Dealing with the dog’s impacted anal glands

One of the joys of dog ownership is watching the pet perform tricks. Dogs are intelligent and affectionate animals that have the tendency to play up to amuse the family. A dog that walks on its hind legs or one that dances and sings along with the master would be a source of endless amusements for the family. Wouldn’t you laugh if you see your dog dragging the butt on the carpet while the hind legs are up in the air? Is butt dragging a newly learned trick?

This action of dragging the butt on the floor may not be newly learned trick after all. The new “trick” may in fact be a sign that the dog is extremely uncomfortable because of an impacted anal gland.

Anal glands are two small sacs on both sides of the anus. Pheromones, the chemical that gives the dog a distinct smell are secreted from the anal glands through the small ducts that opens to the anus. Dogs identify each other by smelling the scent of this chemical that is distinct in every dog. The pheromones are naturally excreted when the dog poops. Frightened dogs would voluntarily release their distinct smell by raising the tail and squeezing the anus.

If the pheromones are not normally emptied, the anal gland can get impacted. The build up of the secretion can cause the formation of abscesses that can rupture and create immense discomfort for the pet. The condition can also lead to anal gland carcinoma.

Dog owners should make sure to include emptying of the anal gland in the grooming routine of the dog especially if the pet tends to get recurring anal gland impaction. Expressing the pet’s anal glands can be a messy and a smelly task and most dog owners get the services of a vet or a professional groomer to undertake the procedure.

Dog owners can easily learn how to express the dog’s anal glands. This can be done by lifting the tail of the dog and positioning the index finger and the thumb on either side of the anus to apply a steady upward pressure to push the secretion out of the anus through the ducts. An unpleasant smelling brownish to gray colored substance will be excreted through the anus. Remove the secretion with a damp towel or shampoo the dog’s behind to remove smell of the anal secretion. Anal glands can get impacted if the dog’s diet is low in fiber and the pet is not given regular opportunities to exercise thus these things have to be avoided to maintain the health of the pet.

At Sarah’s Dogs you can read more about dog grooming.

The Ultimate Checklist for Grooming the Dog

A dog will give the human family many years of loyal and affectionate companionship. Being wonderful creatures that they are, it would not be surprising if pet parents provide dogs with a safe and loving home. Unfortunately, dogs have other special needs aside from the highly nutritious meals that the pet owners provide. Dogs need a high quality diet but exercise and regular grooming are also vital to the maintenance of the dog’s overall well being.

Different breeds have different grooming requirements – some dogs are high maintenance breeds and others would need minimal grooming. Grooming the pet can be a tedious chore to a busy owner especially if the pet is not compliant to the grooming routines. Grooming the dog is a tedious task but this necessary chore would be made easier by following a grooming checklist.

Bathing is one of the necessary grooming routines of dogs. Pet owners that bathe the dog very often mean well but this can have unwanted effects on the dog. As frequent bathing removes the natural oils of the skin, the appearance of the fur can be affected and some skin concerns can also develop. Breeds hallmarked by beautiful coats would still need regular brushing to maintain the topnotch appearance of the coat. This grooming routine also gives the owner a good chance to inspect the pet for signs of emerging health concerns and signs of parasite infestation. Twice a week brushing would do for short haired breeds but long haired dogs need about 30 minutes brushing every day.

Ear cleaning is another important task that must be done weekly. Dogs with pendulous ears and dogs that spend more time in water would need more frequent ear cleaning to prevent the development of serious ear problems. Daily cleaning is as well necessary for the dog’s delicate eyes. Special wipes for the eyes can be used to remove discharge from the dog’s eyes.

Most dog owners would find trimming the nails and brushing the dog’s teeth more challenging grooming routines as dogs that love having the coat brushed are generally not compliant to these grooming routines. Regular cleaning of teeth is necessary not only to ensure the pet’s fresh breath but also to prevent the development of periodontal diseases. Regular nail trimming will also be necessary. These grooming routines would be easier if the dog was accustomed to the routines at an early age.

A regular grooming routine is necessary in the maintenance of the dog’s overall health. These grooming sessions will be wonderful bonding moments of owner and pet.

Sarah’s Dogs provides more information on dog grooming.

Selecting a Groomer for the Pet

Dogs have made positive influence to people’s lives. Caring owners therefore would provide the pet with anything that would make it happy and healthy. Regular grooming is one of the basic requirements that must be given to the dog to ensure its wellbeing. However, not all dog owners have the time or the ability to groom the dog. Dogs that need to be groomed several times a week would be a burden for a busy owner. Knowing that grooming sessions would be treasured bonding moments with the pet, the owner would do the task himself if he has the time but tight schedules will force a dog owner to take the pet to professional groomers that can do the job more capably. But can the chosen groomer do the job proficiently?

Choosing a groomer is as difficult as choosing a hair dresser. Dog owners, especially ones that consider the pet as their baby would be choosy in selecting a groomer. Dog owners would certainly not allow just anybody to groom the pet. Commercial grooming services are not hard to find but oftentimes, the dog owner would come out of the posh grooming salons unhappy with the price and dissatisfied with the way the pet was groomed .

Choosing a dedicated groomer that would accomplish the task efficiently is difficult but it can be done. Dog lovers tend to congregate – ask around. Groomer recommendations can also come from friends and relative. The best advertisement a skilled groomer would have is through word of mouth thus it pays to heed the recommendation of friends.

The grooming area, the tools and supplies used would give the dog owner an idea on the kind of service the groomer can give the dog thus visiting the salon would be a good idea. The credentials of the groomer would be important. A groomer that has undergone formal training and a member of a grooming organization would most probably be skilled.

As they say experience is the best teacher. The quality of work of a groomer that has been doing the job for years will certainly be much better than the work of an “on the job training” groomer.

A happy and a healthy dog is a well groomed dog. The groomer will be the buddy of the owner in maintaining the health and the happiness of the pet thus it is the responsibility of the owner to choose a groomer that will perform the job efficiently.

Sarah’s Dogs provides more information on dog grooming.

Controlling the Dog’s Flea infestation with Grooming

Is the belief that an ugly dog also has an ugly owner true? This notion stems from the fact that the appearance of the dog reflects the kind of care it receives from its owner. As such, a mangy dog or one whose coat is riddled with sores and bald patches will be viewed as a neglected pet. The owner of the dog will be despised as he/she had failed to take good care of the pet.

Being a caring and responsible dog owner does not starts and ends with providing the dog regular meals. A responsible dog owner would also know the importance of regularly grooming the pet as it is not only an essential factor in the maintenance of the dog’s admirable appearance but also a necessary preventive measure against the development of various health concerns.

Fleas are one of the common ectoparasites of dogs. These small and wingless parasites would cause the dog annoyance, discomfort and a host of other health concerns. Severe flea infestation will cause the dog immense discomfort because of the itching resulting from the flea bites. Flea allergy dermatitis results when the dog develops an allergic response to flea saliva. The bald patches on the skin and the oozing sores will certainly mar the appearance of the pet. Severe flea infestation can also cause anemia. Moreover, fleas can introduce tapeworms not only to the dog but also to the dog’s human family if flea-carrying tapeworm eggs are accidentally ingested.

Flea infestation can be prevented if the dog is groomed regularly. Dogs can get fleas by playing with flea infested dogs or by passing in areas where fleas are waiting for potential hosts. An anti-flea product will eliminate adult fleas but the eggs that remained can start another infestation.

This is where the importance of regular grooming comes in. The dog can be bathed with anti-flea shampoo. For the treatment to be effective, the fur must be soaked in the shampoo for 10 minutes. Once the fur has thoroughly dried, use a fine toothed flea comb to remove fleas killed by the treatment. For good measure, all the areas of the house frequented by the dog must be vacuumed thoroughly giving particular attention to carpets and rugs as well as to cracks and crevices as these areas are favorite hiding places of fleas. The beddings and the toys of the dog must be washed in hot water as well.

A regular grooming regimen would keep not only fleas but other parasites at bay. Furthermore, the grooming sessions enables the owner to strengthen the bond with the pet.

Want to know more about dog grooming. Visit Sarah’s Dogs.

How to deal with the dog’s lice infestation

Your dog’s body can be home to various types of parasites. Common parasites that pester dogs are flea, ticks mites and LICE! A dog owner that maintains a regular grooming routine for the pet should not be surprised if lice is found on the dog’s fur as this parasite can be found even on very clean dogs.

Both humans and dogs can be infested with lice. The lice that afflicts humans though is different from the lice that thrives on the dog’s body thus the infestation of the pet cannot be blamed on the lice the commonly infests the toddler as human lice cannot live on dogs and vice versa.

Dog lice are beige, gray or tan colored wingless parasites that measure about 12th of an inch. Lice unlike fleas that jumps, are slow moving parasites thus they can be easily removed by hand. The lice that infests the dog can be a biting kind or the kind that feeds on the dog’s blood. The dog can have the kind of lice that bites to feed on skin flakes or the lice can be the kind that thrive on the dog’s body by sucking blood. Both biting and blood sucking lice would have unwanted effects on the dog as the first would cause immense itching while a severe infestation of the blood sucking kind can cause anemia.

Lice cannot jump like fleas thus an infestation can occur if the dog had direct contact with an infested dog. An infestation can develop if the grooming tools of an infested pet is used on another dog. A female lice can lay up to 100 eggs thus it is possible for the infestation to grow rapidly if prompt eradication measures are not administered.

A dog that has lice on its body would scratch and scratch. Lice wold be seen attached to the skin on the dog’s neck and shoulders, on the anus and on the ears. The eggs called nits will be glued on hair follicles and would appear like particles of dusts.

Insecticides are commonly used to get rid of the dog’s lice. An insecticide spray or shampoo used in bathing the dog would kill adult lice. The treatment must be repeated several times as the insecticides would have no effect on the eggs. To totally eradicate the infestation, the beddings and the toys of the dog must be washed thoroughly to make sure that the parasites are killed.

Want to know more about dog grooming? Visit Sarah’s Dogs.

Treatment for Dog Mites

Fleas, ticks, lice and mites are the common external parasites of dogs. These free loaders are not just extremely irritating. The pet’s constant scratching and biting of the skin can develop into serious skin concerns. Dog owners though are more concerned about the diseases that can be transmitted by these parasites to the pet as it is also possible to transmit these health concerns to humans.

Mites are one of the external parasites that can make the dog’s life very uncomfortable. There are several kinds of mites that can infest the dogs. Dogs can suffer from a persistent skin disease known as mange because of Sarcoptes and Demodex mites infestation. A dog with sarcoptic mange will suffer from immense itching and would transmit the skin disease to other pets of the family. The mites from an infested dog that managed to transfer to another dog would live on the dog’s skin in body parts less covered with skin. Demodectic mange is a less serious skin disease as it is not transmissible and does not cause immense itching. Mites that area passed on by the mother dog to the puppies will stay and live on the hair follicles and sebaceous glands.

Walking dandruff is a dog skin disease that is caused by the hook-mouthed mite known as Cheyletiella. These hook-mouthed miles will live on the surface of the dog’s skin and cause severe itching. Walking dandruff is a highly contagious skin disease and the mites can easily infect an entire kennel. Otodectic mange is an ear condition in dogs that is caused by Otodectes cynotis mites. An ear mite infestation can result to more serious health concerns. A dog with severe ear mite infestation will constantly scratch and shake the head until the eardrums are damaged causing the dog to lose its hearing.

Eradicating mite infestation is easy these days with the wide variety of OTC medications. Medicated dips, shampoos and soaps used in bathing as well as topical ointments will alleviate the discomfort of the pet, reduce itching and restore the admirable appearance of the coat. Dog-safe insecticide injections are given by vets to the dog to eradicate the mites. Resolving ear mite infestation is easy as ear drops that is applied and massaged to the inner and outer ear will smoother and kill the mites. Regular grooming would do a lot in resolving the dog’s mite infestation.

Veterinary medicine has made tremendous improvements especially in areas dealing with the parasite infestation of animals thus resolving the dog’s mite infestation these days is no longer a big concern. Parasite infestation though and the resulting health concerns that would affect the well being of the pet can be prevented with regular grooming.

Read more about dog grooming at Sarah’s Dogs.

Pamper your pooch with a pedicure

Not may dog owners would think that nail care goes with bathing, brushing and cleaning the dog’s eyes, ears and teeth. Nail care though must be included in the grooming routine of the dog. Dogs really have peculiar behaviors, while they would allow the tickly cleaning of ears, the stingy feel of the shampoo in the eyes when being bathed or the intrusion of the master’s hand on the mouth when the teeth is brushed, they would put up a fight if the nail is trimmed.

This part of grooming routine though is necessary because the long nails of the pet can destroy furniture. The long nails of the dog can scratch people or can tear a designer gown but we love these affectionate animals anyway. The normal gait of the pet will be affected if the nails are allowed to get too long. Long nails that come in contact with the floor would make the dog uncomfortable because the feet that bears the weight of the body will not be planted firmly on the ground. The elongated nails of the dog often get broken when snagged in the carpet.

A pedicure must be included in the overall grooming routine of the dog although the frequency of this nail trimming varies. Grooming the nails every three weeks would be okay for some dogs. Dogs that do a lot of walking on hard surfaces can maintain the length of the nail and can go on for a couple of months without needing nail trimming.

Indoor dogs that are seldom allowed to run or walk on rough surfaces would need regular nail grooming. Putting off the nail trimming routine allows the quick or the sensitive pink area that is full of nerves to grow closer to the tip of the nail. If this happens, the chance that the quick will be clipped along with the nail is increased.

Just as with any other grooming routine, nail clipping would be less of a hassle if the dog was introduced to the procedure while still a puppy. Owners of grown up dogs can still entice the pet to submit to nail care. To make the dog more cooperative it would be necessary to make the experience enjoyable. Spend some time playing with the pet before you start the grooming routine. The quick is more visible in white nails thus owners of white nailed dogs would not worry too much about cutting the quick. Because the quick is less visible in black nails it would be best not to clip the nail in one go. Have a styptic powder at hand to stop the bleeding if the dog had struggled and the quick was cut.

Read all about dog grooming at Sarah’s Dogs.

Keeping Fido’s Paws in excellent shape

The paw is an incredible body part of a dog. Covered by a type of leathery skin that is believed to be the toughest skin of the dog, the paws are the reasons why this four legged friend can absorb not only the weight of the body but also the shock and the pressure when it runs and leaps.

As the feet are in constant use, the paws are continuously subjected to wear and tear. Foot wear will always be worn before humans venture on hot pavement, on sheets of ice and on rocky roads. Dogs would not mind these kinds of hazards to their paws. It would be rather nice if we can provide the pet with foot gears that will protect their feet but dogs are tough and if they can talk they would tell you that foot gears will be a big blow on their dignity.

The leathery skin that covers the paw pads are actually very tough but between these pads are sensitive skin that can easily get injured. Taking time to care for the paws of the dog is one of the tasks of a responsible owner as paws tend to get injuries because of their functions. Common paw injuries are puncture wounds, lacerations, blisters and burns as well as foreign objects and thorns stuck in the dog’s paws.

It is not in the nature of the dog to show their pain thus an injured pet would usually hide in dark corners. It is therefore the responsibility of a dog owner to notice any change in the behavior of the pet. An injured paw can be easily noticed if it is bleeding. Limping and favoring one foot are signs of paw injuries. Dogs tend to lick any body part that is hurting thus a paw that is incessantly licked may have an injury. Some dogs would not show signs that the paws are injured. Grooming the dog’s paws must be included in the dog’s grooming routine.

Even if there are no signs of injuries, the dog’s paws must be inspected daily. Dogs that are not accustomed to being touched in the feet would be difficult to groom given that paws are sensitive areas. The owner may need to entice the pet to be cooperative by rubbing the belly or by playing with the pet for a while. Talk to the pet while doing the checking of the paws. Grooming the paws is especially necessary if the dog had gone swimming or had played outdoors. The paws must be thoroughly washed and dried to ward off infection. A few minutes grooming session will ensure the health of the pet and enhance pet and owner relationship.

More about dog grooming at Sarah’s Dogs.

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