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Pet Tips

Daily Brushing

In order to provide proper coat care at home, owners should brush their pets often. The proper tools are just as important as daily brushing. We suggest using a medium/fine greyhound comb to remove matting and undercoat from long and dual-coat breeds. Pay special attention to the areas under the legs, neck, rear, and belly. Once the comb can be run through all the pet's hair with ease, then finish up with a slicker brush to smooth the coat and remove any loose hair the comb missed. You can also use the slicker brush before the comb to work through stubborn matting and undercoat, but just be careful not to brush burn the pet. If you have a short hair breed, a daily once over with a slicker brush can remove dead hair, and stimulate blood flow to the pet's skin.

A daily regimen of brushing may be hard to start, but once the habit is established you will find you have a healthier, happier pet.

Teeth Brushing

Oral hygiene is very important the the overall welfare of your pet. Daily brushing can prevent bad breath, tartar build up, and tooth loss. There are many brands of brushes and pastes on the market. Make sure the toothpaste you use is specifically formulated for pets, though, as human toothpaste can cause stomach problems.

Tartar build up and plaque can also be reduced by specially formulated pet foods, water additives, and dental pet toys. Check with your vet to see what is recommended for your pet's special dental needs.

Shake, Rattle & Roll

Most of us have seen it. The child who holds on to the leg of a parent anxious at being left on the first day of school. Well, the same goes for pets. No matter the size, breed, or demeanor of the pet, most don't like being left. The standard reaction to separation anxiety is to shake, while some cower and others whine. All of these are common stress reactions. But there are ways to help alleviate your pet's stress when visiting the groomer.

First, bring your pet in its own carrier. If the pet is too large for a carrier, then bring it in on a leash. Hand the leash to the receptionist and leave without much adieu. Once the owner is out of sight, most pets snap right out of the stress reaction and are fine. Second, never offer praise or reassurance to the pet when it is showing stress. This only reinforces the behavior, and lets the pet know its OK to feel anxious at the groomers. We suggest all owners watch Cesar Millan's "The Dog Whisper" when wanting to know more about stress reactions and how to overcome them.

Pet Tips Daily Brushing In order to provide proper coat care at home, owners should brush their pets often. The proper tools are just as important as daily brushing. We suggest using a medium/fine greyhound comb to remove matting and undercoat from long and dual-coat breeds. Pay special attention to the areas under the legs, neck, rear, and belly. Once the comb can be run through all the pet's hair with ease, then finish up with a slicker brush to smooth the coat and remove any loose hair the comb missed. You can also use the slicker brush before the comb to work through stubborn matting and undercoat, but just be careful not to brush burn the pet. If you have a short hair breed, a daily once over with a slicker brush can remove dead hair, and stimulate blood flow to the pet's skin. A daily regimen of brushing may be hard to start, but once the habit is established you will find you have a healthier, happier pet. Teeth Brushing Oral hygiene is very important the the overall welfare of your pet. Daily brushing can prevent bad breath, tartar build up, and tooth loss. There are many brands of brushes and pastes on the market. Make sure the toothpaste you use is specifically formulated for pets, though, as human toothpaste can cause stomach problems. Tartar build up and plaque can also be reduced by specially formulated pet foods, water additives, and dental pet toys. Check with your vet to see what is recommended for your pet's special dental needs.

Cesar Millan We are proud to carry Cesar Millan DVDs. We feel that Cesar's DVDs and books teaching his approach to dog psychology are important resources that any owner experiencing behavior issues, or just wanting a better relationship with their pet should utilize. Find out more about Cesar Millan at: www.cesarsway.com

Informational Brochures Informational brochures are provided free of charge to anyone visiting Whiskers & Paws. We want all owners to have information available to them to make educated decisions regarding their pet's health. Some of the topics covered are behavior, muzzles, elderly pets, skin and coat care, dental care, fleas and ticks, and nail health. These brochures are not meant to diagnose, treat, or replace the opinion of a licensed veterinarian.	aa

Shake, Rattle & Roll Most of us have seen it. The child who holds on to the leg of a parent anxious at being left on the first day of school. Well, the same goes for pets. No matter the size, breed, or demeanor of the pet, most don't like being left. The standard reaction to separation anxiety is to shake, while some cower and others whine. All of these are common stress reactions. But there are ways to help alleviate your pet's stress when visiting the groomer. First, bring your pet in its own carrier. If the pet is too large for a carrier, then bring it in on a leash. Hand the leash to the receptionist and leave without much adieu. Once the owner is out of sight, most pets snap right out of the stress reaction and are fine. Second, never offer praise or reassurance to the pet when it is showing stress. This only reinforces the behavior, and lets the pet know its OK to feel anxious at the groomers. We suggest all owners watch Cesar Millan's "The Dog Whisper" when wanting to know more about stress reactions and how to overcome them.

Itching and Scratching Are you tired of the constant itching and scratching by your pet? Is your pet miserable, and can't seem to find relief? There are a couple of things that can be done to help bring some comfort to you and your special friend. First, check with your vet. See what is recommend by him or her. It may be as simple as a diet change or the addition of dietary supplements. If a more serious condition is responsible for your pet's itching, then they can prescribe medicated shampoos, pills, or shots. If you find it is just general itching caused by seasonal changes or environmental irritants, then we may be able to help with a Pramoxine Anti-Itch treatment. We perform a standard bath and brush to remove dirt and oils. Then we soak your pet in a Pramoxine Hydrochloride 1% shampoo. Colloidal oatmeal and moisture-rich emollients in the shampoo help to condition the skin and prevent dryness. Once the pet is rinsed well, we follow up with a Pramoxine creme rinse conditioner. After a couple of treatments you and your pet should find the itch relief you've been looking for. We can also special order Pramoxine Anti-Itch Spray for spot use between treatments. Don't let your special friend suffer any longer. Call for a Pramoxine Anti-Itch treatment today.