YOUR PUP'S FIRST BATH

Puppies generally do not need to get bathed until they are three months old since they get their vaccinations during these first three months of their lives and during this time their bodies are more sensitive to catch a cold. It's always best to take all the necessary precautions. When your puppy finally takes his first bath, make sure to find a nice warm spot to it in and use the appropriate dog shampoo. Puppies and dogs don't need to get bathed very often in order to stay clean. The most important requirement for their cleanliness is to get groomed and brushed everyday. If the dog or puppy gets mud on his coat, you can clean it off by using a towel with soap and warm water.
If the puppy is very young, you can bathe him in the kitchen sink.Place a clean wet wash cloth on the bottom of the sink so the pup won't slip.Buy a dog shampoo from a Pet store.Human shampoo is not good for bathing puppies or dogs because the pH of dog skin is different from the human pH.

guinea pig - bathing

Bathing
Most guinea pigs do not like the water. Guinea pigs should not be bathed unless they absolutely need it – for medical reasons, such as fleas, or if they happen to get extremely dirty, mud or sewage.
As an alternative to a bath, consider some of the following options:
Powder baths – apply the powder to the fur and brush out with a stiff brush
clean dirty bottoms with hydrogen peroxide – gently rub to remove feces and urine stains
clean fur with a washcloth and warm soapy water

DOG ODOUR - CAUSES AND HOW TO GET RID OF IT

causes of dog odour and steps to remove it -

1. Wash your dog properly - Too many people do not wash their dogs properly. This can actually make things worse. First, check the dog over thoroughly for any obvious stink sources such as something they rolled in or poop stuck in the fur. Once wet, using a gentle dog shampoo, lather the dog up good and proper. Finally, rinse, rinse, rinse to get all of the shampoo out or it will dry, itch, and cause the dog to produce excess skin oil.
2. Dry the dog thoroughly - It's not just oils and the things the dog rolled in that create dog odor. It's also bacteria and bacteria waste. These bacteria love wet animal fur and are able to live and reproduce quite happily in it. The dogs with thick coats, hit them with a blow dryer. Just make sure you set it on the coolest setting possible.
3. Dog breath - If bad enough, dog breath can make a dog and the house wreak like hell. There are several things you can do to help reduce this odor. The most important is to start a proper oral hygiene regimen. It is often recommended that you brush your dog's teeth once a day. If the dog isn't healthy, it probably won't smell healthy either.
4. Anal glands - secrete an ishy, musty smelling substance with the feces. Sometimes these glands get clogged. This can cause some serious pet odor. A vet or groomer can drain these glands and make Doggy smell pretty again.
5.Ear infections - If the ears look nasty or are stinky, take the dog to the vet. The dog might also just have a skin infection that is causing the smell. It could be a yeast infection, a bacterial infection, or an allergy that has caused an increase in the musty-smelling.

FUR SHEDDING IN DOGS

Dog shedding is one of the most common problems faced by dog owners. It causes health problems and cleanliness issues, and is generally one of the more unpleasant aspects of owning a dog. However, with proper care, it is possible to control excessive shedding of dogs. Here are some tips to help you do so:

• Brushing: This is a perhaps the most important aspect of controlling excessive shedding. Brush your dog regularly, so that all the hair that the dog sheds can be easily collected. Hair that is loose but still attached will also get pulled out and this will reduce the day long shedding. If your dog has a very heavy coat and sheds excessively, brush him two, maybe even three times a day to prevent him from shedding all over the house.

• Food: One of the factors that causes shedding in dogs is consumption of the wrong kinds of foods. This disturbs their chemical balance in their bodies and leads to shedding. Consult your vet to find out the best food options to prevent excessive shedding.

• Supplements: There are essential oils present on the skin of the dog that help keeps it moist. When dogs undergo excessive shedding, they lose these essential oils rapidly, which leads to dry skin, which in turn leads to excessive shedding. Give your dog a fatty acid supplement to help maintain the required balance of essential oils in his body.

• Control Ticks and Fleas: Ticks or fleas on the bodies of the dogs can cause a lot of discomfort to the dogs because of the constant bites all over the bodies. Their bites are relatively itchy and dogs tend to scratch themselves a lot when they have ticks and fleas on them. This excessive scratching leads to a lot of hair loss as hair keeps getting pulled out as the dog scratches, and this leads to shedding wherever the dog may be. To reduce such shedding, ensure that your dog is completely free of ticks and fleas. Consult your vet for effective treatment, if your dog is infected by them.

• Bathing: Different breeds of dogs have different bathing requirements. Almost every breed of dog that has a light to moderate coat of fur should be bathed regularly. Especially in the summer, depending on the breed of the dog, bathing your dog on a regular basis will help control excessive shedding to a large extent. This is because moistening the skin helps prevent shedding caused by dry skin.

• Use the right brushes: There are different kinds of brushes available for different purposes. For instance, you can use a slicker brushes, and stripping blades effectively to control excessive shedding. Consult your vet to find out the right kind of brushes that can be used for your breed of dog and learn about their individual functions.

• Regular Check ups: Sometimes excessive shedding can be a symptom of a disease and regular check ups will ensure that your dog is in perfect health and that his shedding is natural.

How to brush your dog's teeth

There are important facts about pets' mouth that tell us when, where and how to brush. It takes less than 36 hours for this plaque to become mineralized and harden into "tartar" that cannot be removed with a brush. To avoid this progression, brushing should be done daily, with a brush to remove the plaque from under the gum line.
Pick a time of day that will become a convenient part of your pet's daily routine. Take a few days to let both of you get use to the process. Follow with praise and a walk or treat each time.
How to brush your Dog's Teeth -
Start by offering your dog a taste of the dog's toothpaste. The next time, let him taste the toothpaste, then run your finger along the gums of the upper teeth. Repeat the process with the tooth brush. Get the bristles of the brush along the gum line of the upper back teeth and angle slightly up, so the bristles get under the gum line. Work from back to front, making small circles along the gum lines. Do not try to brush the entire mouth at first. If your pet eventually allows you to brush most of his teeth, so much the better.
Even with the best tooth brushing, some dogs may still need an occasional professional cleaning. By brushing your pet's teeth daily, you may reduce the frequency and involvement of dental cleanings.

Grooming a dog - necessary and beneficial

Regular grooming is essential to your dog's health and well being as it will keep the coat clean and healthy. It will stimulate the blood supply to skin, and allow the natural oils to circulate to the coat. It will also help you to check for potentially serious problems i.e. hair loss, inflammations, unusual tenderness or lumps under the skin. Constant scratching in a particular area may also be an indication of a problem. Consult your veterinarian about any unusual problems found.

Combing
Comb should be done in the direction of hair growth, combing small sections at a time, until the coat is tangle free. If the coat has a particular knot or tangle, you may have to trim it off with scissors. A de-matting comb, slicker can be used to remove mats. When using a combination comb, begin with the widely spaced teeth, and follow with the finer teeth.

Brushing
Begin brushing at the head, working toward the tail and down the legs. Always brush in the direction of hair growth. A pin brush can be used to fluff the coat by brushing against the direction of hair growth. Regular brushing will help distribute the natural oils from the skin, producing a healthy, shiny coat.
Puppies
Like babies, puppies have short attention spans. Select a time when the puppy is less energetic. Begin with short grooming sessions, five minutes or so. Constantly talk to your puppy in a gentle and reassuring tone to make him feel comfortable. Be sure to check his ears, paws, teeth, and underside during the grooming procedure. This will make him accustomed to being handled and examined. Gradually, he will be quite comfortable being groomed, and will look forward to these sessions with you.

Frequency
A good time to do this is after the dog has been walked, while he is relieved and calm. Select a time when you will not be interrupted and have ample time to do a proper grooming.