Dog Grooming Hints

Dog Clippers

Andis 23165 Ruby Cord/Cordless Clipper/Trimmer

• Great for ears, nose, whiskers, and toplining
• Uses detachable stainless steel blades (sold separately)
• Contoured to perfectly fit your hand
• Ni-MH battery holds charge for 1 hour
• Weighs just 6 ounces

Andis 23165 Ruby Cord/Cordless Clipper/Trimmer

Article by Daniel Vickers

Hot spots are known as superficial pyoderma and pyotraumatic dermatitis and are common skin infection in dogs. These appear as circular red patches which do not have hair, are swollen, give out smelly pus, are inflamed and are painfully itchy. The itchiness causes the dog to lick, bite or scratch the area resulting in increasing the hot spot area. The spot tends to form within hours and grows rapidly to cover a large area within a very short time.

Type of dogs which are more susceptibleDogs which have heavy coats, prone to allergies, flea infestations, infection in the ear and irritated anal sacs are more susceptible to hot spot problems. Additionally, dogs with grooming troubles like mats or hair tangles are also prone to getting hot spots.

In humid climates dogs can develop hot spots while shedding undercoats and some dead hair gets trapped close to skin. Some dogs with behavioral problems may injure themselves by biting an area and inflicting infection causing affected areas.

CausesThese can be caused by any reaction which results in histamine release or release of other inflammation mediators. Scratches, small wounds, insect stings, small scrapes and similar other problems result in inflammatory mediator release thus causing development of these hot spots.

LocationsBefore looking at treatment let us first look at common locations. Although they can appear in most parts on the body, few common locations are feet, legs and other sections which are accessible to licking or biting. The infection could also appear in other part of the body such as neck, ear and chest.

Dog Hot Spot TreatmentTreatment can include the following:1. Trim the fur in and around the area, you can use electric clippers for this purpose.2. After the area is clean, wash it properly using antiseptic like any betadine based one or diluted hydrogen peroxide for cleaning pus as well as dry it.3. You can also use products such as pain relief spray with topical anesthetic such as Betagen spray after consulting your vet to reduce discomfort in the area.4. For severe reactions, benadryl tablets & hydrocortisone spray may also be prescribed by your vet or you can opt for a natural dog vitamin.5. Do not use creams as they retain moisture but the hot spot area is to be dried so that it can heal.

How to prevent hot spotsMore than information on dog hot spot treatments, it is important to know how this problem can be prevented in the first place. Prevention would depend on whether the trouble is caused by grooming problems or allergies.

If the spots are caused by matted hair or due to dead hair that is trapped then proper grooming is the best way to prevent this problem. Always groom hair before bathing the dog so that there are no mats or tangles in the hair. In case of an allergy due to plant pollens, lawn chemicals or household dust then use air purifiers, proper vacuuming and antihistamines like Atarax to stop hot spots. If you’d rather use a natural solution, NuVet Dog Vitamins offer a natural supplement designed to help with common dog aliments.

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Dog Clippers
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Wahl 8881 Switchblade Clipper with #10 Detachable Blade

Click here to get up 13% OFF: www.amazon.com Wahl 8881 Switchblade Clipper with #10 Detachable Blade The Wahl 8881 Switchblade Clipper kit includes: Clipper,
Dog Clippers Video Rating: 0 / 5

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Dog Grooming

Why Should You Groom Your Dog?

Article by Richard Perkins

Most people who own dogs always create time to groom them and will give you reasons for doing this. For some, grooming is about making sure the dog looks good, others do it to ensure the dog stays healthy while others are motivated by a desire to bond with the dog. On the opposite extreme are those who do not groom their dogs either because they are busy, or do not see the need for doing it, or any other reason. So, why it is important to groom your dog?

Let us start by defining what dog grooming is. Dog grooming basically refers to the process of cleaning and making the dog tidy. This includes all activities that you do to remove dirt, and improve the appearance of the dog in general. Why is this process important? The most important reason why you should groom your dog is the fact that it helps keep the dog healthy. Ask any veterinarian and you will be told that your dog needs to be bathed regularly to stay healthy. Bathing helps remove dirt but more than that, it prevents the dog from developing skin infection.

When a dog goes without bathing for a while, the dirt will cause it to start itching and scratching which in turn leads to skin abrasions that can become septic. And if a dog has infection such as thrush for instance, it is easier to prevent further infection if it is clean than if it is dirty.

Besides bathing, other grooming activities are also quiet beneficial. Brushing and combing for instance makes a dog look more attractive. This again is not the only reason why you should brush or comb it. When a dog is not brushed especially if it has long hair/fur, the fibers get intertwined, a condition commonly known as matting. Matting would not have been much of an issue had it not been that it creates its own problems. One of such is that it locks dirt in and increase chances of your dog itching. It is also quiet hard to wash a dog when there is matting.

You are probably asking, suppose my dog already has matting, what should I do? Brushing will help if the tangles are not very tight. However, if matting has gone on for a while without remedial action, then you will only hurt the dog as you attempt to brush or comb. The solution in this case is to undertake a different grooming activity: hair clipping.

Hair clipping is the best option when your dog’s hair/ fur is very tightly intertwined. But clipping has other benefits including making it easier to clean the dog and improving the looks of your dog. There are hair clippers specifically designed for dogs. Besides clipping of hair/fur, it is also recommended that you trim the nails. Long nails when unchecked will curve inwards and may result in injury as the dog walks by piercing into its feed pads.

Finally, nothing will bond your dog and you than grooming. The prolonged, massage like touch will increase the faithfulness of your faithful friend!

dog grooming question by jane: what does a blocking blade do for dog grooming ?
I read that its good for “skimming” and what does that for dog grooming ?

dog grooming best answer:

Answer by princess_dragon_tears
In grooming, skimming is when you use the clippers almost like scissors. You skim the hair of the dog to get the shape and length you want with no scissor work required. It really does take a lot of practice, skill and a steady hand though. It’s also important if you’re using a blocking blade NOT to clip down to the skin. The teeth are way too wide and you run a high risk of cutting your dog if you aren’t professionally trained. For that I would recommend any #10 blade. What breed are you using this for anyway?

The Dog Grooming Industry

There’s a video for every industry now, and here’s one more for pet groomers! Enjoy!
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Dog Grooming Tools

Bichon Frise Dog Grooming Instructional How To DVD Video and Equipment Guide

• This is a 175 minute DVD to teach you how to groom your Bichon at home. We go over in detail how to do the traditional Bichon cut and the summer puppy cut. We show each step in great detail, up close, and slowly, explaining the methods to make it easy for you to do at home.
• You will learn what equipment is needed to fit your pet and the groom you desire. I go over what equipment I am using as well as giving advice to help you shop for your own equipment with ease.
• You will learn how to trim the nails and avoid the quicks. I show in detail how to find the quicks and how to hold your pet so that trimming the nails is easy and stress free. If you accidentally cut the quick, you will learn how to safely treat the nail.
• You will learn how to clean the ears and how to maintain the ears and prevent infection. You will also learn the signs of an infection and what to do if your pet gets an ear infection. I show in detail where you want to remove hair and how to do so with ease and stress free.
• You will learn how to brush your pets teeth and with ease. I show in detail how to hold your pet and how to easy reach and clean all of your pet's teeth without a struggle.

Bichon Frise Dog Grooming Instructional How To DVD Video and Equipment Guide

Dog Grooming Tools question by Hyacinth: How do I properly clean my grooming tools?
What do you use, how do you do it. explain your exact procedure for blades, shears, combs, brushes, and table. Do you wipe off the residue immediately with paper towel, or let it sit and dry. do you always rinse with water? I only want to know what you actually do all the time.. 5 stars for most precise answer.

I feel like such an idiot because all this time I’ve been cleaning my tools only a little more often as other groomers I work with do. And that’s not often! In grooming school we were hardly taught it and I never saw anyone do it. When I left school I bought Clipercide and Barbacide. The other groomers including the one who was the owner for 10 years had a can of dusty clipercide on a shelf somewhere and I never saw them use it. I cleaned my tools every 3 days or so and every time after a dog with an issue or when I can see grime. Then when I started my new job I decided to get clean and do it everyday. NOW, I had no thought of doing between EVERY DOG! Please teach me. Then I will forever be 100% cleaning between every dog if I learn the correct procedure that other groomers use all the time. Thank you for understanding!

Dog Grooming Tools best answer:

Answer by CanineTruth
I try to clean my tools after i groom every dog, that way if a dog comes in with a skin infection or something i don’t risk spreading it to other animals through my tools.

Scissors are sprayed with a disinfectant and wiped immediately. Clipper blades are cleaned in a mixture of water and cleaner then blown off with the forced air dryer (especially the blads i use for hygiene trims). At the end of every week i oil blades and scissors and check for wear/tear.

I know some people who don’t do any of that. I always err on the side of caution and i take care of my tools. Even my combs and brushes get sprayed, rinsed, and dried! A groomer is nothing without his/her equipment (or so i was taught) so i strive to keep it clean, working, and disinfected.

That being said, i don’t think there is a “correct” or “incorrect” procedure. It depends on the groomer.

Andis Tool Tips – Dog Grooming

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by heraldpost

Experience teaches that the more you know, the more you know that you do not know. If you have been grooming your dog for long, then you most likely are very good at it but you also know that there is always more that you need to know. In all grooming procedures, there are things you should do and things that you need to avoid. Many times we learn this the hard way when we realize we just did something that has counter-benefits, such as when cut the quick when trimming nails. We will look at the four basic grooming activities and highlight some of the things to do and those to avoid under each.

Let us begin with bathing. You should certainly bath your dog and you should do it regularly. Most veterinary officers will tell you that you should bath the dog at least once each month. Scrub it gently with shampoo and a brush and make sure to rinse thoroughly afterwards. These actions will help keep the skin fresh and free from infection. On the flip side, do not bath your dog as frequently as you bath yourself. Daily baths are definably good for you but certainly not for your dog as they will lead to loss of essential oils on the dog’s skin resulting in irritation and scratching. You skin on the other hand is able to quickly replace the oils lost during bathing.

Brush your dog’s hair on a regular basis. Use brushes that will not cause abrasions and do it gently. Move the brush along the hair fibers and not against them. When you brush properly, the dog will have a very appealing look. It will even look shinny and sleek, making it fun to walk in the park with. If the dog has long hair or fur, you may want to trim it. Hair clippers should be on hand for this and run the clipper gently through the hair. Please, do not do these procedures hurriedly because apart from doing a shoddy job, you can actually cause injury. Avoid clipping too close to the dog’s skin. Remember, you are reducing the hair, not “undressing your dog”. It is not safe to do this because that hair has a protective function.

You should develop a regular routine of checking your dog’s nails. The best time to do this is when you are bathing the dog since then you will be killing two birds with one stone. In fact it is advisable that during bathing, you also do physical examination for swellings, lumps, cuts, and so on. If the nails are long and possibly curving, trim them. What you should avoid it cutting too deep to reach the quick. This is why like mentioned above, you must never groom in a hurry. Trim small layers at a time while looking out for the quick. As soon as you sense that you are approaching it, stop trimming. A cut on the quick apart from being very painful can lead to serious infection.

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Whether you have just gotten your first dog or you have owned more than one dog, either way, keeping a dog occupied and happy can be a challenge and a joy. Most people do not think beyond the basics when getting a dog. Food, water, and shelter should be enough right? Not so, there are many conciderations when getting a dog, and keeping them happy.

The most important factor in keeping your dog occupied and happy is the dog’s breed. Each breed has certain characteristics that are inherant to that breed. They are happiest when they are able to freely do what comes natural to them. I have a miniture poodle, poodle are smart and require alot of mental stimulation to be happy. She loves to play fetch and have her toys to play with. She also is happiest in a routine. My mom’s jack russell terrier is a different story. Though she is small, she is happiest with lots of room to run and jump. Jack Russells also love to hunt. My mother’s Jack Russell would not be happy in a home with out constant excersice and play.

In my experience, most dogs love having a space to call their own. In my dogs case, she loves her kennal. It is not a place for punishment, and I never make her go into the kennal. She goes on her own, and in fact, during the day that is where you will find her. It’s her place to get away from my 3 year old or just nap. She has learned how to open and close her kennal at will. It is her haven. All dogs should have a place that is just theirs. Sometimes they just want that space to take a nap or be alone.

Good grooming is also a part of keeping a dog happy. Regular baths and brushing make them feel better. My dog loves her baths. Also, it gives you and your dog special one on one time.

Grooming also keeps them neat and clean, and helps minimize possibility of fleas, ticks, or a skin infection. With a poodle, like I have, regular grooming is a necessity.

Dogs love regular play, some more than others. Pick toys that are durable, and most of all toys that your pet likes. Stuffed animals that squeak are always a hit. The dogs can play with their toys alone or with you. Throwing a ball for you dog can be a great stress reliever for you both! Be sure to choose the right size toy for your dogs size to minimize risk of choking.

Routine exercise such as playing fetch or walking is also a great way to keep your dog happy, healthy, and in shape. Overweight dogs tend to develop many health problems,some of them painful, such as arthritis and hip problems. A dog in pain is not happy. So keeping your dog on a good diet and exercise plan is very important.

It may seem that caring for a dog, and keeping them happy is alot of work. It does require some time, and we all know the hours seem to be full enough. Having a healthy happy dog is a great way to relieve stress and take your mind off your day. Instead of coming home from work stressed and going right to the television set, head outside for a vigourous game of fetch. It is great exercise and lots of fun! Dogs want their owners to be hapy too!

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