After a record drought here, we’ve been having some rain. Not heavy rain like we really need, mind you, but just enough to create mud in the yard. (And because of last summer’s drought, all of our grass except for the winter rye we’ve thrown out is gone. We’re down to bare dirt in places…and that, of course, means mud!)

And, as you well know, mud means muddy paws. Both our dogs have been taught “Paw” when we’re going to lift a paw to clean it and that really helps us keep the dogs’ paws a little bit cleaner. We clean each paw with an old towel we keep on the porch just for this purpose but it doesn’t help clean the area beneath the dogs’ nails.

Just like our own nails, your dog’s nails get dirt beneath them which can transport a lot of mud into the  house. We don’t usually notice that dirt at first…and then it dries and falls out somewhere inside the house!

Some people use a file to clean out that dirt but that can be dangerous if your dog jerks during the cleaning. Instead, we’ve been using the new Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs. Like the original Q-tips, these cotton swabs have 100 percent pure cotton at each end but here’s where they differ: these Q-tips have a precision, pointed tip at each end!

Made especially for precision work like eye liner touch-ups and makeup application, these cotton swabs are also really useful for manicures and pedicures…or, in our house, PAWdicures!

Using the Q-Tips Precision Tips, I cleaned beneath Irie’s nails…

It was quick and easy to get the mud out from beneath Irie’s large nails (which grow amazingly fast. Why can’t my nails grow so quickly?!) I loved that, when I was done, the Q-tips® could just be discarded. There’s no cleanup as with other nail grooming tools. Best of all, the new Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs are super inexpensive: just $2.49 for 170 swabs!

For more information on Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs, visit the Q-tips Facebook page.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.  Q-tips® product was  provided by Unilever, the makers of Q-tips®; my tips and usage suggestions are my own.

We’ve got some great tips here today from petMD.com (a super resource for all these related to your dog’s healthcare). Here are their top recommendations for both preventing and treating uncomfortable skin problems in dogs and cats:

• Avoid bathing your pet with shampoos or soaps during the winter. They can strip away natural oils and moisture and result in dandruff. Simple water baths should be sufficient.
• If shampoo is absolutely necessary, make it a moisturizing shampoo, and add in an additional moisturizing rinse.
• If you have passed the point of prevention and need to treat your pet for irritated skin, oatmeal baths are a well-regarded remedy.
• When choosing products for treatment, you need to keep in mind your pet’s age, health status, coat type, skin folds, and more. It is best to speak directly with your veterinarian or groomer for recommendations.
• Use a soft brush on your dog’s coat. This will stimulate the hair follicles and natural oil glands, removing dead skin cells and loose hair and giving the skin a better chance to heal.
• A nutritionally balanced diet year-round will keep your pet’s skin in its best condition.
• Make sure your dog is receiving adequate levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Consult your veterinarian to determine if your pet’s food contains proper levels, or if cat or dog supplements would be best.
• You can’t control the outside temperature, nor can you keep your pet indoors all the time. You can, however, maximize your indoor air quality through the use of humidifiers and fans to keep air circulating and prevent allergens from collecting.

As dog lovers watch the dogs go through their paces at each of the dog shows, they’re watching the results of plenty of primping by some of the country’s top groomers…but with just a little work, some of that grooming magic can take place in your own home with something as simple as Q-tips®!

We’re so proud to say that we’re Q-tips Ambassadors and throughout the next year we’re going to be bringing you tips for all kinds of uses for Q-tips in pet households. We love that they’re multi-use and economical. Here are a few ways you can use Q-tips to get that just-groomed look you see at the dog shows:

• clean the EXTERIOR flap of your dog’s ear. Never, ever poke Q-tips or any other object into your dog’s ear where it could cause damage but use Q-tips to clean the folds in the exterior portion of your dog’s ear. Not only will your dog be dog show pretty but you’ll reduce dirt and bacteria and keep those ears smelling good.
• wrap Q-tips in gauze and use them as a quick doggie toothbrush. Dental health is important not just for a beauty queen smile but for your dog’s health as well. When you’re done, just discard and start with a brand new “doggie tooth brush” next time! Q-tips also make a great travel toothbrush if you’re traveling with your dog this holiday season.
• clean between your dog’s paw pads with Q-tips. Remove dirt and debris that works its way into the crevices between those doggie toes.
• apply your favorite paw moisturizers to paw pads to prevent cracked paw pads, especially during the winter months.
• keep a supply of Q-tips and a box of cornstarch handy when you trim your dog’s nails. If you should accidentally cut into the quick and cause bleeding. quickly put some cornstarch on the nail and apply pressure with the Q-tips.

Do you have some tips for using Q-tips with your pets or in other aspects of your life? Q-tips is hosting a Tip-A-Thon on its Facebook page. Though December 15, you can submit your creative ways to use Q-tips (including for pet purposes) and be entered to win weekly $100 gift cards or the Grand Prize of a $1,000 gift card and a year’s supply of Q-tips!

Disclosure: This is a  post sponsored by Unilever, the makers of Q-tips®,  written as part of our role as Q-tips Ambassadors. All tips and comments are our own!

Often burrs removes easily if you get it out right away. If you find an especially stubborn burr, try crushing it with pliers then picking out the pieces from your dog’s fur.

When it comes to foxtails, it’s not just a matter of saving money but also keeping your dog healthy; these grasses (here we call it speargrass) have barbs that can work their way through your dog’s fur and into his skin…and even travel to organs.

You can save as much as 30 percent on your next grooming bill by dematting your dog yourself!

Swimming is a great activity during warm weather, but your dog will need a good cleaning after a dip in the pool or ocean. Be sure to rinse your pet after swimming to remove chemicals or irritants from their coat, as these can dry out your pet’s skin.

Also, try to keep your dog’s ears clean and dry after swimming. Swab their ears with a cotton ball and use a recommended ear cleaner to help remove any waxy build-up or water left

To learn more about grooming, stop by your local PetSmart store to speak with a PetSmart Academy trained groomer, or visit www.PetSmart.com/Grooming.

Photo copyright Clipart.com

Today we’ve got some special tips from PetSmart grooming expert Linda Erickson shares her tips on getting your dog ready for the summer:

Drop the Winter Coat: It’s important to help your dog get rid of their heavier winter coat so they can stay cool as temperatures rise. A bath will release the undercoat and a good brushing will get rid of the extra hair. To make sure pets are extra silky and shiny, a dose of milk bath moisturizing conditioner and regular at-home brushings will help make coats softer and healthier.

Less is Not Always More: Pet parents often think shaving a dog during the summer is the answer to shedding and overheating. However, a pet’s coat actually helps regulate their body temperature and protects them from the sun. The FURminator Shed-less Treatment is an alternative to shaving and an effective way to help control shedding and keep pets cooler.

Regular Maintenance Required: Dogs have regular, ongoing needs no matter the season, including coat, tooth andpaw care. A good teeth-cleaning routine both at home and the grooming salon is an essential part of a pet’s health. And it’s important to help keep dogs’ paws healthy with regular nail trims and removal of any extra hair so debris won’t get stuck in their paws.

But there’s another option: self-serve dog washes. For about $15, you can rent a self-service dog wash facility with a special deep sink (many surrounded with special ramps so you’re not bending over your dog and breaking your back), shampoos and conditioners, towels, brushes, dog dryers, and more. Along with saving your back, another big benefit is you won’t have all that dog hair going down your drain (no cleanup!)

You don’t always get your preferred hairdresser right on the first try – it takes making hair appointments at different salons and working with different stylists to see exactly which one is deemed your hairdresser of choice. Same goes with your pooch – you can’t just hand him over to any ol’ name in the phone book! It’s important to consider these five tips when selecting a pet groomer that’s pooch-approved!

Step 1: Assess Their Expertise? How many years have they been in business? If they’ve set up shop for at least four years, they’ve likely earned themselves a great reputation and are pet grooming experts. The real deal will also be recognized by the National Dog Groomers Association and any other related dog grooming associations, so be sure to check up on them. In addition, the staff should know to be calm and confident, as a stressful environment can create a negative experience for your pet.

Step 2: Ask for Referrals. A reputable pet groomer will have a list of referrals and testimonials at their fingertips. Be sure to also ask around town to see if anyone has utilized their services, and check around online for any reviews of their services. It’s your pooch, so make sure he or she is in good hands!

Step 3: Review The Facilities. The pet groomer doesn’t need to have the most advanced or posh of pet grooming facilities, but they should be clean and tidy. All cages should be properly sized to comfortably hold your pet, and the pets inside these cages should be resting or behaving in a positive manner.

Step 4: Bring Your Dog. You need to be comfortable with the pet groomer you choose for your pooch, but you also need to ensure your dog is happy and content with your choice, as well. Bring your dog along to the pet grooming facility, and see how the staff members interact with your dog, as well as how your dog acts at the facility. Sure, Fido may be a little apprehensive, but if you see the hair rising on his neck, it’s time to check out the next facility.

Step 5: Location and Price Matter. You want to provide your dog with as quality a pet groomer as possible, but let’s face it, you also want to make sure the pet groomer is located in your general radius, and won’t break your budget, either. It’s okay if you can’t choose a fancy pet spa, but do take the above steps into consideration, as you want to be sure you’re getting a pet groomer that will provide quality service for Fido.

The oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico and the catastrophe it has created for wildlife demand a huge response. One way to help is both free and low-tech: donating fur to be used to soak up the oil. From our reader Samantha, we just learned about a longtime program that’s actively seeking fur donations to help clean up the spill.

Matter of Trust, an environmental non-profit that has helped clean up oil spills in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond since 1998, uses donated fur and hair clippings from pet groomers as well as hair salons, barber shops, and wool farmers. The fur and hair are stuffed into donated nylon stockings to create highly absorbent booms to contain oil spills.

Right now, Matter of Trust is coordinating efforts of thousands of participants to match nylon and hair donations to space in temporary warehousing along the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico. Volunteers are building booms on site hoping to hold off the encroaching oil slick. Through its donor database matching system program called Excess Access, Matter of Trust is notifying salons and groomers where to send their boxes to high-priority sites. Donations include hundreds of thousands of pounds of hair, and many washed nylon pantyhose stockings, which they’ll accept with small runs or tears.

A pound of hair can absorb one quart of oil in one minute. And hair mats can be wrung out and reused up to 100 times. There are over 300,000 salons in the US that sweep up an average of 1 pound of hair per day.

How To Help

• instructions for donating fur (and hair) You’ll find instructions for groomers (and salons) as well as individuals who would like to donate fur.
• where to enroll to donate fur and hair

Video

Although it’s not so critical with outdoor baths as it is indoors, we wanted to test a tip we’ve read numerous times but never tried: you can prevent (well, stall) your dog from the big shake that you know is coming after the bath by holding his snout.

It worked! This tip is so simple and buys you enough time to grab a towel, move out of the way, or reach for the conditioner if you’re not finished with the bathing.

To stop the post-bath shake, just gently hold your dog’s muzzle. (Although you don’t really see it, the big shakeoff actually begins at the nose and works its way down your dog’s body.) When your dog can’t start the shake with his head, he just waits. Your dog will still shake when you release the snout but this handy tip can help you position him (or you) before it happens.