Dog Grooming Tips

Matted Ears

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 12:02:02 GMT

Capillary Oozing Caused by Matting on Dogs' Ears

The ear tips of dogs are filled with tiny blood vessels called capillaries. These can sometimes bleed awhile after grooming. The reason for this is because the mats that were there before grooming restricted blood supply to the ears much like that feeling of having a very tight pony tail in your own hair but for a long time. The lack of blood flow can cause the skin to be a little bit thinner in the area so when the mats are gently removed by the groomer (Ruth) there is a surge of blood back to the ear tips. When your dog feels the relief of having less weight and more air on the ears it can feel a bit strange to them. It can cause them to shake their heads a lot, but remember that rush of blood to the capillaries in the ear and the thinner skin ? This can cause the little capillaries to burst and the ear to bleed. The most important thing to do is try not to panic. Most bleeding stops on its own in a few minutes. If you are worried or there is a particularly large area that has bled , take a clean dry paper towel and apply pressure to the area. Have a look after about two minutes the bleeding should have slowed down, and by five minutes it should have stopped. If it has not stopped or a large collection of blood under the skin starts to form in the next few hours call your vet as this is a haematoma that they will need to see.

Written by vet Megan Quigley MVB MRCVS for Bark'n'Style.

Dewclaws

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 10:22:33 GMT

It is important to keep an eye on your dog's dewclaws.

When you look at a dog’s paw only the nails contacting the ground are obvious and clear to see. However, dogs have a dewclaw which is an extra nail on the, inner part of a dog’s leg above the paw. Some dogs have dewclaws on their rear leg too.

Dewclaws are not normally worn down by daily exercise. As a result, they need to be regularly checked. They grow and can potentially cause problems for a dog.

During full grooms all nails and dewclaws are trimmed. However, if the dewclaws have grown too long, they can curl around growing into the dog’s paw pad. This is what the above picture, taken in my grooming room recently, is showing. This is very sore for a dog. At this point the dewclaw can no longer be dealt with by a groomer. The dog will need to go to a vet for a corrective procedure. So please remember to regularly check them.

A seasonal issue for dogs

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 18:33:56 GMT

Spring and Summer Ticks

In the past few weeks, I have found ticks on five different dogs in the grooming room. This entry outlines the dangers for your pet dog, what to look out for and what to do about ticks if you find them. Please be aware that ticks also pose a health risk to humans.

How do Dogs Get Ticks?

Ticks crawl up tall grass or plants in wooded areas and lie in wait for a passing host. When your dog brushes past on a walk the tick uses its front legs to grab on, then crawls over the coat and through the fur to find a suitable place to attach and feed.

The Problems Ticks Cause in Dogs

Ticks can cause paralysis or transmit other harmful and potentially fatal diseases to dogs. At the very least, a tick bite may cause irritation where it attaches to your dog. Symptoms may take a few days or weeks to appear.

The Symptoms

Tick symptoms may include irritation of the skin or anaemia. More serious symptoms may include one or more of the following:

· A loss of coordination in the legs.

· Vomiting after a tick bite.

· Retching, coughing or loss of appetite.

· Difficult or rapid breathing.

· Lethargy after a tick bite.

Should you notice these symptoms, seek immediate veterinary attention.

How to Find Ticks on Dogs

Gently move your fingertips through the coat at the level of the skin, feeling for any bumps. Start at the head and neck (don’t forget the mouth and ears), continue down the front legs to the paws, checking in between and underneath the toes. Then search the chest, belly, back, tail, and back legs.

What to Do if a Tick is Found

It is important to remove ticks as soon as possible if you find one on your dog.

How to Remove a Tick from a Dog

The best way to remove a tick from a dog is with tweezers or specially designed tick removal tools.

Using the removal tool, grab the tick at a point adjacent to your dog’s skin (at the tick mouthparts), twist the tick, then pluck the tick away from the skin. Take care not to squeeze the tick’s body.
It is possible for a dog to develop signs and symptoms of tick paralysis even after you remove a tick from a dog, so it is recommended to keep a close eye on your dog for a few days. If you have any concerns about your dog’s health, you should seek veterinary attention.

How to Prevent Ticks on Dogs

There are preventative tablets and medications available. You should seek the advice of your vet before buying. The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

De-Shedding

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 12:28:33 GMT

Double Coated Dogs

Double coated dogs.

Examples of double-coated dogs include retrievers, labradors, huskies, spitz, pomeranians, setters, collies, alsatians... and many more.

These breeds have a double coat. Which is made up of a soft undercoat and a more coarse topcoat. This undercoat keeps a dog warm in winter and cool in summer.

Reasons to never shave these breeds:

1: It does not keep them cooler in the summer, as they cannot now regulate their temperature.

2: It permanently damages their coat.

3: It increases the risk of sunburn and skin cancers.

4: It can lead to skin conditions and irritations.

5: It does not decrease how much the dog will shed.

6: It will not help with your allergies.

Pro tip:

Regular grooming at home and visits to the grooming salon for a de-shed treatment will help with reducing the amount of hair your dog will shed.