Have a Stress-Free Holiday

December is National Stress-Free Family Holiday Month. I imagine December was picked for all the holiday chores and pressures that come into our lives at this time of year. One great way to relieve stress is to spend time with your pet. We all know that it is awfully hard to stay in a bad mood when those big puppy-dog eyes are looking at us, but studies have actually shown that pets can control blood pressure better than drugs do. Pets can provide companionship at a time of year when many people feel lonely and depressed. Pets provide unconditional love, which is something people need but is not always easy to find. So if you’re struggling through your holiday chores and feeling the pressures that come with the season, slow down and take time to be with your pet. Less stress is a great feeling!

Get Ready for Winter

Besides the holiday’s, the other big event this month is the official start of winter. The colder weather means a lot of changes for us, and it means change for our dogs as well. Less daylight this time of year brings on more shedding, especially in northern breeds like huskies. For most of us, more shedding during the holidays is not a welcome gift. If your dog is shedding, take a look at our blog entry on shedding, posted in July. Also, if you haven’t already done so, make sure to get your appointment scheduled with your groomer. The groomer’s schedule fills up quickly this time of year.
Another unwelcome change for your dog this winter may be a bigger appetite. Wild animals need to put on extra fat for the winter, and your dog may be more hungry than usual. With all the extra cooking and baking this time of year, it’s a good idea to watch the treats and make sure your dog doesn’t get too many snacks. If you do treat your dog to an extra goodie, make sure it is safe for them. Remember, chocolate is toxic to dogs. Speaking of toxic, some other winter dangers include poinsettias, which should be kept away from pets, and halite, the chemical salt used to melt ice on sidewalks. Wipe your dogs feet with a damp cloth if you walk on treated pavement.
Have a wonderful holiday season and a safe and fun winter!

Aussie Pet Mobile Gift Cards

If you would like a great gift for a friend with a dog or cat, purchase a gift card from Aussie Pet Mobile. For every $25 gift card you buy, you will receive $5 off a future groom for your dog. It’s a great deal and a great way to give a special gift to a fellow pet owner! Just call 1-800-PET-MOBILE to find your local groomer.

Halloween Precautions

We all want a safe and happy Halloween so we need to remember that it can be a stressful time for our pets, especially with a ringing doorbell and lots of strange looking kids coming to the door! If your dog or cat is especially shy or skittish, you may want to confine them to another room during the trick or treating hours.
Also, we all probably know that chocolate is toxic to our pets, so keep the candy bars out of reach. In addition to chocolate, most human candy is not good for our pets, either due to the choking hazard, salt content, or toxic ingredients. And if we are having a more adult friendly party, remember that alcohol and dogs do not mix. If it is too difficult to keep the pets out of the drinks and treats, you may want to remove them from the room entirely (the pets, not the treats!). If you want to give your pets snacks, remember to go easy on the dog biscuits, or give them carrots or apples instead.
The dogs in the picture are all ready for trick or treating. These are Debbie Tomasik's dogs Andy, Mattie, and Waylon. If we include the dog or cat in our costumed activities, remember that some pets can become scared or uncomfortable in clothing. Start off small and see how it goes. If your pet enjoys the attention and doesn’t mind the costume, that’s great. But remember to monitor your pet’s well-being, especially if your kids are taking part in the doggy or kitty dress-up. Remember not to block the pet’s vision with a costume or headgear. Make sure the costume doesn't restrict movement. If the dog goes trick or treating with the kids, keep it on a leash at all times. It’s safer for the dog and for other people in the neighborhood.
Make sure you do not keep your pet outside during this time, even those dogs accustomed to living outdoors. Dogs and cats that are outside unsupervised during Halloween can become scared, over-excited, or sadly, the victim of someone’s “trick.” It’s best to keep them inside where you can make sure they are safe.
Halloween is a fun time for the whole family. Some simple precautions can keep it safe as well.
Happy Halloween!

Over-weight Dogs

In our grooming practice one of the biggest issues we come across with dogs is obesity. In fact, being a mobile groomer, we probably get more heavy dogs than a groom shop, because they are so difficult to transport. I guess the problem is a good one for our business, but in reality we would rather see healthy dogs than obese ones. Being over-weight usually leads to other health issues, and will take years off a dog’s life span. If owners realized over feeding their dogs mean shortening their lives, I wonder if they would change their feeding habits. Most people know when their dog is over-weight, but if you’re not sure, ask your vet. Usually if you can no longer feel the rib cage in a dog, it needs to lose weight.
Over-feeding your dog has a direct impact on their health. Obesity can lead to diabetes, heart disease, respiratory problems, osteoarthritis, digestive problems and some cancers. Experts estimate that about half of all dogs in the US are over-weight.
It seems most obese dogs are the result of being over loved. Often we show our affection for our dogs by giving them treats. Owners should know that treats should be limited, and that there are alternatives to regular dog treats that are much healthier and lower in calories. Just like with humans, calories are the main determination for weight gain. The good news is that we have direct control over how many calories our dogs get each day.
Instead of dog treats, try these alternatives recommended by my vet:
· Air-popped popcorn
· Raw baby carrots
· Plain rice cake, unsalted
· Raw or canned green beans
· Plain Cheerios
Or if you prefer dog biscuits, try the low calorie ones, like Eukanuba Canine Restricted Calorie Rewards, or Royal Canin’s Diet Canine Treats.
When you feed your dog at mealtime, measure the dog food in a small measuring cup. Make sure you know how much you are giving. If the dog continues to gain weight, reduce the amount. Experiment until you find what is right for your dog. That may or may not be what the dog food maker prints on their package. Not every dog is the same.
Settle on specific mealtimes for your dog, like once a day or twice a day. Never leave food out all the time. If your dog doesn’t eat right away, pick up the food and wait until the next scheduled feeding time to give more. Soon your dog will get used to the schedule and will eat their food at the right times. Regular meal times also make it easier for housetraining.
I’ve had customers tell me their dog must not be getting enough to eat because they “act hungry!” Of course your dog wants food whenever he can get it. Natural behavior is to eat what’s available. You as the human caregiver must understand what the dog cannot, that over feeding will almost surely lead to health problems and premature aging.
The best thing you can do for your dog is keep it in shape, with good feeding habits, exercise, and lots of attention. Your dog will be happy, and in turn you will benefit by getting to spend more time with your loyal companion.

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.