Welcome to Old Mill News for February 2018!
Did Ya Know?
Many saline nasal sprays contain xylitol. No, I don’t think you’re planning to give your dog a spritz – ha! Some silly puppies and dogs like to chew everything within reach so you’ll want to make sure that your nasal spray isn’t within range.
The ASPCA Poison Control Center warns that homemade SLIME can be toxic for your dog. Some of the ingredients like shaving cream, glue, and glitter will simply cause an upset tummy. Salt dough recipes, when ingested in abundance, can cause far more serious issues. Laundry detergent is the most toxic ingredient and may cause vomiting. If your dog ingests some of the kiddos Slime, be sure to let your vet know the ingredients in your recipe and follow the doc’s advice.
Spa Day at Home
With more indoor time and dry air this time of year, regular grooming is important for your dog’s skin. Here are some tips to make it a positive experience, as well as effective.
Mist First
Before you begin combing, spritz the coat with a fine mist of water or detangler/water mix to cut down on static electricity and tangles. Be sure to use a dog conditioner for best results. I buy mine at TJ Maxx… of course.
All the Way Down
Don’t just scratch the surface of the coat, be sure you get all the way down to the skin. Surface brushing misses tangles. Begin at their tail or feet and brush backwards a line at a time … this is a little more time consuming, but very effective.
If you run across small mats. try working them out a few hairs at a time. I’ve used thinning scissors with success to trim right below the mat. If it’s close to the skin, you’ll either need to have dog clippers or have the groomer remove it.
Pedicure Time
Hair between the toes will collect dirt and snow both of which can rub and cause sores. In between grooming, we comb the hair up … it’s a lovely look with the hair standing up between the toes. We then take scissors and carefully hold the hair with one hand and trim with the other.
Nail trimming should be done every couple of weeks if you want to keep them short. I find lots of treats help greatly with getting their cooperation. Some dogs will tolerate a grinder, others are going to object to the sensation to the point that it’s more of a battle than it’s worth. Be sure to replace your dog’s nail clippers when they begin to dull, otherwise they cause a painful pinch when trimming.
Ear Care
I use a homemade ear cleaners for my dogs with “healthy” ears. The solution a vet shared with me years ago is two parts vinegar and one part alcohol. The vinegar keeps the right PH balance and the alcohol dries the moisture. I buy Vet’s Best ear wash for irritated ears. I like the alcohol free solution because it won’t sting an irritated ear. The natural ingredients help control unpleasant odor and itching. When I need the big guns for Winston’s ears, our vet mixes a compound solution that is made of Triz-keto, Baytril, and dexs/p. If your dogs has dark gunk in his ears, your vet should know what the compound is …I’ve never had anything work this well. Winston gets his ears cleaned with it twice a week to maintain his healthy ears.
Nursery News
We have a few standard goldendoodle puppies still available. Their take home date will be late March and early April.
We have Moyen and Standard sproodle breedings that have taken place, it’s a little too early to confirm pregnancies.
Mr. Dash, the new mini sproodle sire is still growing … he should be ready by summer.