• Blog
  • Amazon Shop
  • Pyr Apparel & Gifts
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest

It's Dog or Nothing

All Things Great Pyrenees

  • Blogwhat’s happening
  • Aboutwho we are
  • Breed Infoall things pyrenees
  • Mediapartner with the pyrs
    • Awards & Recognition
  • Contactlet’s chat
    • Updates & Exclusive Deals
    • Disclosure
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

bayer expertcare

Itchies & Providing Relief [GIVEAWAY!]

April 11, 2016 10 Comments

When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about the itchies and providing relief.

Itchies and Providing Relief

Poor Atka has been feeling really itchy lately. The most frustrating part? We have absolutely no idea why he’s itching. Every time we think we have the cause narrowed down, something new happens that throws us off. I have dry skin and allergies so I know constant itching is no fun.

Poor Atka.

Itching can be caused by several reasons and sometimes no reason at all. Here’s a brief run-through of the main causes for dog itching.

Dry Skin

Dry skin is probably the most common cause of itchy skin in dogs. It’s fairly easy to determine if your dog is suffering from dry skin. Simply part your dog’s fur and check for any flaking skin in the undercoat. You may also see skin that is tough and visibly cracked. Dry skin can be caused by both environmental factors and diet, making it a bit more complicated to address.

To address dry skin, first consider your dog’s current environment. Do you live in an area with relatively low humidity? It is dry dry dryyyyy here in Montana, which is great in the summer, but boy are the winters rough. We have to keep humidifiers going 24/7 to keep all four of us comfortable in this weather.

Your dog’s diet can also contribute to dry skin. When your dog digests any commercial dry food, it has dehydrating effects on the skin and hair. Choosing a food with added essential oils or adding digestive enzymes can help to negate these effects. Digestive enzymes help to improve the release of nutrients and beneficial probiotics to assist in the digestive process.

Allergies

Allergies can also be environmental or diet related. Unfortunately, allergies are much more difficult to diagnose and ultimately address. This is especially problematic because more dogs than ever before seem to be suffering with allergies. The cause is unknown, but many believe it is due to the increase in poor breeding practices and processed pet food.

A dog’s skin and coat will look slightly different when afflicted with allergies. Aside from the presence of dry skin, the skin and coat may also be greasy or slightly dry and oily. Licking and chewing of itchy areas is also frequently seen.

Many dogs suffering with allergies will see relief with a strict diet change as well as the addition of probiotics, high doses of fish oil, flaxseed, and in some cases, antihistamines. It is important to remember that it can take three months for these changes to take effect, so give the tactic plenty of time to work.

Itch Relief

Our main method for dealing with the itchies is by adding salmon oil to each meal (coconut oil can be extremely beneficial as well). We also use a soap-free shampoo to avoid drying the skin too much during baths. If I see one of the pups itching incessantly, I will also spritz them with some itch relief spray.

Currently, our favorite soap-free shampoo is from the Bayer ExpertCare line, which you can read more about here. Bayer also creates the itch relief spray that I use in between baths. You can read all about the spray here.

Since we love those two products so much, we’re holding a giveaway! Enter the widget below in order to win one (1) bottle of Bayer ExpertCare Itch Relief Shampoo and (1) bottle of Bayer ExpertCare Itch Relief Spray.

Does your dog suffer from the itchies? How do you address the discomfort?

Pin It!

When it comes to giant breed health and nutrition, there's a lot that goes into raising a happy, healthy dog. We're going from A to Z talking about giant breed specific needs! Today, it's all about the itchies and providing relief.

I am not being compensated to talk about Bayer and the giveaway is being hosted by us here at It’s Dog or Nothing!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: A to Z Challenge, What's New Tagged With: a to z challenge, allergies, bayer expertcare

Teach Your Dog to Accept Ear Cleanings #BayerExpertCare

November 17, 2015 8 Comments

A guide for cleaning your dog's ears with the help of Bayer ExpertCare sold exclusively at PetSmart!

Bayer ExpertCare

 

 

Like many other floppy eared dogs, the Great Pyrenees is prone to ear problems and infections. Their floppy, furry ears can easily trap moisture and dirt that if not cleaned properly can lead to ear infections. Mauja and Atka (for the most part) have naturally clean ears, but that doesn’t mean we skimp on cleaning; it’s a part of our regular grooming routine. In case they do develop an ear issue, I want them to be comfortable with me messing with their ears.

Most dogs aren’t comfortable with foreign objects being shoved in their ears, so if your dog is new to ear cleaning ensure you take it slow. Here’s a process that has worked well for training Mauja and Atka to accept regular ear cleanings.

A guide for cleaning your dog's ears with the help of Bayer ExpertCare sold exclusively at PetSmart!Training Ear Cleaning Acceptance
  1. Grab some yummy treats. Soft treats typically work the best for working through uncomfortable situations with Mauja and Atka. However, with Kaeto, we had to break out the cooked chicken to even get close to him with the cleaner!
  2. Sit with your dog. If you have cleaned your dog’s ears before, chances are he knows exactly what the ear cleaner looks like and what that means! I like to just sit on the floor with the cleaner and treats in hand waiting for Mauja and Atka to approach me. Anytime they get near the cleaner, they get a treat!
  3. Take it a step further. At this point, I start putting the nozzle in the very tip of their ear (but not too far as to avoid poking their ear). Praise, treat, praise, treat, praise, treat! You can’t praise too much during this phase. It was helpful for me to utilize a second person so I didn’t get clumsy with the cleaner or treats.
  4. Use the product. Once your dog is okay with the cleaner in his ear, it’s time to actually do the ear cleaning. Be sure to praise and treat! Most likely, the cleaner will startle him so be wary to avoid poking the ear. Most cleaners then require that you massage it into the ear, which I always try to disguise with an ear rub 😉

It’s important to note that these steps take time and most likely will not be accomplished in a single sitting. It took several weeks of practicing before Mauja and Atka would allow me to put the cleaner in their ears. Take it slow. After enough practice, hopefully you’ll have a dog that tolerates ear cleaning!

A guide for cleaning your dog's ears with the help of Bayer ExpertCare sold exclusively at PetSmart!

Bayer® ExpertCare™ Ear Cleansing Rinse at PetSmart

A guide for cleaning your dog's ears with the help of Bayer ExpertCare sold exclusively at PetSmart!I like convenience. I want to be able to either order something online or pick it up at a place that I shop frequently. Trust me, convenience doesn’t outweigh a quality product, but it’s nice when the two coincide! That’s why I’m thrilled that the Bayer ExpertCare products are being sold at exclusively PetSmart. This is perfect for a busy woman like myself that wants to give her pups the best care possible.

A guide for cleaning your dog's ears with the help of Bayer ExpertCare sold exclusively at PetSmart!The Bayer ExpertCare line includes a fantastic ear rinse. The solution is a fresh-scented antiseptic cleansing rinse that contains wax-dissolving and drying agents with aloe vera. This was our first time using the ear rinse from Bayer and I’ve been really impressed with the results. I’ve decided to swap this ear cleaner for the one we typically use and I love that I can easily grab it while we are at PetSmart.

Do you have an ear cleaning routine for your dog? Have you tried any of the Bayer ExpertCare products from PetSmart?

PIN IT!

A guide for cleaning your dog's ears with the help of Bayer ExpertCare sold exclusively at PetSmart!

Filed Under: Reviews, What's New Tagged With: bayer expertcare, dogs, ear cleaning, great pyrenees, grooming, petsmart

Primary Sidebar

Want to find something?

Raise That Pyr Paw

Raise That Pyr Paw

Welcome to It's Dog or Nothing, the go-to resource for all things Pyrenees.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Subscribe

Join our email list to never miss a post and gain access to exclusive deals!

Footer

Features

  • Blog
  • Amazon Shop
  • Pyr Apparel & Gifts

Join Me On

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Main

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 · Studio Mommy Themes · Custom Scene Images

Copyright © 2023 · Adore Me on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in · Privacy Policy