The Daily Bark

Are you starting to notice that your dog is a wee bit smelly? Then it is time to treat your best friend to one bark worthy “spaw” day! Everyone loves those nice relaxing spa days and your dog is no different. Here at PawLux we’ve put together some simple steps for making one dogtastic “spaw” day!

The “Spaw” Day Guide

1. Aromatherapy Time- Start by spraying some Happytails Aromatic Spritzer from their Celebrity Collection for soothing scents that will create a calming environment. Simply crushing up some lavender and placing it in hot water works as well. Just remember, dogs have extremely powerful noses so don’t overdo it on the spray.
2. Doggie Tunes- Putting some music will also help set a nice mood for you and your dog. There is even music out there specifically for your dog. It’s just a quick internet search away. We suggest a more classical variety that won’t have your dog howling along to it.
3. OohLaLa Massage Your dog will certainly enjoy a nice massage while being shampooed and will love all the attention from his favorite friend! PawLux offers a variety of all natural shampoos for you to choose from, like Cain & Able Lavender Shampoo.
4. De-tangle Those Knots! Get rid of all those tangles and give a healthy shine to your dog’s coat by massaging conditioner into his coat. Look at PawLux.com for some great smelling and all natural conditioners. like Fuzz Yard’s Organic Conditioner.
5. Towel Time- Time to towel dry! Have a towel on hand throughout the “spaw” time since dogs like to show their appreciation by shaking all the water from their fur. The towel is a great way to embrace his ‘thanks’. Once your dog is all dry brush his fur until there is a nice smooth shine.
   

   Happytails Sparkle & Shine Shimmering Mist

6. Hassle free bath option!- If you don’t want the hassle of a full shampoo and condition, use Cain & Able Between Bath Spray to keep your pet clean and healthy. It also helps repel those pesky insects your dog hates!
7. Star Treatment- We know Fido needs to see everyone who stops to admire him, so take a few minutes to trim extra hair away from your dog’s face.
8. Paw-dicure- Keeping your dog’s nails trim is important to keep him (and your floors) happy. Check out our blog about Paw-dicures to learn more.
9. Shining Star!- For an extra bit of sparkle and shine add a bit of glitz with the Happytails Shimmering Mist!

Now your dog is all ready to show off. So go for a nice walk to show off your shiny and clean dog. Just watch out for all those big fun mud puddles dogs are great at finding. Or just curl up beside your happy and good smelling dog and relax the rest of the night!

A healthy and happy dog is a top priority for all dog lovers. So, this week PawLux will show you ways to keep your favorite canine  friend’s joints healthy!

Issues with joints rise from both developmental and degenerative problems. During growth stages it is important to maintain a healthy diet that will include all the nutrients needed. Also high impact on joints during development stages increase the likelihood of joint problems later in life. The most common degenerative problem is arthritis and it affects one out of five dogs. Arthritis occurs most often in dogs with hip dysplasia, also known as osteochondrosis, or in dogs with a joint injury.

If your dog is less active or finds common activities more difficult, it might be a sign of joint problems. In extreme cases, your pup may favor one limb and put more pressure on others. This can also be a sign of other injuries, so be sure to consult your veterinarian. Remember the vet is a great resource and regular visits to your vet will help reduce health problems. Treatments in extreme cases may lead to surgery, but do not worry, there are plenty of non-surgical methods and many preventive measures one can take. The two best ways to prevent arthritis and similar problems is by managing your dog’s weight and body condition.

Choosing the right diet is the most important part of controlling your dog’s weight. Make sure meals do not exceed the suggested amount for your dog and as much as your dog might beg, table scraps are rarely a good answer. Instead think about having treats on hand at dinner time that give the dual solution of preventing joint problems and begging. PawLux offers a Beef Tendon Pack which is high in glucosamine and chondroitin. Glucosamine and chondroitin work together to help build cartilage and stop the enzymes that causes cartilage to break down over time. Plus it will keep your dog entertained throughout dinner. Fish oil is another great supplement that helps to increase the protection around the joints. Plato Thinkers Salmon Sticks from PawLux which are full of DHA, the active ingredient in fish oil.

Your dog’s weight and body condition can also be managed through exercise. However, certain exercises can worsen the condition. High impact sports, or running and jumping on hard surfaces,  stress the joints and are especially dangerous to growing pups. Although they have all the energy needed for running, jumping and bounding about the house, these activities can weaken the joints and cause problems later in life. But if all of these activities needed can hurt your dog, what can you do? Try taking your dog swimming! Swimming has a low impact level and the water resistance helps to strengthen your dog’s muscles. For some fun water play try PawLux’s West Paw Zogoflex Zisc. It is soft, dog friendly and floats as well!  However, not all dogs know how to swim, but many can be taught. Make sure you are always supervising your dog around water and ensure they have a way to climb out to land. While high impact sports can cause problems, all dogs do love to run and jump. It is not something you want to discourage. So instead, make certain that your pup warms up before active playing and has a cool down. This decreases the likelihood of an injury just as it does for humans.

Remember, arthritis can also be painful for dogs. So, use the above measures to help prevent arthritis in your dog. If your dog has arthritis you can help reduce pain through physical therapy and by massaging those painful joints. Perhaps it is time for a “spaw” day! Check back next week for some tips and hints to giving your pup an all natural and dogtastic “spaw” day.

So remember:

• Managing diet and weight lessens the likelihood of join problems
• Look for products with glucosamine, chondroitin and fish oils
• High Impact sports in development stages can hurt
• Swimming is a great low impact sport
• Physical therapy and massages help reduce pain from arthritis

Does your dog need a paw-dicure? Well, right about now your hard wood floors are probably screaming “YES!” No one can resist a pedicure. Just like humans, dogs need to have their nails clipped on a regular basis (once to twice month) to prevent ingrown, split nails & breakage. Not to mention it makes the nail clipping process much easier for both parties (you & your dog). Dogs are active creatures and if nails are left untended can make it difficult for your dog to walk and be mobile.

Every month you should check to see if your dog nails are getting to long. A good time to check it is during your dogs grooming & spa day session. A general rule of thumb is that your dogs toe nails should never touch the ground, if they do then they need clipped. Does the thought of clipping your dogs toe nails make you a little queasy or uneasy? Well, no worries! If you are uncomfortable and your anxious dog is hesitant about the nail clipping process you can let your vet or groomer do it for you. Hey, remember these are the good guys and have your dogs best interest at heart. Besides, if you need someone to demonstrate the “how to’s” they are great people to call on.

For all you DIYer’s here are some easy & simple instructions on how to clip your dog’s nail without the blood, sweat & tears.

1. Get the right tools! No you can’t use your hedge clippers for the job. Be sure to use nail clippers designed for a dog. Human nail clippers are designed to clip flat nails. A dog’s rounded nails require circular clippers that clip straight through the nail.

2. Proper Exam-First things first is to examine your dogs nail to determine if and where it should be clipped. Inspecting your dog’s nail will allow you to see if there are any cracked nails that need special attention or TLC.

So what is the quick? The quick is the end portion of the vein, and should not be cut. Cut the nail that grows past the quick. If the dog’s nail is white or light-to-medium brown, the quick will be easy to spot. If the nails are black, you will likely not be able to see the quick; make smaller cuts and advance carefully to avoid cutting through the quick. The diagram will help you better understand your dogs paw anatomy, knowing this will make the clipping process easier.

3. Get comfortable-Before clipping, position yourself with your dog in front of you. If possible, have a second person take this position, which can allow you to have full use of both your hands. If a second person is not available, use your body weight to maintain control of your dog.

4. Have a firm grip-Grasp your dog’s paw firmly. Maintaining complete control over your dog’s paw prevents jerking movements that can cause the clippers to slip and cause injury to your dog.

5. Clip away Slowly- Place one nail through the center portion of the clippers. The side of the clippers with screws and a movable arm should face your dog. Clip each nail at a 45 degree angle, leaving about 2 mm of the nail past the quick.

Remember to trim the dewclaw nail, on the inside of the leg. Since it doesn’t touch the ground, it wears down less rapidly than the others.

6. Ready, Set, Squeeze! Squeeze the movable arm of the clippers to clip the nail. If the nail is black, repeat the process, if needed.

It is important that to ease your dog into his first nail-clipping session. Clip a few nails at a time, praise your dog with treats & words and take rest breaks. If you cut the quick, don’t panic. After wiping the blood away, apply a small pinch of styptic powder (an anti-clotting agent) to the area and apply pressure for 60 seconds. If you don’t have any you can use corn starch, baby powder or cotton balls as a substitute to stop the bleeding.

You see, now that was painless!! In the end keeping your cool is key to making sure your dog remains calm in any situation, even a much anticipated and needed paw-dicure

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Providing Bark-tastic Customer Service!! Shop www.pawlux.com for eco-friendly, all natural & organic goodies for your new furry family member. We carry a great selection of Odor Free Bully Sticks / Dog Treats / and Dog Toys !