BAYSIDE RESORT’S DOGGIE CARE GUIDE

Secrets To Having A Healthy, Great Looking

Bayside Pet Resort’s Doggie Care Guide

DOGGIE CARE TIPS FROM OUR STAFF Having some of the best groomers and dog care professionals for over five years now has taught us a thing or two about how to keep your dog looking, smelling, and feeling its best.

We all want our to look and feel their absolute best all year round. While regular grooming and vet care is a must, there are plenty of things you can do at home in between grooms, and vet visits.

This brief guide contains some of our favorite dog grooming and care tips. You’ll find that they will not will help you have the best-looking dog in the neighborhood but they also contribute to a healthier pet as well. We hope you enjoy them…and we think your dog will too! Bad doggy breath-will brushing his teeth really help?

Canine dental needs vary based on your dog’s age, food type, breed, etc. Generally, it is a good idea to brush your dog’s teeth once a week between their regular dental cleanings by your vet. With that in mind, here are a few notes:  If you feed your dog wet food or soft treats they may need their teeth brushed more frequently

 Small breed dogs often lack the jaw strength to self-clean their teeth on bones or kibble and may need their teeth brushed more often.

 While you can find doggy toothbrushes/toothpaste at most pet supply stores, many vets will give them for free if you just ask! Enzymatic doggy toothpaste continues working long after its use.

 To brush your dog’s teeth, hold their muzzle in your left hand while using your thumb to pull the lip up and brush one side - then switch sides. It’s as easy as that! The first couple times may be difficult, but if you find a flavor of toothpaste your dog likes and make it a positive experience, they’ll get used to it and actually come to enjoy it.

 After brushing, follow up with a pet dental spray and you’re good to go! Use the dental spray between brushings to keep breath fresh.

Page 1 Bayside Pet Resort’s Doggie Care Guide What About Stinky Paws? Do you wonder why your pooch sometimes exudes a nose-wrinkling corn chip fragrance? Because a dog’s feet are in constant contact with the ground, they pick up plenty of microorganisms in their paws. Dogs also cool off by sweating through the pads of their feet and this combination of moisture and bacteriaeleases r that uncanny Frito-like aroma.

When walking your dog, avoid those obvious bacteria laden places such as standing puddles, around sewers, near trash, etc. Give those feet a gentle washing every now and then between baths, or use pet-safe wipes!

Preparing Your For Grooming Grooming can be a scary thing for a young puppy, but with proper preparation, they’ll learn that grooming can be an enjoyable part of their life! Here are some tips for training your new puppy:

We recommend two introductory visits with the groomer before attemptinguppy p ’s first full haircut. Schedule your their first bath and nail trim at the grooming salon when they are 3-4 months of age. At this point in your dog’s life, you can probably do that at home yourself, but bringing them to the groomer for something easy like this helps you puppy feel comfortable and learn to trust the groomer. Arrive early to your first appointment at the grooming salon so puppy can get used to the new sounds and smells.

The second visit should be 3-4 weeks after this initial visit, and will be for a bath, nail trim, and light hair trim around the face, feet and sanitary area. This builds upon what puppy learned in their previous visit and reinforces their positive view of the salon while introducing new things.

4-5 weeks later, your puppy should be ready for their first full groom! Gradually working up to this event helps ensure they won't be too overwhelmed or scared. A bad first experience at the groomer can stick with a dog for life, so these early visits are very important to create a positive association with grooming.

Common Problems at the Groomer The most common problems dogs have with grooming are their feet being handled, hands and fingers near their face, and the sound of the clippers. There are things you can do at home to help eliminate fear at the groomer:  Hold and play with your dog’s feet. As long as he or she is allowing you to do this, praise them and give them treats, so they know that having their feet held is a good thing! Something as simple as holding your dog’s feet once a day while on the couch can make a huge difference when they go to the groomer.

Page 2 Bayside Pet Resort’s Doggie Care Guide  Touch their face, ears and cheeks to get them used to being handled in these areas. Again, while your dog is letting you do this, reinforce positively with praise and treats.

 Find a household item that mimics the sound of the clippers. Usually an electric toothbrush will do the trick. While on the couch, pet your dog with the item so they get used to the sound and vibration of clippers. This is particularly important around the head. Does My Dog Really Need A Conditioner For Her Coat? Don’t automatically use a conditioner! While it is generally better to condition your dog’s coat than not to condition, some dogs benefit more than others. Find a groomer that offers conditioning as an add-on option so you can decide for yourself if this is best for your pet. Some dogs have sensitive skin or thin coats that can be weighed down by a conditioning treatment. To determine if your dog is a good candidate answer the following questions:  How long is your dog’s coat?

 How often do you wash your dog?

 Does your dog have itchy skin?

Dogs with long coats may be prone to mats and tangles (think Maltese, Yorkies, Afghans). Using a conditioner will not only make your dog’s coat healthier, it will make your job a lot easier by helping to remove mats and tangles, making after-bath brush outs a breeze.

If you wash your dog often (more than once per month) you should definitely condition the coat so it remains moist. Bathing can be drying for the skin and coat and a good conditioner will help replace that moisture.

Not sure if your pet needs conditioner? Consult a professional groomer for recommendation. Brush Regularly The same guidance that applies to your dog’s teeth also applies to their coats.

Regular brushing is great regardless of your dog’s coat type, because it removes dead hair, distributes the natural oils for a clean and healthy coat, stimulates the surface of the skin, sloughs off dead and dry skin, and helps you become very familiar with your dog’s body. Brush your dog every couple of days regardless of coat length. Not sure what kind of brush your dog needs? Start with a soft bristle brush or consult with a professional roomerg for insight.

Page 3 Bayside Pet Resort’s Doggie Care Guide Keep Nails Trimmed Nails are one of the most important things to maintain for your dog. Long nails can cause discomfort, arthritis and other problems for your dog. Check your dog’s nails every two weeks. A good rule of thumb is that if you can hear the nails clicking on the floor, it’s time for a trim!

Your dog’s nails grow on a curve, which means they can curl into the paw pad if left untrimmed. Longer nails increase the risk of arthritis as long, curled-in nails inhibit your pet’s ability to walk naturally, putting added pressure on joints. It’s vital to your dog’s health and comfort to receive regular nail trims.

At times, dog owners are disappointed by the length of the nails left on their pup by the groomers, believing the nails were not cut short enough. The opposite is often true, and actually the groomer idd the right thing for your pup.

Inside of the nail lies a blood supply, referred to as the “quick”. As the outer nail covering grows longer, so too does the quick. Cutting off too much of the nail at once cuts the underlying blood supply as well. By trimming nails more frequently, your quick will begin to recede, allowing for shorter and shorter nails each trim.

How often your dog’s nails need trimming varies. Some dogs may need a nail trimming every four weeks, while some may need it done once per year

Nail clipping frequency can be affected by many factors, including where you walk your dog. If your dog is always walking on grass or carpet, these soft surfaces won’t help grind the nails down, so nails will grow orem quickly. Pavement can help gradually shorten a dog’s nails with each walk. However, be careful in the summertime with pavement that may be too hot.

Another factor is the age of the dog. Younger dogs tend to be more active and will wear their nails down faster.

Page 4 Bayside Pet Resort’s Doggie Care Guide Listen Up! -The Ears

Keeping the inside surfaces of your dog’s ears clean will not only feel good to your dog, but also helps to prevent ear infections.

Use either a cotton ball or piece of gauze with pet ear cleaning solution to clean your dog’s ears. Wipe the inside surface of the ear, going down only as far as your finger easily fits. Don’t use Q-tips or try to put anything further down the ear canal. You will risk causing a very painful ear injury!

Examining the outside ear surface will also alert you to the presence of wood ticks, fleas, or anything else unusual. About Hot Summer Days, Coat Length, And De-Shedding Dogs only sweat from their paws, so having a long coat doesn’t generally affect their body temperature significantly. In addition to health risks, shaving your double coated dog can lead to permanent effects on their coat. Sometimes the hair does not grow back like the original coat, becoming sparse and course instead. In addition, you run the risk of upsetting the dog’s natural heat protection.

Double coated breeds (like Golden , Labs, Huskies, and Corgis) have two layers of hair. The outer layer is a coarse coat which protects them from the heat and sun. The undercoat is thicker and softer, keeping them warm in the cold. Some people prefer to shave their dogs to prevent the shedding and keep their dog cool, but when you do that, you remove both their air conditioner as well as their heater. This means your dogs may actually be warmer and can even overheat on hot summer days when shaved.

Page 5 Bayside Pet Resort’s Doggie Care Guide A deshed is the perfect solution, since it removes that undercoat while leaving the topcoat, their air conditioning layer. If the undercoat is left to build up it can make your dog hot, which is why regular brushing is vital as the weather gets warmer. A low shed shampoo and de-shedding conditioner work together to loosen the follicles of the undercoat.

A combination of brushing and blow drying can get that undercoat out, keeping your dog nice and cool. When done regularly (every 6 to 8 weeks) A deshed can reduce shedding up to 90%! Your dog’s coat will feel softer and lighter while still being beautiful and shiny.

Don’t Forget Creative Grooming! There’s no doubt about it, your dog knows when they’ve been groomed, and are looking their best. They walk – prance? - and even wag their tails differently. There are all sorts of fun options to take your dog’s appearance to the next level with grooming touches like nail polish, temporary color, and unique cut styles. Here’s what one of our groomers had to say about creative grooming:

”Creative grooming extras like fun rhinestones and color are one of the best parts of grooming. As a groomer, I love the fun and artistic aspect of creative grooming, but I also love what it does for the pets! When my pets get a little color or bling they get so much extra attention and you can tell they love it!! People can't help but stop and pet an adorable dog with pink ears or purple nail polish.” -Aubrey, Groomer at Bayside Pet Resort

Talk to a professional groomer about highlighting your dog’s personality with these cool options! How Long Will It Take To Get My Dog Professionally Groomed? Unfortunately, there is no one answer. The length of time a groom takes depends on many factors, from the breed and temperament of the dog, to the schedule the groomer has for the day. As a guideline, consider a rough estimate of 3 to 4 hours. Let’s look at the factors that influence how long it takes to groom a dog:  Breed - While it’s pretty obvious, larger or hairier breeds take longer to groom. What may not be obvious is that some smaller breeds are very time-consuming as well. For example, Cocker usually have very dense coats which take a long time to properly bathe and dry.

 Temperament - Most dogs are great for the groomer, especially those who come regularly. However, just like people, dogs can have the occasional bad day. There may be a day that your dog ate something that didn’t agree with him, or they got excited by another dog and just aren’t behaving as well as usual. This can unfortunately add time to your groom.

Page 6 Bayside Pet Resort’s Doggie Care Guide  Coat Condition/Haircut Style - Haircuts that are longer in length, or more intricate, obviously will take longer to groom. There may also be days that your dog’s coat has more tangles than usual, or perhaps they got into something sticky, which will of course take time to get the coat back to normal without causing discomfort to your pup.

 Groomer’s Schedule - Everyone runs late sometimes. Unfortunately, if someone scheduled before you comes in late, it may cause the groomer to fall behind that day, effecting the timing of their grooms. This can also be true if something happened that causes the groom to take longer than normal, such as with senior pets or pets with medical needs. The groomers do their best to stay on schedule but when working with live animals, unexpected things are going to happen which may occasionally affect how long the appointment takes.

 Your Individual Groomer - All groomers work at different speeds and different skill levels. Grooming in some ways is an art form, and good groomers like to take the time to make sure your dog really looks amazing. Tear Stains and Other Facial Discolorations Many dogs get discoloration or tear stains around their eyes and mouth. Short nose breeds such as Shih Tzus, and Pugs are prone to excessive tearing because they often have shallow eye sockets, or hair growth in skin folds around the eyes that cause problems. While these breeds are more susceptible to tear stains and discolorations, it can affect any dog.

There are a few things you can do to help reduce this:

 If your dog’s hair grows in the corner of the eyes, make sure to keep that hair closely trimmed  Check your dog’s food to make sure you’re feeding something high quality. Oftentimes, food additives can be the cause of discoloration.  Provide your pet with fresh filtered drinking water instead of tap water. Tap water is often high in mineral content or iron which can contribute to discoloration.  A facial scrub is often helpful for lifting some of those stains away. Ask your groomer about the facial products they offer for this. We use a non-toxic Blueberry facial scrub that is tear-free and smells amazing! Hotspots-What Are They? Hotspots are characterized as being red, hairless, inflamed areas of skin that are warm to the touch very painful and itchy for your dog. They are basically angry looking sores! These are fairly easy to spot and as they often exude pus and can be foul-smelling. You’ll probably notice your dog obsessively itching, licking and biting at the area. You may also notice that hot spots seem to appear out of nowhere, which is fairly typical. A hot spot typically starts out as small circular patch that enlarges rapidly, often within a matter of minutes or hours. This is exacerbated by your dog’s licking and biting in that area due to the extreme discomfort. Any dog can get one of these angry sores, but they typically affect dogs with long thick coats.

Page 7 Bayside Pet Resort’s Doggie Care Guide There are many reasons dogs can be affected by this acute form of dermatitis, among the most common reasons are:  Flea bite allergy (most common cause of all)

 Skin allergies

 Bites from other parasites (mites, tics, etc.,)

 Chemical irritants (contact allergy)

 Skin infection

 Ear and anal gland infections

 Neglected grooming

Dogs who are about to shed, swim frequently, or live in a humid climate are also likely to be more affected. Basically, any situation that causes moist dead hair to be trapped next to the skin can cause a hotspot!

Conventional methods for treating hotspots include using over-the-counter products and prescription medications prescribed by a veterinarian. Here is the typical process of healing a hot spot: 1. Expose the sore by clipping the hair around it as short as possible 2. Thoroughly wash the sore with an antibacterial solution (Betadine or Chlohexidine) and leave open to the air 3. Apply spray or cream for the itching (try Wham Anti-Itch Spray). Oral antibiotics and corticosteroids may also be prescribed by your veterinarian. 4. Find and treat the root cause - Flea bite? Allergy? Etc.

Tips for preventing hotspots in dogs:  Regular grooming and checking your dog skin

 Always dry your dog thoroughly after swimming or bathing

 Keep up-to-date with the flea and tick topical medication

 Treat any and all skin sores immediately

 Always keep hotspot treatment products in your first aid kit ______

Bayside Pet Resort is a Sarasota and Osprey Florida luxury pet resort and spa, offering 5-Star amenities to our canine and feline guests with state-of-the-art accommodations, daily health checks, supervised doggie daycare and a wide array of grooming services. Featured in local media such as Suncoast News Network, Sarasota Herald- Tribune, Venice Gondolier Sun, Suncoast Pet Magazine, and Sarasota Magazine, Bayside also provides obedience training and agility classes to help you and your dog live harmoniously. For grooming, boarding, and training information, call 941-244-4930 (Osprey, FL), or 941-351-0730 (Sarasota, FL) to schedule an appointment. Bayside groomers use natural, non-toxic products for grooming. Call for information on these products.

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