When it comes to pets, I am really a dog lover time and time again. Talking about animals, it is already a clich? to even say that dogs are a class all their own. Their intelligence, cuteness, versatility, the way they treat their owners like their life support: these and more factors make the dog an important life companion. It has even been said that dogs have a lot to teach humans around them, since for one, they do not remember the ill-feelings they felt or showed the previous day.
My family has owned a few dogs over the years, and what sets them apart from the usual dog crowd is that they are all mutts! First of them is a German Shepherd mix (named a terse ?Doggy?) which I cannot quite recall; the second is a shih tzu mix (?Chippy?); and the latest one at home is a half shih tzu, half maltese mongrel, Bruce. And now, just a small digression. I think Bruce will do well, and live longer than his precedessors, thanks largely to pet wormers which are available on the Web from Ivet.
The root of it all started when we allowed Bruce to roam more area in the yard. Little did we imagine that it would put his unique body chemistry on the line; obviously, he's really got a ton of a difference compared to his free-range wild cousins! The next visit to the vet confirmed that he needed pet wormers due to those backyard adventures. And a Google Search which led us to Ivet confirmed the same thing.
Aside from dogs, no pet was able to stay with us for years , let alone a few months (the chickens in the yard are not considered pets at home). Water animals? We've taken care of the transitory fish; the few-inch length beauties weeks after started eating each other's tails. One boring weekend, we even put some live freshwater shrimp destined for lunch in a tub of water for a few minutes of fun. Birds? We were able to only assign names to a bunch of field sparrows in a small cage before they managed to fly away.
So back to the mutts. The bottom line is that mutts are really good friends (or should I rather thank the agreeable breeds from which they came from?) to be with. I've also heard people debating which of these two could be smarter: purebred or mixed breeds? While I have yet to observe and know well a pure German Sheperd, or Shih Tzu, or Maltese, our 2 dogs before--and this new one now--are impressive animals that are very fun to be with. And we really look forward to having more fun mutts in the future, thanks partly to the help of these useful pet wormers.
Unfortunately for them, 'essence of Fido' is not a favorite scent of humans and wading through bales of shedding dog hair left on the furniture is very overrated. So until our canine companions totally take over, they will have to live with us grooming them and trying to keep their coats healthy and shiny looking.
Pet salons provide a full range of dog grooming services and many people opt to take advantage of their services. Prices are usually reasonable and all the mess and fuss is left to the professionals. However, for a variety of reasons not everyone elects to go this route; some do not bother grooming at all and others just do it themselves at home.
To varying degrees, all dogs require grooming. Long-haired dogs should be brushed and combed two or three times a week. Dogs with thick undercoats should have the dead hair combed out weekly. This will accelerate the shedding process and avoid hairy carpets and furniture. Dogs with shorter hair should still be brushed and rubbed down frequently to keep their coats and skin smart and healthy.
Just like any project, proper grooming requires both technique and tools of the trade. A fine-toothed comb should be used to rake fleas from the coat and for grooming soft, silky coated dogs. The shedding comb offers a skip-tooth design; its long teeth pull dead hair from the undercoat while the short teeth collect loose hair. It is also an excellent tool for removing matted hair. The undercoat rake is especially designed for breeds with thick, heavy coats and undercoats. The teeth are thick, allowing the rake to attack the undercoat while being pulled gently through the dog's hair.
Although bathing is an essential component in keeping your dog's coat fresh and presentable, it should not be overdone. Most veterinarians suggest bathing a dog no more than once a month. Over bathing can dry a dog's skin and lead to hot spots and itching, which can lead to scratching and infection. If a dog is to be bathed more than once a month, an aloe based shampoo and conditioners should be used and foods and supplements with Omega fatty acids should be given to bolster the production of coat oils.
Daily examinations, though admittedly a little too demanding and time consuming for the average pet owner, are a valuable tool in maintaining a dog's appearance and good health. The dog should be checked for cuts, rashes, fleas, ticks, bumps and burrs and other hitchhikers that might attach to the coat. These should be removed and antibiotics or appropriate medications applied as necessary. Flea allergies and contact allergies can cause skin eruptions and should be treated immediately.
It should be remembered that good skin and a healthy coat begin with a good diet. Usually, a good grade dry dog food will provide all of the nutrition and essential dietary elements necessary to keep a dog in good health. If a dog's coat is dull or its skin appears itchy, sometimes a change in diet is necessary. However, most often vitamin or fatty acid supplements will eliminate the problem.
As mentioned previously, professional groomers are readily available and should not be overlooked if grooming becomes too demanding. In addition to bathing and combing and thinning the dog's undercoat, they also clean the ears and clip the dog's nails. Actually, nails should be clipped weekly and often this is a chore that neither the dog nor the owner handle well. In recent years, the traveling groomer has emerged on the grooming scene. These professionals will come to your home in their Van, which is fully equipped for grooming, and complete the full bathing and grooming process right in your own driveway.
Our dogs ask little in return for the limitless love and devotion they bestow upon us. Helping them maintain their health by keeping them groomed is the least we can do to reward their affection.
Both Rupert Bowling & Paul P. Duxbury are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Rupert Bowling has sinced written about articles on various topics from . Rupert Bowling is the owner of http://www.ivet.co.uk a supplier of pharmacuticals for Pets. Frontline spot from Ivet has a. Rupert Bowling's top article . Bookmark Rupert Bowling to your Favourites.
Paul P. Duxbury has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Improvement, Wine and Spirits and Dog Care. Paul Duxbury writes extensively on Pet Care. You can read more of his articles at Dog Care and Training and. Paul P. Duxbury's top article generates over 246000 views. Bookmark Paul P. Duxbury to your Favourites.