workings of a companion animal’s body, holistic health explores the influence of external factors for their direct or indirect impacts on the body. In the case of companion animals, this includes their shelter, social interactions, levels of exercise and mental stimulation, diet, vaccination history, and any potential exposures to toxins.

A cornerstone of the holistic approach is nutrition, because the quality and type of foods consumed will play a significant role in overall health, on all levels. For example, studies show that an adequate intake of B complex vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids (like those found in fish oil) can help to promote emotional and mental health, for companion animals and humans.

A vital component of holistic care is taking a preventive stance - promoting wellness and balance to prevent illness in all its forms. Maintaining an excellent diet, stimulating the mind for emotional and mental well-being, and exercising appropriately for your pet’s age and body type are all critical to the holistic approach to leading a balanced life.

I advocate these practices beginning as early as possible, so you won’t have to come see a veterinarian for imbalance and illness later in life. If their furry little bodies are in balance, and thus in good health, then the risk of disease is reduced, as is the need for pharmaceuticals.
While conventional medicine is highly valuable, sometimes it doesn’t tell the whole story. Fortunately, increasing numbers of conventional veterinarians are adopting a more integrative approach. Wellness programs and educational outlets (like this blog post) are empowering pet parents to make informed decisions about their health and the health of their beloved companion animals.

The bottom line is that it is possible for you to develop and adopt a preventive care plan for your furry family members. In most cases, I recommend that pet parents work with both a conventional and a holistic veterinarian to foster a balanced life for their companion animals.
In the coming months, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite holistic tips for companion animal care. Look for future posts on this blog to help your whole family achieve a new level of balance, and wellness.

Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place for companion animals,

Dr. Jane Bick,
Lifes Abundance Dog Food Formulator

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Learn more about Dr. Jane's Holistic Dog Products including Lifes Abundance Dog Food, Lifes Abundance Dog Treats, Life's Abundance Wellness Food Supplements for Dogs, Holistic Ear Care Products and more.

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Give Your Dog a Bath

Give Your Dog a Bath(April 17, 2011 Parade Magazine; Dr. Stephen Zawistowski, science adviser to the ASPCA, on how to shampoo your pet -- without getting soaked)

1.  Do a trail run - It's a good idea to "practice" a few times first.  Put your dog in a tub without water, give her a treat, and then take her out.  This will get her comfortable with the process.

2.  Get prepped - Put towels, shampoo, and a cup (if needed) within reach before you start.  It's fine to bathe your dog outside if its warm.  If you're washing her in the bathroom, remove any items that might get knocked over.

3.  Brush up - Take off your dog's collar and tags.  Do a quick brushing to remove as much loose hair as possible.

4. Choose the right shampoo - Use one designed for pets.  Those meant for humans can strip too much of the fur's natural oils, which protects dogs from cold and wet weather.  Rinsing is easiest if you have a shower head on a flexible hose.  If not, use a large cup.  Don't forget to rinse the belly, chest, neck and under the tail.

5.  Shake it off - If you dog is small enough and the weather is good, wrap her in a towel and carry her outside to get dry.  If not, pull the shower curtain closed so she can shake it off, then rub her fur with a towel.

6. Do a final grooming - A second brushing will help remove any hair loosened by the bath, redistribute oils in the fur, and make your dog look great!

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We recommend Revitalizing Shampoo from Life's Abundance.  It's developed strictly for dogs and is made from pure, natural ingredients.  You'll love it!

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A Word about Dog Shampoos

Choosing a holistic shampoo for your dog makes sense. A healthy shampoo, along with other holistic, synergistic hygeine products makes sense in helping to keep your dog healthy.

While providing nutritious foods and supplements can lead to significantly positive changes from the inside-out in your dog’s life, sometimes they need superior support specifically for the outside.

That’s why holistic veterinarian, Dr. Jane Bicks, has created Revitalizing Shampoo to help our precious companion animals not only look and smell better, but feel better, too.

Revitalizing Shampoo has been formulated to harness the power of botanicals to restore and help rejuventate your dogs's skin and coat. It is a conditioning formula that works itself into a luxurious foamy lather to gently deep cleanse without stripping natural oils and rinses completely, leaving a soft, delicate pleasant fragrance of natural fruit extracts.

Natural antioxidants from organic rosemary and sage help prevent damage from weathering and environmental factors. Natural emollients help soften, detangle, and give the coat more body. As your dog dries, odors are cleaned away and in its place your dog will have a clean, beautiful coat fragrant with the delicate aromas of kiwi and mango.

INGREDIENTS:

Filtered Water (aqua), Certified Organic Herbal Infusion of Salvia Officinalis (Sage) and Rosemarinus Officinalis (Rosemary)¹, Natural Essences of Mangifera Indica (Mango), Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi), Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit Oil) and Citrus Limonum (Lemon Oil), Vegetable Glycerin USP, Gentle Cleansers of Alpha Olefin Sulphonate (Coconut) and Cocamidopropyl Betaine (Coconut), Glycol Stearate, Oleth-10 (Palm Kernel Oil), Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Ordenone™, Methychloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone, Botanical Fragrance.

Revitalizing Shampoo neutralizes Odors – does not just cover them up. Your pet will stay cleaner, longer. Between baths, use Bath Fresh Mist to keep your pet cleaner, longer.

¹ Certified by Oregon Tilth
Ordenone™ is a trademark of Belle-Aire Fragrances, Inc.

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Click to learn more about Lifes Abundance Dog Food and Spa Products for Dogs.
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