A Kenneling Alternative

Grooming

How Do I Know If My Pet Is In Pain?

by Leave a Comment

I think about pet pain a lot. My dog, Ginger, is 11 years old now and beginning to turn from a vibrant red to a heavy dose of white fur. And she’s struggled with lameness.

September is Pain Awareness Month for both pets and people. But, unlike those of us training for fall marathons who can articulate where our bodies hurt, pets cannot.

Signs

“According to the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC), more than 45 million household pets suffer from chronic or acute pain.”

Signs that you should look for according to International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) include the following list of most common signs of pain:

  • Decreased activity – Take notice if your animal is not playing as much as usual
  • Not going up or down stairs – This could be an early sign of osteoarthritis
  • Reluctance to jump onto surfaces – This especially applies to cats
  • Difficulty standing after laying down – This is a sign of osteoarthritis
  • Decreased appetite – This can signal mouth pain
  • Over grooming or licking a particular area – This can be a sign of referred pain

What To Do

Fortunately, there are a number of options available to pet parents. Ginger was able to get some physical therapy, massage, and laser treatments. That, combined with some relatively inexpensive medications, have returned her to a level of activity that is satisfying to see.

While her veterinarians were all good doctors, the resources available to do the therapy and laser treatments came as a result of a conversation with a behaviorist trainer. Her bloodwork never identified acute health concerns. It was only after doing a few expensive X-rays that some early spinal issues were spotted.

You may have to investigate resources for your pet if they are showing signs of pain. Fortunately, as the pet care industry has expanded, so have the number of options. Your vet may be able to offer suggestions for quality treatment options if their practice doesn’t provide them.

You are your pet’s best advocate, so keep an eye on them and have any signs of possible chronic pain looked into. You’ll both feel better.

Doggie Date Night Adventures: The Blowout

by Leave a Comment

February 3rd was the official Doggie Date Night. But, you can have one of your very own any night of the week.

The folks over at Pethelpful have a list of 10 ideas you can borrow for date night by clicking here.

Floofins & Co. held a Floofins FM event on Facebook live to show you how to prepare your floofy dog for a date night. We lovingly referred to it as a doggie blowout. Mandy showed us how to do one on her own floofin. Check out the fun on our Facebook page and watch it now if you missed the live event.

Or if you just want the video without commentary, check it out here: https://www.wevideo.com/view/2035422812.

Which leads us to some of our favorite date night ideas:

  1. Movie and Grooming

What better way to spend a cozy evening in? Grab a brush, your floofin, and a good movie and get grooming. Your pet will love the time spent being rubbed and brushed (or at least the attention being paid to them if they aren’t into that whole spiffing up process) and you get a gorgeous result! All while being able to watch a good movie of your choice.

  1. Letting it Hang Out

We certainly don’t advocate for letting your pet hang their head out of the window of a car, if you have a neighborhood that you can get some car outing time in without being a nuisance this might be an option. Take you floofin out and let them hang their head out while you drive extremely slowly. No projectiles incoming at high rates of speed to damage the eyes, just a leisurely opportunity to sniff from the warmth of the car. It might also help you make sure your car still works if you haven’t been driving much lately.

  1. Photo Shoots

YES! There is nothing better than a great photo of your pet. Ask any pet lover how many pictures of their pet are on their phone and they may just tell you, “all of them.” Set up a time that you can pose your pet in those ways you always imagined and lock in memories now. Especially if you’ve given them the doggie blowout treatment and they are looking fine.

Be creative, have fun, but mostly enjoy your time with your floofin. We know it goes by quickly.

An Interview with Kendra Otto of the UpScale Tail

by Leave a Comment

The UpScale Tail. Focusing On “Scaredy Dogs” And Beyond.

The UpScale Tail, LTD, is an award-winning grooming salon in Naperville Illinois. They take the time to build a bond with their clients, especially when working with “scaredy” or fearful dogs. That bond of trust takes the fear out of grooming and makes it a pleasant experience for both dogs and their parents. Kendra Otto, the owner of The UpScale Tail, graciously agreed to talk to the Scoop about her experiences.

When asked about how she got into the grooming business, Kendra replies that “I had wanted to work with animals for as long as I can remember. I also had a passion for art and in my late teens I was working at a local veterinary clinic where they offered grooming too. The owner had told me about a grooming school not too far away and I decided to go! I was excited that I could use both my love for animals and art and combine them together into a career.” [Read more…] about An Interview with Kendra Otto of the UpScale Tail

Tuesday Dog Training Trip – Body Tactile

by Leave a Comment

How To Keep Your Dog From Biting The Vet and Squirming On the Grooming Table?

It’s often overlooked, but getting your dog used to being touched and handled is good for your dog. It will make it easier on you, your dog, and staff for grooming appointments, veterinary exams, wiping off wet paws, or any other time that they need to be handled.

Teaching your dog that it’s ok to be handled and touched will allow you to better care for them, not to mention making being handled a lot less stressful for your dog.

For some dogs this comes naturally, but for others, the process of you touching their feet, looking in their mouth, eyes or ears is something that they need to be trained to accept. The more you practice with them, the more comfortable they will become. Make sure to add this into your training repertoire. I promise it will make your life a lot easier when it comes to handling your pet!