grooming

Quick Avoidance

April 20, 2016 6 Comments

Quick Avoidance

Have you ever accidentally nicked your dog’s quick?

I have and I felt like the absolute worst dog mom in the entire world.

I was trimming Mauja’s nails, which she never had a problem with. Just as I went to cut, she heard something and jerked her leg. Even though the nail clippers had a “safety stopper”, it was just enough for me to cut the quick.

She yipped, I squealed, and my carpet turned red.

I freaked out.

I had never done that before. Even with Kaeto’s combination of white and black nails (which are the WORST to cut), I had managed to avoid it. Poor Mauja.

Since it was the first time I had ever done that, I really wasn’t sure what to do. I grabbed some paper towels to add pressure to the exposed nail and grabbed my phone for a quick Google search. What did we ever do without the internet?

After some quick research (see what I did there?), I found 5 ways to stop the bleeding. Thankfully, I had a few of the required materials at home.

Baking soda, flour, or cornstarch. The first time I cut Mauja’s quick, this is the method we resorted to. I didn’t have anything fancy to stop the bleeding, but I did have cornstarch in my pantry! Grab a small amount and press it onto your dog’s nail, holding it there as the wound clots. The nail will most likely be sensitive, so ensure you’re gentle as you wait for it to clot.
Styptic powder. After Mauja’s incident, this was the first thing I purchased. Since it contains ferric subsulfate (which contracts blood vessels and stops bleeding), I figured it would be more beneficial than cornstarch. It also contains Benzocaine to alleviate pain from minor cuts. One of the most popular brands of styptic powder and the one that we purchased is called Kwik Stop. Thankfully, I haven’t had to use it yet!
Styptic pencil. This is a popular method for stopping the bleeding, but many contain silver nitrate which can really sting. Since Mauja is now hesitant about her paws being touched, I don’t plan on trying this one and causing any extra fear. However, it seems like it would be a great option for a travel/first aid kit due to the convenience.
Soap. Well, a bar of soap. I came across this method before finding cornstarch, but much to my surprise, we don’t have any bars of soap! I’d imagine that most people do so this could be a good option if you don’t have any of the above materials. Simply drag the damp bar of soap across the nail and wait for the blood to clot.
Gauze, bandage, and a sock. If you don’t have anything on this list, these tools can definitely work in a pinch. Mauja would not stop trying to lick her nail – every time I got it to clot, she’d lick and it’d start bleeding again. We finally resorted to putting some gauze and a bandage over her bleeding nail (which was one of her rear dewclaws), putting a sock over that foot, and then lightly taping the sock in place. She hated me, but it worked 😉

If none of the aforementioned methods work for your dog and bleeding persists for over 30-60 minutes, call your vet. They will be able to help alleviate the bleeding and make your dog more comfortable.

Most importantly, if you nick the quick make sure you suck up to your dog with some extra snuggles and a special treat. Both necessary for forgiveness 😉

Have you ever cut your dog’s nail too short? How did you stop the bleeding?

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Grooming Great Pyrenees Pantaloons [GIVEAWAY!]

April 8, 2016 5 Comments

Grooming Great Pyrenees Pantaloons

Is it just me, or does anyone else absolutely love the Great Pyrenees pantaloons?

Talk about a fluffy butt!

While I love their pantaloons, they can be particularly difficult to keep well-groomed. Because they are long, thick, and well, on their rear end, they tend to mat very easily. If you don’t pay close attention, you can end up with one giant pantaloon mat.

This happened once with Mauja. I hadn’t been feeling well and so I didn’t brush her for over a week. She never looked too bad so I didn’t use the little energy I had during the day to brush her. From the outside, she looked perfectly fine. A little scraggly, but fine.

When I was finally feeling better, I sat down to give her a good brush. Once I made it to her pantaloons, I was horrified. While they looked fine, they did not feel fine. They were one massive mat.

I sat down with my de-matting brush and The Stuff to get the mats small enough that they would just brush out. Needless to say, it took a long time and Mauja was not happy with me after. I vowed to brush the pantaloons daily so that wouldn’t happen again.

Groom Genie

When we were at BlogPaws, we got the opportunity to try a new brush, the Groom Genie. I loved the concept of the brush – to calm pets while you brush them. Any fluffy dog parent knows that a simple brush won’t cut it. You need a rake to really get into that undercoat and brush it out.

The Groom Genie sat in my grooming toolbox for quite a few months. Occasionally, I’d use it to brush out their ear feathers, but that was about it.

One day, I was digging through my grooming supplies to find something to brush out Atka’s pantaloons. The rake made a good start, but I wanted something to smooth it out. Something with long enough bristles to get the entire way through the fluff, rather than just the outer layer. I saw my Groom Genie and decided to give it a try.

Not only are the bristles long enough, but they are soft as well. Atka absolutely hates his rear being brushed, but he is much more tolerant than he would be with traditional metal bristles. I also love the grip for the Groom Genie. It fits perfectly in my hand and doesn’t strain my grip.

In my opinion, it’s pyrfect for maintaining the Great Pyrenees pantaloons (or any other breed with fluffy butts!). Each day, I grab my Groom Genie and take a few seconds to brush through each pup’s pantaloons to avoid any bothersome mats.

Want to try the Groom Genie yourself? Enter below for the chance to win!

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

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Why You Should Go Soap-Free with Your Pyrenees #BayerExpertCare

January 12, 2016 5 Comments

I hear the same question over and over when people meet Mauja and Atka.

“How in the world do you keep them so white?”

I wish I could say that I have some magic formula that keeps white dogs perfectly white, but the Great Pyrenees has a self-cleaning coat. What does that mean (other than the fact that it makes my job a lot easier)?If your Great Pyrenees enjoys a play session in the river, chances are she will look something like this:

Or maybe your Great Pyrenees will find that one muddy spot in your backyard. He’d probably look like this:

These situations make me so thankful for their self-cleaning coat. Once they dry, the mud/dirt will just flake off! If it doesn’t, you simply brush it out and voila – you have your white dog back!

Mauja and Atka get bathed a bit more frequently than necessary; the average Great Pyrenees only needs 3-4 baths per year. The fluffies get about 6 per year, but that is because they are house dogs. However, I know a few people who bathe their Great Pyrenees monthly. The most important thing is to watch their skin and coat health.

Frequent baths can strip the coat of its essential oils. These oils are responsible for keeping the coat self-cleaning, tangle free, relatively odor-free, and silky smooth. The problem really isn’t with the bath – it’s what is being used during the bath.

Your typical dog shampoo is soap based and that’s perfectly fine if you’re only bathing your Great Pyrenees every few months. It gets your pyr nice and clean and helps keep their coat and skin healthy. However, more frequent baths require a different approach.If Mauja and Atka are getting a bath closer together than normal, I switch to a soap-free shampoo. Our current favorite is the Bayer® Expert Care™ Itch Relief Shampoo. I like this shampoo for a few reasons:

Bayer Expert Care Itch Relief Shampoo is based with colloidal oatmeal. Colloidal oatmeal is simply oats that have been ground into a very fine powder that then moisturizes and protects the skin. This helps to ensure I’m not drying out their skin and coat.
Expert Care Itch Relief Shampoo contains Pramoxine HCl. Great Pyrenees are known to have skin issues such as allergies and dry skin. Pramoxine HCl helps relieve rashes and dry, itchy skin. I always look for this ingredient coupled with colloidal oatmeal when trying to relieve irritated skin.
Expert Care Itch Relief Shampoo is formulated with Omega-6s. I talked in a previous post about the importance of Omega-6s for maintaining and healthy, shiny coat. Pyrs benefit greatly from this addition to their grooming routine.
Maximum effect is reached in just 3-5 minutes after initial application. We all hate seeing our furbabies uncomfortable. If Atka’s skin is acting up I can get him a quick bath or spray him with the Itch Relief Spray for quick relief.

The best part about the Bayer Expert Care Itch Relief shampoo is that it can be purchased at PetSmart. We are there quite frequently so it’s very simple to just grab a bottle during our normal shopping trip. The Expert Care line has several products to provide ultimate skin care for your dog (or cat) and we’ve been very pleased with the few we have tried so far.

Have you ever tried soap-free shampoo as a part of your dog’s grooming routine?

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Tackling Grinch Feet + Grooming Giveaway!

December 30, 2015 20 Comments

Mauja and Atka often suffer from something which we affectionately call, “grinch feet”. Don’t worry, their feet don’t turn green, but the fur around their feet grows and grows until you really don’t have a distinguishable paw: grinch feet.

Great Pyrenees "Grinch Feet" — See what I mean?
(Center photo: The Grinch (Jim Carrey) in “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”)

Now, I have no delusions about my grooming ability. I can bathe, brush, and remove tangles/mats from the fluffies. I can clean their ears, brush their teeth, and trim their nails. This saves us a LOT of money on professional grooming since it allows us to only get them groomed a few times per year. The groomer handles the grinch feet for me. I avoid clumsily poking their toes with scissors. Score.

The problem is that their feet need to be trimmed more frequently than they have grooming appointments. Their long paw fur looks silly, but it also makes it a bit uncomfortable for them. They require adequate amounts of fur between their toes to protect them from the elements, but they need to be trimmed enough so that they aren’t slipping around on wood floors. Trimmed paws also helps to prevent snowballs from forming in their fur when they stubbornly stay outside in the cold.

It was time for me to learn some basic paw trimming techniques.

Start with High-Quality Scissors

I’ll admit – I had no idea where to even begin in the search for trimming scissors, which is partially why I have put off learning for so long. I knew I couldn’t use the scissors I had in my kitchen, but I wasn’t sure what to look for. When I was given the opportunity to try the Micio Micia Dog Grooming Scissors, I couldn’t pass it up.

Why Micio Micia?

These grooming scissors have a lot of features that aren’t easily found combined in other brands.

Safety Rounded Tip – No worries about poking them if you slip (super important for a novice “groomer”, such as myself).
Non-Slip Ergonomic Wave Handle – Adds extra comfort when trimming and helps to avoid slip ups.
Non-Slip Rubber Padded Eye Rings – The padded rings also helped to add extra comfort when trimming their feet.
Finger Rest – I thought this was kind of silly until I started using the scissors. Makes handling so much more comfortable and is the perfect place for your pinky!
Micro-Serrated Stainless Steel Blades – These blades are absolutely amazing. They cut the fur so perfectly and without error.
Easy to Handle Size – The scissors are a total of 6 inches long with the blades being 2 inches. Long enough to make a clean cut but short enough to allow for control.

Using the Micio Micia Dog Grooming Scissors to trim Great Pyrenees "Grinch Feet" — I still have learning to do, but they look much better!

I’m really pleased with the quality of the scissors and how easy and safe they are to use. Mauja and Atka will still go to their groomer several times a year for a better grooming, but I’m glad to be able to keep their paws trimmed on my own.

Interested in trying the Micio Micia Grooming Scissors on your dog (or cat)? Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win. Three (3) winners will be selected!

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No purchase necessary. Giveaway is open to those 18 and over. It’s Dog or Nothing is not responsible for issues with or delays in prize fulfillment. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depends on the number of entries received. Giveaway will run from Wednesday, December 30, 2015 through Sunday, January 10, 2016 at 11:59pm MT. Three (3) winners will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter and notified via email. Winners will have 48 hours to claim their prize; failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the prize. Participants must read and agree to It’s Dog or Nothing’s and Rafflecopter’s Privacy Policy before entering and participating in this promotion. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram do not sponsor, administer, or endorse this promotion. By entering this contest, participants grant permission for their email address to be added to It’s Dog or Nothing’s newsletter list.

5 Reasons Your Dog Needs Omega-6s #BayerExpertCare

December 11, 2015 2 Comments

Poor Atka suffers from itchy skin sometimes, especially in the winter. He eats high-quality food and gets salmon oil with his meals, but that doesn’t always seem to make a difference. I still find him itching away.

It doesn’t help that Montana is ridiculously dry. I keep the humidifiers going all the time, but I still feel like my skin is flaking off. I know Mauja and Atka can feel the dryness, too. A few weeks ago, I found a red patch on Atka’s leg where he had been frequently scratching. I decided to try and find something to add to their routine to help alleviate his dry skin.

I learned a lot about essential fatty acids in my nutrition classes in college. Much of our focus tends to be on omega-3 fatty acids, but omega-6s are also important. Since Mauja and Atka’s diet is already rich in omega-3 fatty acids, I wanted to try and add omega-6 fatty acids in some way to help with their coat health.

5 Reasons Your Dog Needs Omega-6 Fatty Acids

Omega-6s, specifically Lineolic acid, help increase skin permeability.
Omega-6s prevent the coat from becoming dull and lackluster.
Omega-6s strengthen the fur to keep it from breaking and falling out.
A lack of Omega-6s can cause your dog to become susceptible to certain infections.
A lack of Omega-6s can cause your dog to be horribly itchy.

I decided that I wanted to try something topical for Atka as that is a method we haven’t touched yet. I remembered the vast selection of products offered at PetSmart and we often visit for outings, so we decided to start there.Since I was very pleased with the quality of the Ear Care Rinse from Bayer® ExpertCare™, I decided to try another product from their line that is specially formulated for dogs. The ExpertCare line also has an Itch Relief Spray that states the maximum effect will be seen in 3-5 minutes. I always want quick relief when my pups are uncomfortable!

The Itch Relief Spray includes colloidal oatmeal (oatmeal ground into a fine powder), which helps to pull out any irritant to your dog’s skin. It also includes Omega-6 fatty acids to help maintain the natural barriers of the skin and coat.

Any time I notice Mauja or Atka itching, I break out this spray to offer relief. I have also added it to our normal grooming routine. While brushing the pups, sometimes I notice irritated areas where they had scratched without my knowledge. I apply the Itch Relief Spray to help remove the irritant.

I love the Bayer ExpertCare line because it offers convenient, quality care at an affordable price. If you are like me and always buzzing from here to there, you’ll be able to find an ExpertCare product while out doing your normal shopping.

Has your dog ever suffered from itchy skin? What have you done to offer relief and do you think the Itch Relief Spray would be helpful?

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Teach Your Dog to Accept Ear Cleanings #BayerExpertCare

November 17, 2015 8 Comments

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.

Training Ear Cleaning Acceptance

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!
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!
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.
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!

Bayer® ExpertCare™ Ear Cleansing Rinse 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.

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?

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Great Pyrenees Grooming #CHIforDogs

September 22, 2015 7 Comments

Has it really been over a year since we talked in-depth about grooming? With two, giant, fluffy dogs, grooming can set me back about $200. That’s not something I can afford frequently so I’m always looking for high-quality, affordable products.

This post is sponsored by Fetch for Pets and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about CHI for Dogs but It’s Dog or Nothing only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Fetch for Pets is not responsible for the content of this article.

Starting September 2015, CHI® for Dogs will hit PetSmart shelves exclusively with over 35 dog grooming products. We were lucky enough to try a few #CHIforDogs dog grooming products to keep Mauja and Atka’s coats white, bright, and fluffy.

The Bath

Great Pyrenees need baths very infrequently in comparison to other double coated breeds, but I always ensure they get a bath when they begin blowing their summer or winter coat. Using a quality, paraben-free, deshedding shampoo can help to loosen the dead fur so it literally “blows out” during drying. CHI’s Shed Control shampoo smells delightful (reminded me of a spa day), is formulated with silk, soy proteins, and vitamins, and a little really goes a long way. I can typically power through a bottle of shampoo in one day, but the CHI bottle is still more than halfway full. If I can make anything last with these two, I’m a happy mom.

I had been using conditioner next, but I’ve found that I enjoy the ease and quality of the CHI Leave-In Conditioning Spray more. It’s much quicker because I don’t have to lather and rinse them a second time; none of us really want to go through that! With the CHI Leave-In Conditioning Spray, I just spritz them and massage it into their coats before using the forced air dryer.

Which leads me to my final step: blow-drying. It’s important to get down to the skin rather than just dry the top layer (yes, I have done that before) to avoid hot spots and skin irritation.

Here's how we've updated our Great Pyrenees dog grooming routine with #CHIforDogs sold exclusively at PetSmart! We add extra floof with the slicker brush. — Adding the “oof” to the floofy tail with the slicker brush!

The Brush

Oh, the brush. You will be amazed at the difference made by the CHI Shed Control shampoo and forced air dryer combination, as it blows out most of the dead undercoat that you were going to have to brush out yourself.

Using an undercoat rake, brush out any remaining loose fur. A “lumpy” area most likely indicates excess fur still needing to be removed. A well groomed coat should be smooth to the touch.

For the finishing touches, the CHI Pivoting Slicker Brush is ah-mazing for removing any loose fur from the top, outer coat (not to mention, make it look silky and sleek!). My absolute favorite part about this brush is that it reduces the static electricity when grooming. Montana is incredibly dry so we always end up with fur sticking straight out!

I always end a grooming session by checking the pups’ nails, particularly their double dew claws. I really like the feel of the CHI Guillotine Nail Clipper, but it didn’t fit around Atka’s nails properly. However, CHI has a large nail clipper that has the same comfort grip, just larger.

The new CHI dog grooming products from PetSmart are definitely going to be a part of our grooming routine. If you want to try them yourself (of course you do!) you can check them out here.

Fluffy thanks to CHI Hair Care, Fetch … for Pets!, and PetSmart! What CHI for Dogs products do you think would be great for your dog?

Managing the Undercoat

March 31, 2015 14 Comments

Spring means green grass, blooming flowers, and warm sunlight, but for those of us with double-coated breeds, it means something less delightful.

The blowing of the winter undercoat.

Oh. My. Fluffy.

The struggle is real, friends. You can literally pull loose tufts of undercoat off of your dog. Kind of reminds me the truffula trees in the Lorax.

You can brush your double-coated dog for hours each day and still fail to keep up with the fur. So what are we to do?

Keep brushing. Brush, brush, and then brush some more.

Bathe your dog. Bathing helps to loosen the undercoat that wouldn’t normally come out with brushing.

Befriend your vacuum. You two are going to be spending a lot of time together over the next few weeks.

Survive. The shedding season will end after a few weeks and you’ll be left with your normal-shedding dog (that still sheds ten times more than other dogs). Just remember that your dog will be so much happier without the added warmth of the thick, winter undercoat.

I know it can be tempting, but please do not shave your double-coated dog They need the protection of their coat from the summer heat and sun and their coat will actually help to keep them cool.

How do you handle your dog blowing his undercoat?

Psst! There’s still time to enter our HUGE blogiversary giveaway!

The Grooming Struggle

October 9, 2014 21 Comments

I rarely get the fluffies professionally groomed.

I just don’t trust anyone, so I do it myself.

I constantly see horror stories about people taking their dog to the groomer’s and the dog coming back in poor condition. I haven’t been willing to risk that. [Read more…] about The Grooming Struggle

grooming

Quick Avoidance

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Grooming Great Pyrenees Pantaloons

Groom Genie

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Start with High-Quality Scissors

Why Micio Micia?

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Bayer® ExpertCare™ Ear Cleansing Rinse at PetSmart

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The Bath

The Brush

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