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Skin Care

3 Things Pet Owners Should Know About Fleas

There are many things about owning a pet that pet owners may not anticipate. Ticks, fleas, and parasites can sometimes fall into this category. However, since these pests can affect your dog’s health and their need for skin care solutions, it’s best to take some time to gather the information that can help.

Fleas, in particular, can be tricky to handle. You may think that even if your dog doesn’t go any further than your Indiana back yard you can avoid them, but that’s just not the case. Flea control is something you need to think about if you have a pet living in your home.

Learning About Flea Control

As mentioned, fleas can be a significant irritant to your pet, leaving them with bites, rashes, and sores that require skin care treatments. Since there are almost 2,000 species of fleas, one of them may likely find their way into your home as they can travel on pets, shoes, and clothing.

Fleas also have a very high reproductive rate, which means that it doesn’t take much before you find yourself with an infestation that requires swift attention.

As a pet owner, here are three important things you should know about fleas:

  1. In some cases, you may notice fleas on your pet or a few of them jumping around, but the easiest way to check for them is to look for flea dirt. Use a flea comb and then place what you collect on a wet paper towel. Flea dirt will turn red.
  • Dog flea grooming is an excellent preventative strategy. Keeping your dog’s coat well maintained is a smart way to be on top of potential pests. Not only will a shorter, well-groomed coat make it easier to spot fleas, but your groomer will be regularly inspecting your pet’s coat and skin to ensure that there are no infestations to be concerned about.
  • Fleas are a concern you need to deal with quickly. It may not seem like fleas can cause any big issues, but they most certainly can. Ignoring fleas and allowing an infestation to occur will not only make them that much harder to get rid of but will lead to illness. Dermatitis, anemia, and tapeworm are some of the problems that can arise if fleas are left untreated.

Find Pet Grooming and Skin Care Treatments at Smoochie Pooch

It’s never fun to think about fleas and other parasites that may bother your pet, but taking a preventative approach can help. Dog flea grooming at Smoochie Pooch can help manage potential pests and help you ensure your dog looks and feels its best. Should your pet be recovering from any skin irritations, we’d be happy to share more information on skin care treatments that can help. To learn more about our high-quality services and to book an appointment at one of our locations, contact us.

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Skin Care

My Dog Has a Rash: Common Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

You notice some red and inflamed areas on your dog’s skin. Could it be that your dog has a rash? You may not have given a lot of thought to your dog’s skin care, but they can develop a rash just as easily as humans can.

From dog fleas to developing skin irritations from allergens, your pet can get stuck with itchy and painful skin that requires attention. If you’re a new dog owner or find yourself dealing with your dog’s first rash, it helps to know what can cause this issue, what to watch for and how you can help them find relief.

What You Need to Know About Dog Rashes and Skin Care

Rashes are quite common and can arise due to various things. The recommended dog rash treatment will depend on what caused the rash to begin with. Some of the most common causes include:

  • Allergies. These can be food allergies, environmental allergies, or allergies to a shampoo or other products you may have used on your dog
  • Parasites such as dog fleas, ticks, and other bugs
  • Heat rash
  • Infection

As mentioned, knowing what dog rash treatment is required starts by understanding the rash. Symptoms of the dog rash can help decipher what may be causing the rash itself. Common symptoms to watch for are:

  • Itchiness
  • Red and inflamed skin
  • Raised, pimple-like dots
  • Bleeding
  • Flaky skin
  • Increased biting, scratching, or licking
  • Weeping and crusty skin
  • Greasy coat.

The correct treatment for dog rashes on the skin will only come once your dog has been properly assessed. If you notice your dog does have a rash, make an appointment with your veterinarian or your trusted pet groomer. They can help you determine what might be causing the concern and create the best treatment plan based on your dog’s history. From medicinal shampoo to an elimination diet, following a trusted professional’s recommendations is the best bet.

Trust Smoochie Pooch to Care for Your Dog’s Skin

At Smoochie Pooch, we know that providing quality grooming is so much more than just cutting or trimming their coat. Some of our pet stylists are trained Certified Pet Aestheticians with Iv San Bernard USA. This training will allow us to provide solutions to all skin and coat issues and ensure that your pet gets the care they need to look and feel their best. Our treatment and therapy options can be the solutions you’ve been looking for. To learn more about our top-quality grooming and skin care services, contact us.

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Additional Services

Ozone Spa Bath: Spa Therapy for a Wide Range of Ailments

It’s not just regular grooming that can support your pet’s health. Additional services such as skin therapy, ozone treatments, teeth brushing, and anal gland expression can also help your dog maintain their well-being.

One treatment, in particular, ozone therapy, combines heat, water, and air to help ease stress, physical fatigue, relax joints and muscles, and treat your dog’s skin and coat. An ozone dog spa bath is the most powerful oxidizer available, and as such, is very effective in eradicating bacteria, mold and yeast spores, and viruses.

How Ozone Therapy Can Benefit Your Pet

Inquiring about additional services for your pet is a great place to start if you’re having any concerns about their well-being. This can be a result of aging, a change of lifestyle, or recent skin irritations that could use some attention.

If you feel your pet could use some support, this option is worth considering. With so many benefits to using an ozone dog spa bath, pet owners can expect to see improvements for the following ailments:

  • A renewed sense of energy and peace for nervous or timid dogs, including those with past trauma.
  • Revitalized energy for dogs who practice agility, show dogs, working dogs, and pets that lead a very active lifestyle.
  • Improved mobility due to better blood circulation for elderly pets.
  • Improvement in skin conditions, shedding, and skin health restoration.
  • Balance is restored for those pets who have had significant upheavals such as a move, a new baby at home, or a new owner.
  • Reduction in stress due to hormonal imbalances.

The frequency of treatment for ozone therapy will depend on the ailment. For example, elderly pets benefit greatly from a treatment every two weeks, while a weekly treatment is recommended if you’re trying to manage skin issues. Based on your pet’s needs, a tailored program will be suggested during an initial consultation.

Find Ozone Therapy for Pets 

Smoochie Pooch is pleased to offer a state-of-the-art ozone spa for pets. This safe treatment can make a significant difference to your pet’s physical and emotional well-being. If you feel your dog could benefit from this option, reach out to us to learn more about booking a consultation. As a trusted groomer with multiple locations, we’re committed to always having your pet’s best interest at heart. We’d love to work with you so that your pet is happy, healthy, and thriving. Make an appointment today!

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Additional Services

What You Should Know Before Deciding to Feed Your Dog a Raw Diet

As a pet owner, you’ve likely heard about the rise in people choosing to feed their dog a raw food diet. The interest in this diet choice goes hand in hand with improving their dog’s overall health and longevity which also speaks to the rise of other additional services pet owners are seeking out such as skin therapy and training enrichment.

Pets are beloved members of the family and so it makes sense that pet owners are seeking out ways to improve dog wellness. However, deciding to feed your dog a raw diet isn’t a decision to be made quickly. While some people may support raw feeding, that doesn’t mean it comes without risks or that it’s automatically right for your dog.

Feeding Dogs: Is A Raw Diet the Way to Go?

For some dogs, a raw food diet has proven to be a beneficial choice. Pet owners that choose to feed raw often cite an improvement in coat health, better weight management, and an improvement in joint and bone health too. In addition, pets that eat raw can also have positive changes in their bowel movements.

When it comes to dog wellness, what you feed them certainly does matter. However, before you purchase any raw food, understand the risks that exist:

  • Food safety. This risk should come as no surprise as you will be handling and having an increased amount of raw meat come into your home. Being prepared to disinfect the areas where your dog eats raw food is critical. Additionally, pets that eat raw food are likely to shed harmful bacteria in their feces, and that bacteria can be dangerous to young children and those with a weak immune system. In some cases, the pathogens in raw food can also cause vomiting and serious illnesses in dogs.
  • Balanced diet. It’s much more difficult to ensure your dog is getting all the nutrients they need when eating a raw food diet. For example, a raw food diet can make it tricky for a dog to get the right balance of zinc and iron that they need. Even if you’re feeding dogs pre-packaged raw food meals, that still doesn’t guarantee that the balance of nutrients will be right for your pet’s needs.

While wanting the best for your dog is a good thing, it may be worth considering what additional services besides raw food could also help them feel their best. Ozone therapy shed relief, and regular exercise are also great considerations if you’re looking to improve your dog’s wellbeing.

Support Your Dog’s Wellness at Smoochie Pooch

Smoochie Pooch is proud to be a top provider of pet grooming services with multiple locations, but did you also know we provide additional services that support your pet’s best health? While regular grooming is important, we can also support your pet by providing skin repair therapy, shed relief, hydro massage ozone spa, and exfoliating skin & coat detox. We know you want the best for your pet, and we do too! Trust our professional team to provide the wellness services that will help your dog thrive. Contact us to learn more!