What to do if your dog gets skunked

We all dread the encounter between our dog and a skunk. With warmer weather here, skunks are out and about and your dog is more likely to find one. If it does, it’s likely to be the victim of the skunk’s defense mechanism, the ability to spray a foul smelling scent up to 15 feet.
You can minimize the chance of coming across a skunk by keeping your dog on a leash, never keeping food outside, keeping your property clean, and turning on an outside light when going out after dark.
Skunks are common in North America, especially in rural areas, and sometimes wander into suburban back yards. Normally peaceful and slow moving animals, skunks have developed their scent glands to provide a highly effective weapon against potential enemies.
If your dog gets skunked, he not only will carry the smell on him, but will get it on anything else he touches, like your carpet or your couch. It is important to treat the dog right away and keep it confined and out of the house.
Your first thought might be to hose off the dog, but water can actually make it worse. Call your groomer and see if you can get a quick appointment for the dog. Groomers have anti-skunk treatments that will help. This is where a mobile groomer is far better than a store; you don’t have to get the skunked dog in your car! If you are forced to treat the dog yourself, the best treatment is a homemade mix of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and Dawn dish soap. Don’t try tomato juice unless you want the dog turning pink. Mix 1 quart of the peroxide, ¼ cup of the baking soda, and about 2 tablespoons of the Dawn. Use the mixture right away, and pour it over a dry dog. Cover the dogs eyes and keep the mixture off his head. Let it soak in for about 10 minutes, then you can rinse with water. You’ll probably need to repeat this many times. Even after you treat the dog, it’s still a good idea to get him to the groomers as soon as you can. Their products will take out even more of the smell and replace it with a good smell and a clean coat.
Even treated, you will probably be able to detect an odor for a week or more. The goal is to minimize the problem; only time will totally get rid of it. Also it goes without saying to make sure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date. Besides being smelly, skunks can carry rabies .

How to get a handle on dog shedding

Shedding is one of the biggest concerns pet owners have. It causes cleanliness issues and health problems for the pet owners, sometimes making pet ownership a real challenge. The good news is there are steps you can take to dramatically reduce the shedding, which will make your dog or cat happier and you very happy as well.
Probably the most important step towards getting shedding under control is regular grooming. It sounds logical, but we see many people that wait too long between grooming appointments. If you have regular grooming, including a bath and brushing, you will notice much less hair in your house. In our mobile grooming business, we tell customers that all the hair you see in our van is hair that would otherwise be in their house. The husky in the picture was done using the FURminator, not shaving. Look how much hair is on the table!
Besides a professional grooming, you should be brushing your dog or cat at least twice a week. Use this as a way to bond with your pet, and to check out their skin and general condition. It’s a good way to see if there are any skin problems or other issues needing attention. Fleas and ticks, for example, will cause scratching which will increase the loss of hair. For long coated breeds with a heavy undercoat, make sure you are using a brush that has long enough bristles to get down into the coat. For short haired breeds, which can also shed a lot, use a shorter bristle brush so you can just brush the top of the coat.
If you want to go the extra mile, get a FURminator brush or other de-shedding tool. These are rake-type brushes that really get out a lot of the undercoat. We use the complete system from FURminator, which includes their special shampoo and conditioner, the rake, and the use of forced air to blow the loose hair out of the coat after the brushing. We have found if a customer uses this system on a regular basis, say every six to eight weeks, the pet’s shedding is dramatically reduced. We even have customers with allergies that get this done monthly in order to enable them to live comfortably with their pets.
If you are able to give your dog a bath between professional grooming appointments, make sure you use a shampoo specifically made for pets. You want to keep their skin moist, because dry skin will increase shedding. Human shampoos are not properly balanced and will dry out your dog’s skin. If you dry your dog after the bath, make sure the dryer setting is not hot. We use room temperature air in our blowers because hot air will dry out the skin. Dogs can also get burned from hot dryers.
If your pet is still shedding a lot, you may also want to talk to your veterinarian about any food supplements you might want to use, or if you need to alter the diet. Eating the wrong type of food can have an effect on the pet’s shedding, and on overall health. A healthy, happy pet will shed less.
There are many different breeds of dogs, and some shed more or less than others. Almost all dogs shed at least to some extent. However, many breeds have minimal shedding that is much easier on people with allergies. Also, some dogs, especially those living outdoors, will have a heavy seasonal shedding rather than a constant shedding. More grooming may be necessary at those times to keep shedding under control. Some of our customers sometimes have their dogs and cats shaved because of shedding. However, shaving doesn’t eliminate shedding, it just makes the hair shorter.
Remember, regular grooming is the most effective way to reduce shedding. Getting hair on the brush or in the grooming van is much better than having to get it off your furniture, clothes, and floors. We recommend your groomer use a de-shedding process, and if shedding is a problem, make sure to get the grooming done on a regular basis.

Why Use a Mobile Groomer?

There are many choices for getting a professional groom for your dog or cat. In the past, the only reliable pet groomer was one in a groom shop or at your veterinarian. Today, thanks to custom made grooming vans, you have the option of having a professional groomer come to your home and groom your pet in a specially designed mobile grooming salon.
With a mobile groomer, the trips to and from the shop are eliminated. In many shops, the pets are left in cages waiting their turn for a bath, and they may wait most of the day before they are worked on. After their bath, they may wait again in cages while they are dried by forced air brought into their crate with a duct. After they are dry, they can get their hair cut, if necessary. And of course, they wait until their owners come and pick them up.
Groom shops can be busy, noisy places. While most pets do fine, some of the more nervous or shy pets may not handle the stress as well. For these pets, being groomed in a van in front of their home, just one on one with a groomer is a less stressful and more enjoyable experience. Mobile groomers may be the answer for these type of pets. Mobile grooming also works well for the large breeds that may be difficult to transport to the groom shop, or for pets that do not tolerate car trips very well. Cats especially get stressed in a grooming store. Imagine a cat waiting his turn in a store with barking dogs coming in and out all day!
Mobile groomers offer the same services as groom shops. Aussie Pet Mobile, for example, offers specialty shampoos, de-shedding treatments, flea and tick treatments, aloe re-moisturizing, nail filing, and other services. You don’t need to compromise on either quality or service by going mobile.
Of course, mobile groomers can also be a great convenience to the pet owner. If time is limited, a mobile groomer eliminates the two trips to the groom shop. The owner can be getting things done at home, playing with the kids, or just relaxing while the pet is groomed. Since their pet is the only customer the groomer has, all the time spent at the customer’s home is devoted to their pet.
A mobile groomer can definitely offer more convenience and a less stressful experience for your dog or cat. Because mobile groomers travel from customer to customer, they do fewer pets in a working day. For that reason, mobile grooming is typically more expensive than a groom shop. On average, mobile prices run about $25-$30 more than a large chain pet store’s price, depending on the pet. For that reason, mobile grooming may not be for everyone. If your pet does fine at the groom shop, enjoys the car rides, and you have the time to go back and forth, then a groom shop may be the best alternative. However, if you are looking for a premium groom experience for your pet with less stress, and more convenience, the extra charge may well be worth it. When you factor in the expense for gas and the cost of your own time, it may not really be much of a price difference.