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DIY Pet Grooming

Grooming your pet is important for their health.  But it can get expensive and it can be stressful for your 4-legged BFF.  Grooming at home is a good alternative: it keeps costs down, is less scary for your cat or dog, and helps you keep tabs of your pet’s health.

Here are the most important home-grooming habits you can use to keep an eye on your pet’s health:

Coat

Both dogs and cats benefit from having their coats brushed.  Consistent brushing also helps you keep track of your pet’s skin.  An article on Dogster lists the following conditions to watch for while brushing your pet’s fur: hot spots, bald spots, oily/dry patches, open sores, scaly skin, or any other abnormality.

Long haired and double coated pets benefit from a good, regular brushing.  For cat it cuts down on hairballs, and removing excess fur helps your pet stay cool and prevents tangles.

Ears

Do you even smell your pet’s ears?  You should!  Bernadine Cruz, DVM says you should check your pet’s ears once every week.  Give them a sniff, they shouldn’t have a smell.  Take a look, there shouldn’t be any dirt or debris nor should they be red or inflamed.  If your pet’s ears smell like stinky feet or look red or inflamed it might be time for a vet visit.

Teeth

We all know that brushing your pet’s teeth is important for their long term health.  We’ve talked about the how of brushing your pet’s teeth before.  Make sure you use pet tooth paste as the human version is bad for your pet, and aim to brush at least once/week.

Nails

Have an indoor pet?  Is your pet older and doesn’t get as much outside time as in their youth?  You might have to cut your pet’s nails.  Without regular trimming nails can grow into your pet’s paws, this is painful and can cause infection.

Trimming your cat’s claws can be especially difficult.  Here’s a how-to article from PetMD that might help.  If you’d like to trim your dog’s nails check out this Dogster article for an easy step-by-step guide.

If you’re going to trim your pet’s nails at home make sure to invest in a proper pair of pet nail clippers.

Before you Begin

  • Research your pet’s breed so you know their specific grooming needs
  • Look into training your pet on the grooming process
  • Plan for session to be short
  • Have lots of treats on hand for rewards
  • Make sure you have the right equipment to do the job, for example, proper nail scissors or hair clippers, and a pet shampoo

A Word of Baths

Bathing your dog is always a good idea.  Try not to bathe your pup too often as over bathing can cause skin irritation and dryness.

Be Social

We want to hear from you!  Do you have grooming tips to share?  Make a comment below or on our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/DoonGo/

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Resources

Here are the resources used to write this blog:

Successful Cat Adoptions – Avoiding Surrenders

Successful Cat Adoptions – Avoiding Surrenders
Surrenders – A Big Problem

According to the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies 27% of shelter cats in Canada were surrendered by their guardians. In the US, the American Humane Association found that 32% of cats are surrendered by their owners due to allergies and No Pet Policies alone. It’s Adopt a Cat Month so we’re talking about how to increase your chances at successful cat adoption.
Adopt All the Kitties! Not Much of a Solution to Over Population in Shelters
We’ve all seen the social media posts about adorable kittens needing a home. The cute pictures of fluffy kitties pull our heart strings and make us want to adopt them…all of them. Adopting all the fuzzy kittens on impulse increases the chances that you’ll end up surrendering your cat. Successful cat adoption is a big decision, there’s a lot to consider.

Causes of Surrenders

The main reasons owners surrender their cats to the shelter are:
• Job and home stability – moving to a home with a No Pet Policy and moving long distances for work are significant drivers of shelter surrender
• Allergies – if you have pet allergies talk to your doctor before adoption
• Tolerance/Patience level – cats have a reputation for being easy to care for. But that doesn’t mean that they are a no-effort pet. Cats can be temperamental and fastidious. For instance, your kitty might stop using the litter box for seemingly no reason. It might be behavioural or medical, but you have to know that you can handle it with patience and in the cat’s, and your own, best interest
• Finances – food, medical care, pet insurance, litter box, there are a lot of costs to consider

By addressing these things before adoption you can increase your chances of a successful cat adoption.
Adopting a cat is a great way to save a life and to enrich your own. The best thing you can do is adopt responsibly to minimize adoption surrenders. If you’re really interested in adopting a cat check out our blog Adopting a Shelter Cat, you’ll find:
• Questions to consider before you adopt
• What you’ll need to prepare for your new cat
• An overview of the adoption process
• The cost of having a cat

Be Social

We want to hear from you! Do you have a shelter kitty? Post a picture of your adopted friend on our Facebook page

Let’s Connect

Follow us on:
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/doo_n_go/
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/doongo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DoonGo

Want More?

Check out the articles used to write this blog:
ASPCA Shelter Intake and Surrender Stats – http://www.aspca.org/animal-homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics
5 Reasons Cats are Given Up for Adoption and How to Avoid These Problems – http://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/5-reasons-cats-are-given-up-for-adoption-and-how-to-avoid-these-problems

Adopt a Shelter Pet Month

There are tons of dogs in shelters waiting to be adopted. October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month – reminding people that there are lots of furry friends waiting in shelters.

This blog give a quick overview of what to consider when adopting a shelter dog.

Things to Consider when Adopting

  1. Finding the right match

Adopting a pet isn’t like buying a new wallet, you need to know what your needs are and the needs of your potential new dog. Are you active, or too busy to exercise? Do you have allergies? Do you live in an apartment? These are just some of the questions you need to ask yourself to determine which breed of dog will be your best match. Dogbreedinfo.com has a couple of quizzes to help you figure out your dog match: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/searchcategories.htm

  1. Time consideration

Remember that owning a pet can take up a lot of time. If you live on your own and have a very busy life make sure you choose a dog that doesn’t need constant attention.

Once you know what kind of dog you’re looking for it’s time to hit the local shelters. Sharon Maguire of dogbreedinfo.com says that it isn’t necessary to pick a dog from the first shelter you visit. You’re bringing home a new family member – it’s important to take your time and visit different shelters.

  1. Alpha dogs

Nicole Pajer of Cesarsway.com listed lack of training as the top reason dogs end up in shelters. Dogs are pack animals and packs have a hierarchy. You need to be able to train your new pup consistently. If you can’t establish yourself as the alpha dog your pet isn’t going to listen to you. Before you adopt make sure you have the time and ability to establish yourself as the leader

  1. Adoption Day

The day you adopt your dog will be the happiest day of your new pup’s life. But it isn’t all hugs and treats – here are some tips to be aware of before adoption day:

  • Don’t invade your dog’s space. Try not to smoother your new dog with hugs and kisses until you’ve exercised them and shown them their new home. In dog language hugs can be considered an act of dominance.
  • You’ll need a leash – take your dog for a super long walk before you go home. Dogs that have lived in shelters typically don’t get enough exercise and all that pent up energy can spell disaster at home. Always remember establish yourself as the leader during this first walk: enter and exits doorways and gates before your dog and make sure your dog heels.
  • When you arrive home keep your dog on the leash, it’s time for the guided tour. Lead your dog around the areas of the home she/he will be allowed in – always enter and exit the room before your dog. Do not show your dog areas that are off limits to him/her.
  • At the end of the tour show your dog his space – bed or crate area. You can put some treats down so your dog has happy thoughts about this space.

For more information on adopting shelter dogs check out: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/adoptingrescuedog.htm

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/abusedrescuedog.htm

https://www.petfinder.com/dogs/bringing-a-dog-home/tips-for-first-30-days-dog/

If you need to learn how to clean up after your new pet check out: http://bestvacuuminfo.com/clean-house-with-pets-checklist/.

Have a question we didn’t cover? Have a tip you’d like to share? Let us know on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DoonGo. You might even win a prize J

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