Lili the Pug gets special care by her owner Jeannine.

Caring for Wrinkly Dogs

Some of the most popular breeds of dogs today are breeds with wrinkles — cute little Pugs, stout Bulldogs, Shar Peis, and many of the Mastiff or Molusser breeds. These breeds may have wrinkles only on their faces or they may have wrinkly skin all over their bodies. In either case, their owners may have fallen in love with them before realizing that it takes some extra effort to care for a dog with wrinkly skin. Without special care these dogs can develop serious skin problems. But if you’re willing to give your dog’s wrinkles some regular maintenance you can prevent these skin problems from occurring.

Wrinkles are beautiful

If you have a dog with facial wrinkles, such as Pugs, you should use a very gentle wipe to clean their wrinkles on a daily basis. If you begin wiping your dog’s wrinkles when he’s a puppy he should have no problem with this daily regimen. He will probably enjoy the attention. If you have acquired an adult dog with a wrinkled face, you may have to help him get used to the idea. Clean your dog’s wrinkles slowly, give your dog lots of treats, and you can help him adapt to having his wrinkles cleaned.

Pre-Moistened pads are very good to use to clean your dog’s wrinkles. They’re alcohol-free and safe to use on even the youngest puppy. Try Eye Pads , they don’t contain any pharmaceuticals or chemicals. You can rub Eye Pads with and against the grain of your dog’s fur to thoroughly clean inside the folds of his wrinkles – but always rub very gently. You don’t want to irritate your dog’s skin. Eye Pads contain all-natural colloidal silver that helps prevent the growth of bacteria.

More wrinkles!

Some breeds, such as Shar Pei and the Mastiff breeds, have wrinkles all over. Their wrinkles need to be wiped all over their bodies. When wiping these dogs you should pay special attention to anyplace where your dog may seem to be itchy. This can be a sign that there is dirt collecting in the folds of the wrinkles. This can lead to irritation and even an infection if you don’t clean your dog frequently. This is one of the reasons that dogs with wrinkly skin can have skin problems.

In addition to this daily wrinkle care you should take special care to bathe your wrinkly dog at least once a month with a gentle shampoo to soothe any irritated skin. Shampoos with colloidal oatmeal are especially good for dogs with wrinkly skin and for skin irritations such as itchy and dry skin. Comfy Dog Oatmeal Shampoo is a good choice for dogs with wrinkly skin and skin irritations.

You’ll need to gently — very gently — scrub between all of your dog’s wrinkles during each bath. Make sure that you rinse your dog completely, too. Rinsing your dog is perhaps even more important that the bath itself since any shampoo residue left behind can cause skin irritations, especially between your dog’s wrinkles. Dogs with wrinkles are particularly prone to itching and rashes so be very careful to rinse away all traces of shampoo. If you use a conditioner make sure that you use an all-natural conditioner that will soothe your dog’s skin.

There’s no need to blow dry a wrinkled dog. They tend to already have dry skin and blow drying them will likely dry out the top layer of skin and may leave moisture in the folds of their skin. Simply towel dry a wrinkly dog and let him air dry.

See what the vet thinks

All dogs should see the vet at least once a year. Your wrinkly dog is no exception. When you take your wrinkly dog to the vet, ask your vet to pay special attention to your dog’s skin. Make sure that he or she checks the folds of your dog’s wrinkles and looks for any skin irritations or other problems. Whether your dog has face wrinkles or wrinkles all over his body, see that your vet gives your dog’s skin a thorough going over. If your vet finds any skin problems he or she will probably prescribe a topical spray or cream to help the symptoms.

Wrinkly dogs are all beautiful in their own unique ways. If you have a wrinkly dog take extra special care of his skin and your dog’s wrinkles shouldn’t give you any trouble at all.

When it comes to traveling with your dog planning can mean the difference between a memorable, trip and a nightmare vacation that you’ll never forget. Before you board that train, plane or automobile here are a few things to consider.

1. Microchip your dog. If (heaven forbid) the worst happens and you’re separated make sure he is wearing ID and has been chipped. You can contact one of the many companies that perform the service ( Crystal Tag , HomeAgain , Microchip ID (AVID) or you can ask your local pet store if they offer microchipping. It can seem like an expensive luxury but the peace-of-mind it affords is priceless.

2. Training. Unruly, uncontrolled behavior will often be amplified in unfamiliar environments. If your dog is scared or uncertain he will express these emotions by being uncooperative, impatient and excitable. Your dog will look to you for reassurance and calm so if you have trouble providing that for your dog it’s time to attend an obedience school. You will be taught how to handle a variety of situations but most importantly you’ll be taught how to exert your authority as leader of the pack and nothing calms a dog more effectivly that knowing he is in the good hands of his pack leader.

3. Make sure you are armed. With poop bags, a leash some treats, and it’s also a really good idea to have a bath replacement spray like Dry Dog Instant Clean to deal with the odors of a confined dog. However if the smell is emanating from the inside of your dog opening the car window will only help so much. We always prep our traveling dogs with Dog Smog Remedy a few days in advance of the journey. Not only does it help with bad breath but the digestive enzymes in the formula diminish bad gas, and I’m sure I don’t have to point out how that can ruin a road trip.

4. Should he even come along? If you’re on business or won’t have a lot of time to spend together it may be a better idea, no matter how painful, to leave your little guy at home. If you have a friend or a family member willing to take him that’s always preferable however there are many excellent kennels available that will provide a welcoming environment for your baby. The best way to find one is by referral, from your vet, someone at the dog park, from a friend; it’s hard to beat experience when looking for someone to watch over your most precious possession.

5. If you’re flying, can you bring your dog in the cabin with you? If he’s small enough it’s much better option for all concerned. Check with your airline about the regulations regarding traveling with your best friend and make sure you have an airline approved carrier .

6. Prepare for calm. There are many products on the market that will help to calm your dog before traveling but if you’re looking for an all-natural, highly effective solution Sleepytime tonic is perfect. It’s a great idea to start the program a few days in advance of departure with a few drops twice a day in your dog’s mouth, (or if he resists this you can put it on a treat or in his water). By the time you leave he’ll be much calmer, more relaxed and ready for the adventure.

7. Road trip!. The car is by far the best way to travel with your dog. Usually the back seat is a familiar location and perhaps he even has his own blanket and car toys. However if your dog only rides with you to the vet it might be a good idea to prepare for the trip by taking him to the dog park, or to the store (for treats) so he starts to associate the car with good things. Needless to say take plenty of water and stop often for a walk and a bathroom break, and don’t forget the poop bags and the leash.

8. Stay! Remember that just because a hotel allows dogs that doesn’t mean that they actively welcome them, and here the internet is an invaluable tool. Do plenty of research before you leave the house. Make sure that the hotel has an area to walk and play with your dog. Check the fine print about liability associated with bringing your dog to the hotel.

9. Camping. Now here is a great vacation for a dog; back to the wild, lots of open space and room to run off leash. But beware, many state and national parks do not allow dogs. If you have a smaller dog please be vigilant and make sure your little guy does not stray too far into the woods alone. Nature can be cruel and uncompromising; You see a wonderful ball of love and fluff but there are plenty of creatures out there who see a tasty morsel.

10. Emergencies. The last thing you want on any vacation is a medical emergency but it does happen and it’s smart to be prepared. If your dog has medical issues don’t forget to bring any medication and it’s always a good idea to bring his medical records and the phone number of your vet back home.

Vacation can be a relaxing, rejuvenating experience for the whole family and a little planning can be the difference between getting away from it all and feeling all alone and helpless

It goes without saying that dogs and fireworks don’t mix well. As July the fourth approaches it’s a good idea to start thinking of ways to make your best friend more comfortable during the evening hours. Don’t forget that your dog’s hearing can be up to ten times more acute than yours so the loud bangs, whistles and screams that may be fun for you are not at all pleasant for your dog.

And don’t forget that your dog has no idea what’s going on. You know this is all meant to be fun and will be over by midnight but dogs have no facility to anticipate the future. If you can, it’s best to stay with your dog. The fact that you’re there will reassure him and at least give him the feeling that the world he knows is going on as normal.

Here are a few things to try if you have an anxious dog.

1. In an effort to ease YOUR anxiety make sure your dog has his collar and ID tags on . Every year hundreds of frightened dogs escape the mayhem and run as faraway as they can. Make sure that if the worst happens (and we sincerely hope it does n’t) your best friend can be brought home quickly.

2. Prepare; Spend plenty of one-on-one time together before the fireworks begin. Give him plenty of exercise, a strenuous game of catch, a long walk (or run), or an afternoon of tug-o-war. Not only will a tired dog be less anxious but if you have to leave him home while you go see the fireworks he won’t feel quite as much resentment after he’s spent all that time with you. (He may even be grateful for the rest)

3: Make sure he’s been allowed to poop and pee a plenty before nighttime. Do you really want to be out walking your nervous guy after dark?

4: If your dog enjoys bathing (and you’re planning on staying home with him) why not give him a bath before the fireworks start "bursting in air". Most bathrooms are located in the interior of houses so they are more insulated from the outside noise of early fireworks and the sound of the running water and the warm humid air are very relaxing. We recommend Comfy Dog Shampoo with a little Fur Butter massage afterwards and of course a finishing spritz of Calming Aromatherapy Spritzer . It’s also a good idea to use the spritzer on his bed as the essential oil of lavender is very calming for dogs. You never know, if you get him relaxed enough he may sleep through the whole thing (right!)

5: If your dog is not allergic you might also try adding a little cooked plain potato or white rice to his food. Just as with humans the carbohydrates will help your dog feel full and sleepy. Oh and before I forget…I know we usually equate alcohol to relaxation but keep the chardonnay in your glass not his bowl, alcohol is just not good for dogs

6. However it is a great idea to add an all natural herbal remedy to help your guy relax. We recommend Sleepytime Tonic which you can give about 30 minutes before the fireworks begin. It won’t put your dog to sleep but the all natural Bach Flower Essences will help to make him less anxious and more able to deal with the stress of all that noise.

Of course if you have a dog who is terrified of fireworks, to whom the forth of July is a nightmare it would be a good idea to discuss this with your vet.

Just remember that not everyone likes fireworks and your job as pet parent is to make sure that your whole family has the kind of Fourth of July they’ll enjoy.

Poodles are prone to mattes and tangles

No more mattes and tangles

If you have a dog with short hair then you probably don’t spend much time worrying about mattess and tangles. But, if your dog has long hair you may spend a considerable amount of time not only thinking about mattes and tangles but trying to come up with ways to prevent them or get them out of your dog’s coat. Even with frequent brushing some dogs seem to get mattes overnight.

100 strokes a night

The best way to prevent your dog from getting mattes is, as you might expect, to brush his coat frequently. Your dog may have a single or double coat but your long-haired dog can have either hair type, depending on the breed. The beautiful Maltese, with his long, flowing coat, is single-coated, so you shouldn’t think that having a single coat means that a dog will have less hair. A double-coated dog has an outer layer of guard hair and an inner layer of softer hair that usually acts as insulation. Collies, Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds are examples of double-coated dogs. A single-coated dog only has one layer of hair but it may can be of different textures, depending on the breed.

Whether your dog has a single coat or a double coat, if your dog has medium or long hair you can avoid most mattes and tangles by brushing him several times a week. Use a good brush, such as a boar bristle brush or boar bristle with nylon bristles mixed in, to brush through your dog’s coat. (Boar bristles help spread the natural oils in your dog’s coat and don’t break the hair.) Then you can go over his “furnishings” (the long parts of his coat that hang down, such as chest hair, leg hair, hair below the stomach) with a pin brush. Pin brushes have metal pins set into a brush back. They allow you to brush through and gently separate the hair. Finally, you can comb out your dog’s hair after you have carefully brushed it out to leave every hair in place.

Ouch!

When you’re brushing your dog’s coat, if you do find a mat or tangle you can take your comb and gently work it loose a few strands at a time. If you brush your dog frequently then any mat or tangle you find should be fairly easy to work loose.

You can also use Calming Aromatherapy Spritzer on mats and tangles. The emollients in Calming Aromatherapy Spritzer can help loosen mattes and tangles when you’re grooming. Just spray a little on and work through the mat. Then use your comb to work the tangle out.

An ounce of prevention

You can also prevent matting by using shampoos that don’t overly strip the coat of natural oils. Using harsh shampoos can result in the coat matting. Use gentler shampoos that are free of Sodium Laurel Sulfate and which don’t strip the coat. Follow up with a conditioner after shampooing. Fur Butter leaves the coat silky and easy to brush while providing colloidal oatmeal to heal dry, itchy skin.

To prevent tangles from ever occurring you can use Calming Aromatherapy Spritzer on your dog right after his bath. After you bathe your dog you can lightly mist his coat with Calming Aromatherapy Spritzer and it will keep the hair from tangling while you brush him out.

If you’re ever brushing your dog and you find a mat that is too much to tease out, you may, on occasion, have to trim it out. If you do, be very careful when using scissors with any mat. Try to stay away from cutting near your dog’s skin. It can be very easy to cut your dog and that’s the last thing you want to do. Cut just a little snip of hair in the mat and try to work on it with your comb.

Brush your dog frequently and he can be gorgeous and matte-free. He’ll also enjoy grooming a lot more if you don’t have to deal with mats and tangles. Try to prevent mattes and tangles and you’ll both be happy.

by Carlotta Cooper

What’s in a Label?

I have five dogs, all of the same breed, and each one of them has a different kind of coat texture. Little Pearl has a smooth, sleek coat year-round. She’s always easy to groom. Beautiful Billie, my champion girl, looks like a curly Poodle unless I spend hours stripping her coat. Her brother Colin has coat that grows like Rapunzel’s hair – it never stops growing. It just gets longer and longer every day. His coat is a little frightening. Taylor has a soft coat that mats easily and his brother Beau is prone to hot spots. All of this means that I end up using different shampoos for different dogs.

It has WHAT in it?

Reading shampoo labels can be confusing, to say the least. Shampoos can contain chemicals with polysyllabic names and you have no idea what those chemicals are or what they may do. Often times you have to rely on what the shampoo says it will do on the label and that may or may not be the truth.

Here are some of the most important things to look for when choosing a shampoo.

Avoid shampoos with the following ingredients:

• Sodium Laureth/Lauryl Sulfate — This is what makes your shampoo foam up and is called a surfactant. In recent years SLS has come under scrutiny for being too irritating and damaging to the hair follicle, causing skin damage and more. Most human salon and grocery store brands still have some form of this surfactant in thier formulas.

• Tar — a known cancer-causing agent

• Co Co Amide — a known cancer causing agent in animals

• Propylene Glycol — a form of mineral oil that retains moisture in the coat; can be a skin irritant. Botanicals and herbs often come in a base of propylene glycol or butylene glycol which are then put into your shampoo. Little by little raw ingredient manufacturers are offering other alternatives like glycerine to use as a base for the herbs.

• Mineral Oil, Methyl Paraben and Propyl Paraben — may cause allergic reactions

• Ethyl Alcohol (found in synthetic fragrances used in some shampoos) — may cause allergic reactions and dry out your dog’s coat
• Parabens- are one of the most commonly used preservatives and certainly the most controversial. In recent years concerns have been raised that parabens could cause allergic reactions, disrupt our hormonal systems and even contribute to breast cancer. The theory is that even though any given product contains extremely small amounts of parabens, over time they may build up to toxic levels because they are found in so many of the products we use each day. Parabens, including methyl-, butyl-, ethyl-, and propyl-, may cause skin irritation, and there is concern that parabens may be linked to the development of breast cancer. Of course some form of preservative is necessary so nasty bacteria, mold and fungi don’t take over our products! (Any product that has water in it has the ability to grow mold very quickly). While the evidence isn’t totally concrete, it’s best to steer clear!

Look for shampoos that contain ingredients or statements like the following:

• Look for surfactants (which makes shampoos foam) like cocamidopropyl betaine which is an exceptionally mild coconut based surfactant which does not irritate skin.

• Soap-free or low-lathering

• Vitamins A, D, E

• Oatmeal for itchy skin

• Herbs like comfrey and calendula which help soothe skin irritations.

• Antibacterial agents such as tea tree oil and neem

• Sodium PCA — derived from vegetable sources, a naturally-occurring skin component that softens and hydrates skin

• Glycerin (instead of Propylene Glycol).

• Citric acid and Potassium sorbate are preservaties that are safe and FDA approved.

Too Harsh!

Some shampoos for dogs contain harsh detergents and chemicals. They may strip all of the natural oils from your dog’s coat. One of the most important issues when choosing a shampoo is what kind of surfactant the shampoo has. A surfactant is the surf ace act ing agent in a shampoo. They allow the shampoo to spread and interact with the water when you bathe him and to strip the oil and dirt from your dog’s coat. If you use a surfactant that is too harsh, such as Sodium Laureth Sulfate, it will remove too much of the oil from your dog’s coat when it washes out the dirt. This will damage your dog’s coat and leave it looking dry and harsh. The natural oils in a dog’s coat are good for the coat and protect it from damage so you want a shampoo that will only wash out the dirt and excess oils. You should choose shampoos that are free of Sodium Laureth Sulfate both for yourself and for your dog.

Many shampoos that contain Sodium Laureth Sulfate (or SLS) are very high lathering shampoos. They can be more like detergents than shampoos. Unfortunately, high lathering shampoos can also be irritating to your dog’s skin. Look for shampoos that are soap-free or low lathering and which do not contain SLS. These shampoos are easier to rinse out and less likely to irritate your dog’s skin.

Some shampoos even contain chemicals with known carcinogens such as tar, which is found in tar-based dandruff shampoos. It’s also found in artificial dyes and fragrances. These are shampoos that you want to steer clear of when you’re choosing a shampoo for your dog.

Just Right

Choosing shampoos with natural ingredients is usually much better for your dog. No matter what kind of skin and coat your dog has, there are likely shampoos with natural ingredients to suit him. If your dog has dry skin and itching then a shampoo with oatmeal would be just the thing. Comfy Dog shampoo contains colloidal oatmeal as well as botanical extracts of peppermint, burdock and comfrey. Comfy Dog doesn’t lather excessively so there’s no residue left behind to irritate your dog’s skin either.

Other shampoos with essential oils such as rosemary, tea tree and neem can prevent dandruff. Bubbles ‘n Beads features healing tea tree oil which also fights infections on your dog’s skins and helps heals skin damage. There are essential oils to repel fleas and other essential oils for leave the coat soft and silky. Whatever your dog’s need, you can find great shampoos with natural ingredients instead of harsh chemical shampoos.

For my dogs I like to use Sparkle & Shine Brightening Shampoo with yogurt and honey for Taylor. He’s almost 13 so he’s getting pretty old but he’s still a handsome dog. He’s mostly white so I like a shampoo that can brighten his coat and make him look his best. I think he likes to look good after a bath and show off a little for the other dogs. We’re using Comfy Dog for Beau because it has tea tree oil for his hot spots. And we’re using Bubbles ‘n Beads for the other dogs since it’s a good all around shampoo and conditioner.

It’s amazing what you can learn by reading the labels on dog shampoos. Look for shampoos with natural ingredients, especially those with plant-based ingredients. When it comes to taking care of your dog’s skin and coat, Mother Nature really does know best.