Before you get started there are some tools you should gather. A slicker brush, a comb, a mat splitter, and some product to help loosen up the hairs. You can use grooming sprays or you can also use corn starch to help work mats out.
Now that you have gathered up your tools, lets get down to business. If your using cornstarch, sprinkle into onto a tangle or matted section. Use your fingers to rub it into the hair and then gentle use your slicker brush to brush out the mat. You want to brush in the direction that the hair grows. You can keep reapplying the cornstarch as needed as you work through the tangles and mats. If a de matting spray is your choice of product, you spray it onto the mat and tangles, and then again you can use your fingers to help work it in. Same process then follows. Use your slicker to gently brush in the direction the hair grows, to help work the hairs apart. You do not want to pull or yank on the tangles and mats. Dematting can be uncomfortable for your pet so you always want to make sur you take your time and be as gentle as possible. If you can, try to hold the hair beneath the mat or tangles and before the skin. Doing this will help prevent pulling on the skin and causing pain or discomfort. This is the best position to use while using a mat splitter. These tools often have blades that are designed to slice into the mat and cut it into sections. Doing it this way will then allow you to brush out these smaller sections which saves more hair than just cutting out the whole mat. If the dog has mats or tangles that you can not safely brush out, you can contact a groomer who may be able to help, or who can safely shave them out as to not cause your pet any pain. You have to be able to know that sometimes, if the tangles or mats are too bad, it is in the pets best interest to shave them out instead of trying to brush them out. Humanity over vanity is a common saying amongst groomers. This means that we hope to do the most humane thing for the pet, not necessarily what makes it look the best. But we try to do both!
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what are ticks? How to prevent ticks from biting your pet. How to remove a tick from your pet2/1/2021
Have you ever had a tick bite you or your pet? Do you know what they are? How to prevent them? Or why you should try to avoid being bitten or having your pet get bit?
There are approximately 40 species of ticks found in just Canada. Depending on where you live, you will have different species of ticks that are common to your location. Each tick species has its own type of host in which it likes to feed from, and its own set of diseases that it can transmit. The most common in Canada are shown below.
American Dog Tick
These ticks can be found in open grassy areas with very little tree cover. The dog tick feeds on hosts of all sizes and can carry rocky mountain spotted fever and tularemia. This particular tick can also live for up to 2 years without a host.
Now that you know what the common ticks are, what diseases they carry, and where they like to live, its important to know how to prevent them from biting your pet.
Tick prevention is very similar to flea prevention. There are topical medications, collars and pills. Some of the most popular are shown below. Amazon affiliate links are provided for convenience. You can also be mindful to avoid long grass and wooded areas. Do thorough checks of your pets after their walks, and immediately remove any ticks you find.
If your pet still manages to get bit by a tick, there are a few different types of tools you can use to remove them. The main thing to try to do, is to ensure you gently pull them off and to keep them all in one piece. If you pull to quickly, their heads can break off and remain embedded in your pet. This can lead to infection.
Dogs, just like people, produce ear wax and oils. Unlike people, dogs tend to roll and get in to some pretty gross things. Some of the dirt and particles can become trapped in the wax and oils in their ears. If not cleaned out regularly, this can lead to ear infections.
A sign that your dog is needing its ears cleaned is when it starts rubbing its ears or scratching at them. They could be dirty, have a build up of wax or oil, or even be infected. All of these things can irritate the ear enough to cause the dog to react to it.
Cleaning your dogs ears can be a simple process and can be done at home. There are ear washes, ear drops and even ear wipes you can purchase. You can also remove the excess ear hair that some breeds produce. Each product has its own instructions for you to follow, so its important to read the instructions and to follow them closely. Below are some examples of the products you can easily get off amazon. Some affiliate links are provided below A small commission may be earned from qualifying sales. If you want a more in-depth look at the best ear cleaners, drops and powders, take a look at this article.
Most drops or cleaners want you to apply enough solution into the dogs ears to fill the ear canal. You then massage the base of the ear to work it around and dislodge and dirt or debris. You can use cotton balls or a clean clothe to then wipe out and dirt from the dogs ears. Most wipes simply want you to wipe around in the dogs ears to clean them out. But make sure you follow the instructions for the product you are using. For the removal of excess hair, you can shake some of the powder into your dogs ear, massage the ear so it covers the hair. You then can use your finger tips to grip the hair and gently remove it by lightly pulling. Do not pull hard. Excess ear hair should pull out gently and without causing pain. If your pet has an ear infection, I recommend seeing a vet. Ear infections are uncomfortable, can hurt, and if left untreated they can cause real damage to your dogs ear and their hearing. Infections should be seen and treated appropriately by a vet, but regular maintenance can be done at home and this is how to clean your dog's ears. |
AuthorMy name is Liz Arbuckle and I own and operate a home based dog grooming salon in Southern Ontario. The Grand Groomer. I have a background in breeding and Showing purebred dogs, specifically Chow Chows. I have a young son and a bulldog named Zoey. Categories
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