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

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Why you should consider soap-free shampoo for your Great Pyrenees.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)?Bayer ExpertCareIf your Great Pyrenees enjoys a play session in the river, chances are she will look something like this:

Why you should consider dry shampoo for your Great Pyrenees.Or maybe your Great Pyrenees will find that one muddy spot in your backyard. He’d probably look like this:

Why you should consider soap-free shampoo for your Great Pyrenees.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.BayerExpertCareIf 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

Why you should consider soap-free shampoo for your Great Pyrenees.

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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Why you should consider soap-free shampoo for your Great Pyrenees.

5 Reasons Your Dog Needs Omega-6s #BayerExpertCare

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5 Reasons Your Dog Needs Omega-6 Fatty Acids #BayerExpertCareBayer ExpertCarePoor 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 #BayerExpertCare5 Reasons Your Dog Needs Omega-6 Fatty Acids
  1. Omega-6s, specifically Lineolic acid, help increase skin permeability.
  2. Omega-6s prevent the coat from becoming dull and lackluster.
  3. Omega-6s strengthen the fur to keep it from breaking and falling out.
  4. A lack of Omega-6s can cause your dog to become susceptible to certain infections.
  5. 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.BayerExpertCareSince 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!

5 Reasons Your Dog Needs Omega-6 Fatty Acids #BayerExpertCareThe 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.

5 Reasons Your Dog Needs Omega-6 Fatty Acids #BayerExpertCareI 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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5 Reasons Your Dog Needs Omega-6 Fatty Acids #BayerExpertCare