Routine baths are important for keeping your canine companion looking clean and smelling fresh. But bathing too frequently isn’t an option when it comes to keeping your pet’s coat healthy and properly moisturized.

So, what can you do to freshen up between baths?

Keep Up With Grooming Needs

Regular brushing is an important part of good pet care and a good way to keep your dog’s skin and coat shiny and healthy. Brushing also eliminates and prevents painful tangles or matting, removes loose hair to keep your pet feeling cooler—and your air feeling cleaner—and can help you to spot any unusual sores or parasites.

It’s recommended to do some basic maintenance brushing at least once a week, although breeds with longer or thicker coats may require daily brushing. Make brushing time a fun bonding time by using a soft bristled brush, soothing tones and ample treats!

You should also brush your dog after a swim or any other time it gets wet—including after baths—to avoid tangles, mats and that wet dog smell. Extra brushing is also needed during shedding seasons for dogs with thick undercoats.

Keep Things Fresh

Besides brushing, there are various methods that can be used between baths to keep your pup smelling and looking fresh.

Dry shampoo can be rubbed and brushed into your pup’s fur to neutralize odors without drying out your pup’s skin. Dog-specific dry shampoos are available at some stores, or you can make your own at home by combining three to four tablespoons of cornstarch with three to four teaspoons of baking soda.

Pet-friendly wet wipes, baby wipes or damp towels can be used to give your dog a quick, refreshing wipe-down! Pay especially close attention to wiping the paws and removing any stuck on grime.

Is it time for your pup’s next bath? Visit the Animal America Pet Resort website for the full menu of pet grooming services!

The weather is getting chilly, and that means cold season for humans and their pets alike! Let’s take some time to look at how you can keep your pups healthy during the cooler months by taking great care of their toes and noses.

Care for Paw and Toe Pads

Just walking outside during freezing cold temperatures can spell trouble for your pup’s delicate paw pads. Fortunately, you can provide care and protection for your dog’s paws just like you can for your own feet and hands.

Start with making sure that you keep your pup’s paws properly groomed! Make sure routine grooming includes keeping nails neatly trimmed so that they don’t touch the ground when your dog walks, and also keep the hair between paw pads trimmed to prevent painful matting or tangles.

Take time to moisturize and massage your dog’s paws on days that you trim the nails—or any time you notice excessive dryness or cracking—using pet-safe balm and gentle circular motions with your thumb.

Don’t forget to check your dog’s paws for pebbles, insects, debris or signs of dryness or damage after each walk!

Give your pup’s paws extra protection from snow or ice on the ground by using boots when you’re out on walks in the winter. Or if your dog doesn’t do well with wearing boots, make sure that you take time to wipe down and moisturize its paws after each walk.

Care for Noses

It’s a common myth that a dry nose equates to a sick dog. This isn’t always the case, but a chronically dry nose can interfere with your pup’s ability to smell or become cracked and painful. That’s why it’s important to treat your dog’s dry nose properly!

Start with cleaning your pup’s nose gently with a wet cloth to remove any allergens or irritants. This is sometimes enough to get your pup’s nose feeling moist and healthy again!

If you think your dog is having problems with seasonal allergies or a cold, make an appointment with your vet to get the right diagnosis and treatment.

If your pup is experiencing a consistently dry nose that isn’t a result of allergies or sickness, or has signs of soreness or cracking from dryness, you can moisturize its nose with almond oil or seek a prescription balm or lotion from your vet. Just remember to clean your pup’s nose and apply this frequently, as dogs tend to lick their noses.

Do you need a little extra help with keeping your pup clean and tidy? Visit our website to learn more about Animal America grooming services!

Summer is the season of sunny weather and cookouts. But it’s also the season of ticks!

This year is looking more tick-filled than usual thanks to the extra-wet weather. So it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re taking preventive measures and checking your furry friend thoroughly for pests after every outing!

Start with brushing your dog when you get back inside. This will help keep his coat free of dirt and shedding fur, and give you the opportunity to find ticks in obvious areas.

Next, check some of the less obvious hiding places that ticks love to latch onto:

• Inside of the ears. Make sure that you look carefully on the flaps and crevices of the ear, and also take a good look deep inside each ear. Ticks can be very small, so a careful examination of your pup’s ears will save a lot of trouble down the road.
• Between the toes. It’s easy to forget to check your pup’s feet, but the spaces between the toes make a tempting place for ticks and other pets to hide.
• Under the tail and in the genital region. It may be awkward to check these areas at first, but these areas are favorites for ticks. Carefully comb the hair around the area with a fine comb to catch any attached pests.
• Around the eyelids. Ticks can be mistaken for skin tags or eye gunk in this area, so they’re often overlooked. Make sure that you carefully check and clean this delicate area!
• Under the collar. Since dogs rarely have their collars removed, this dark area is a perfect place for ticks to make themselves at home. Make sure you remove the collar for a short time regularly to check for ticks.

Hopefully, you won’t find any ticks in your thorough check! But if you do, it’s important that you properly remove and dispose of the pest!

A brush may be enough to knock off ticks that are crawling around. Embedded ticks should be carefully removed by pulling the tick straight out slowly and firmly with tweezers. Do not twist the tweezers or squeeze the body of the tick, since doing so can leave behind some of the tick.

Once a tick is removed, place the entire tick in a small amount of rubbing alcohol to kill it and clean your pup’s skin with a disinfectant!

Need a hand with keeping your dog clean and trimmed this summer? Visit the Animal America website to learn more about our dog grooming services!

It’s time for warm weather fun with our furry friends! Of course, hot weather also comes with lots of shedding and comfort concerns.

Let’s take a minute to talk about grooming needs for keeping your pet cool and your home hair-free!

To Shave or Not to Shave

When your dog is sporting a heavy fur coat, it can be tempting to try to provide relief for your furry friend by cutting all that heavy hair off. However, it’s not helpful to shave off all the fur.

Instead, opt to trim your dog’s coat and regularly brush out loose hair from shedding. If your dog is a long-haired breed, you can cut or shave the fur as long as you leave an inch of fur for sun protection.

If your dog has short or thin hair, resist the urge to shave at all!

Brush Regularly

Whether you’ve opted to get your dog a haircut or not, regular brushing or combing is a must. Find the brush that’s best suited to your pup’s coat and get into the habit of brushing as needed, especially after outdoor adventures.

When you’re brushing your dog, be thorough. You want to remove any uncomfortable shedding from your furry friend’s undercoat, and you also want to make sure that you remove any dirt, twigs or burs. This is also a great time to check for fleas, ticks and other pests!

While you’re brushing and checking your dog, also look for signs of sunburn or ear infection. Don’t forget to check the paws, too! And always consult your vet before using any home remedies.

Bathe the Right Amount

If your pup is extra dirty or smelly after a day of outdoor activity, it may be time for a bath. Make sure that you’re using cool water and dog-safe shampoo, or employing the services of a professional!

While you should bathe your dog ASAP if he’s covered in dirt or grime, try to avoid bathing your dog too often, as frequent bathing for dogs can lead to dry, itchy skin and a brittle coat. Ideally, your pup should only have a proper bath every couple of weeks, and touch-ups with a damp towel in between to keep dust and dog smell at bay.

When in doubt, come talk to the pros! Our services at Animal America include a wide selection of grooming options. Visit our website to learn more and make an appointment for your pup!