Month: June 2021

Watery Eyes in Dogs: Common Questions Answered

Post author By Smoochie Pooch
Post date June 25, 2021

Have you ever noticed that your dog’s eyes can sometimes seem a bit watery? As a pet owner, it’s important to be aware of dog eye discharge causes and treatments so that you can deal with any issues as they arise.

There is no one cause when it comes to a dog’s eye issues. External irritants or internal health concerns can cause watery eyes. Eye discharge in dogs can be hard to pinpoint as it may show up in several different ways such as tears, puss, or mucus and can vary in color.

Eye Discharge in Dogs – What to Look For

The color of discharge can be your first clue as to what might be causing your dog’s eye concerns. Watery eyes in dogs can look concerning, but if the discharge is clear, you’re typically only dealing with an allergen or something small that may have gotten stuck and caused some irritation. If your dog is experiencing clear discharge only, you should monitor it, but it’s usually nothing you need to worry too much about.

However, if your dog begins to show signs of mucus that is green or yellow, it’s time to book an appointment and visit their veterinarian as they could have an infection. In addition to colored mucus, other symptoms you may notice if your dog has watery eyes can include:

Swelling around the eyes.
Eyes red in color.
Squinting or trying to keep one eye closed.
Pawing or trying to scratch their eyes.
Odor coming from the eye area.

Dog Eye Discharge Causes and Treatments

As mentioned, watery eyes in dogs are often caused by allergies or when something gets stuck in the eye, but here are some other causes to be aware of.

Conjunctivitis. This occurs when there is an inflammation of the inner lining of your dog’s eye, most commonly caused by infection.
Ingrown hair around their eyes or eyelashes.
Glaucoma.
Corneal tumor.
Dry eyes occur when there are not enough natural tears, resulting in a clear mucus discharge.

As with most medical concerns, treatment for watery eyes will depend on the diagnosis since there is such a wide variety of causes. The most important takeaway is to ensure you have your dog assessed if you have any real concerns about their eye health.

Dog Grooming in Indiana Supports Overall Health

With five convenient locations across Indiana and our mobile pet salon, Smoochie Pooch is ready to help you support your pet’s health. From coat maintenance, skin health, and keeping their face and paws well-groomed and clean, professional grooming can positively impact your dog’s wellbeing and make it easier to spot any changes in your pet’s health. Contact us to learn more about our dog grooming services and to book your next appointment.

Cat Grooming

Tips for Welcoming a Rescue Cat into Your Home

Post author By Smoochie Pooch
Post date June 16, 2021

We love to share cat grooming tips, but today we’re talking about another important initiative to support our feline friends. Did you know that June is the ASPCA’s Adopt a Shelter Cat Month? Not only is the program designed to bring awareness to cat adoption, but June also marks the month that typically has the highest number of large litters of kittens born. Unfortunately, many of these kittens end up in Portage area animal shelters.

If you think it might be time to adopt a cat and add to your family, it’s natural to wonder about all the steps you’ll have to take for successful adoption. You want to be sure you find the right cat to fit your lifestyle and that you’ve thought about veterinarian services, cat grooming services, and what items and food you may need to purchase and have in your home.

How to Successfully Transition Your Rescue Cat into Your Home

It’s an exhilarating time when you’ve decided to adopt a cat and know you’ll be bringing them home shortly. Since cats are territorial animals, coming into a new home will likely leave them feeling uneasy. To start things off on the right foot, provide a small area to call their own for the first few weeks. You can add their food, water, a litter box, and any at home essentials for cat grooming in this space.

Follow these additional tips for an easy transition:

Bring the cat home in a cat carrier as it will provide a sense of safety.
Once home, bring the cat directly to the small area you’ve set up.
Sit on the floor and let the cat come to you in their own time. They may be frightened.
Provide the same food as what they were eating at the shelter, at least to start.
Don’t feel discouraged if your cat doesn’t seem comfortable right away. It may take them a week or two to adjust and remind all your family members to be patient.
Make an appointment for your newly adopted cat to visit a Portage veterinarian to make sure they are doing well and that there are no health concerns that need attention.
Find a local cat grooming service that you feel comfortable with and find out what service options are available for their first appointment.

Quality Cat Grooming Services at Smoochie Pooch

While cats are known for their interest in self-grooming, they do benefit from professional grooming services. An experienced groomer can help keep long-haired fur in excellent condition, reduce matting, ensure ears are clean to avoid infections and help reduce shedding. At Smoochie Pooch, we know what your kitty will love and take great pride in helping them enjoy their grooming experience. To learn more about cat grooming, contact us.

Cat Grooming

I Thought Cats Groomed Themselves?

Post author By Smoochie Pooch
Post date June 7, 2021

Cats are known for their consistent self-grooming habits. Often found to be licking their paws, it’s easy to see why some cat owners assume that they wouldn’t need to find a reputable cat groomer in Valparaiso!

However, there are many diverse reasons why cats lick themselves, and their grooming habits don’t mean that a professional groom is never needed. Let’s take a closer look at your cat’s grooming routine and why cat grooming services should still be part of your overall pet care plans.

What Your Cat Is Actually Doing When They Groom Themselves

So what purpose is being served when you see your cat primping themselves? Interestingly enough, many of the benefits they get are not related to cleanliness at all.

While their work can help with coat maintenance, here are some other reasons that cats spend a lot of time self-grooming:

Thermoregulation. The saliva they spread over their fur evaporates and helps regulate their body temperature.
Stimulate circulation. A cat’s tongue is rough in texture, stimulating blood flow in the areas they lick, improving circulation.
Psychological benefits. The repetitive ritual of self-grooming stimulates endorphins, making it an easy way for cats to relieve stress and calm themselves down.

As you can see, grooming your cat should still be included in your list of things to do as a pet owner. Cats prioritize their own grooming, but it’s often not enough to ensure that their skin and coat remain healthy.

Why Cat Grooming Services Are Important

Cat groomers in Valparaiso can take care of all your cat’s needs, such as brushing, bathing, shaving, and nail trimming. Regular professional grooming will provide many benefits to your cat, resulting in a healthier coat, a reduction in odors and matted fur, and fewer hairballs.

In addition, your groomer will check your cat for fleas and ticks, lumps and bumps, skin irritations, and other issues you may not otherwise notice. You should also see reduced shedding, which means you’ll spend less time getting cat hair off your clothes and furniture.

Find Cat Groomers in Valparaiso

Now that you know that grooming your cat is something that can’t be left entirely up to your pet, it’s time to find the right groomer for the job. At Smoochie Pooch, we treat every pet as if they were our own. Our extensive training combined with our commitment to helping cats and dogs look and feel excellent means that your pet will love their time with us! From long-haired breeds to kittens, let us pamper your cat and help them feel their absolute best. To book your cat grooming services, contact us.

smelly ears in dogs

5 Reasons Why My Dog’s Ears Smell

Post author By Smoochie Pooch
Post date June 1, 2021

Sometimes dogs smell; they just do! Whether they rolled in something outside, haven’t been bathed in a while, or went for a swim, Schererville pet owners know that odors go along with owning a dog. But what about smelly ears in dogs? Should that be a cause for concern, and is it preventable?

Similar to their feet, a dog’s ears can deliver an odor that will leave you wondering whether a trip to the vet is necessary. If your pet goes for dog grooming services regularly, your groomer may also mention that there’s an odor that may need attention. Lingering ear infections, which are sometimes the reason for such odors, can cause your dog’s ear canal to narrow, eventually leading to hearing loss or an even more severe infection that may require surgery.

Smelly Ears in Dogs – When to Worry

If you notice your dog’s ears smell, it can be related to an underlying medical problem. If you doubt how your pet is doing, be sure to make an appointment with your Schererville vet to have their ears assessed.

In many cases, the stinky situation isn’t anything too serious and can be fixed. Below are several potential causes and information on how to prevent smelly dog ears going forward.

1. Ear infection.

All dogs have healthy bacteria on their skin, hair, paws, and in their ears. However, sometimes harmful bacteria or yeast takes over. In addition to odor, other symptoms of an ear infection include yellow, brown, or bloody discharge from the ear, redness, swelling, and scratching.

2. Mites.

If smelly ears in dogs are accompanied by intense scratching, shaking their head, and dark brown to black discharge, they likely have ear mites.

3. Allergies.

An itchy, foul-smelling ear infection may stem from an underlying allergy caused by food, outdoor allergens, or products you use in your home.

4. Ear wax production

Some dogs are prone to producing more ear wax than others, causing a mildly unpleasant odor.

5. Hormones.

If your dog’s hormones are unbalanced, this may result in an unpleasant ear smell. Both hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism can make dogs more prone to ear infections.

Interested to know how to prevent smelly dog ears?Regular grooming will help keep your dog’s ears clean and in good condition, making it easier to tell if there may be an issue that needs attention. If you suspect allergies may be causing ear issues, work with a veterinarian to help identify and remove the allergen, which will stop reoccurring ear infections once and for all.

Top Dog Grooming Services in Schererville

Looking for a Schererville groomer that can take care of all your dog’s needs? From regular grooming to skin therapy, the Smoochie Pooch team is ready to welcome your dog! Our experienced team can not only complete breed-specific grooming but also take a wholistic approach, ensuring that your pet’s coat, nails, and skin are healthy and in good condition. To learn more about our top-rated services, please contact us or book an appointment.

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