What Is The Right Shampoo For Your Pet?

Pet Safety

Shampoo Dog

Oftentimes, it’s difficult for dog owners to know which products are best for their furry friends. This problem is particularly true when it comes to grooming and maintenance essentials. Ads for new shampoos, conditioners, and suggestions about how to take care of our pets are found with every click of the mouse. Luckily, by highlighting current cleaning options and reviewing common grooming pitfalls, we can make better, healthier decisions on behalf of our pooches.

To start, we are asking frequent pet parent questions. “What are the best dog shampoos on the market, and what makes them so beneficial?” These questions are a little tricky because there are a lot of great dog shampoos. So, it comes down to each dog and owners’ preferences as well as consideration of your pet’s skin health. Some owners might want to spend big bucks on luxury options with custom scents, whereas other owners are only looking for a simple but effective cleaning option. Regardless, there are a few basic rules to follow when choosing a dog shampoo.

  1. Choose a product that works best with your pet’s skin condition. There are plenty of categories to pick from. Shampoos can be oatmeal-based, degreasing, dandruff reducing, hypoallergenic, organically produced, and age-specific (i.e. for puppies). Expensive shampoos can even have enhanced aromatics or odorless smells. If you don’t know how to assess your pet’s skin, have a talk with a professional groomer and your veterinarian. Certain pets may benefit from prescription-only shampoos to treat conditions such as bacterial infection (pyoderma), flea allergy dermatitis, or an overgrowth of yeast.
  2. Beware of paraben and dye. Any shampoos with these contents are unsafe for your pet – they frequently cause skin inflammation and hair loss. Not only should you avoid these ingredients but stick with a pet-specific shampoo. Though this is your fur “baby” you are shopping for, you don’t share the same skin pH; human shampoos can be drying and cause irritation.
  3. Match the shampoo to the appropriate conditioner. It’s very important to use not only the right product but the right amount of product during bath time. If a shampoo is a 2-in-1, for example, using additional substances can result in a greasy and uncomfortable coat. In general, if your pet has a greasy coat, use little or no conditioner. Conversely, for dogs with dry coats, pair shampoo with a crème rinse conditioner.

Over-the-counter products commonly recommended by

Veterinarians and groomers

  • Earthbath’s Natural Pet Shampoo: For dogs with normal coats and no dermatologic issues – no knots, not greasy or dry, no fleas/ticks- consider choosing Earthbath’s Natural Pet Shampoo. Gentle on canine skin, packed with vitamins, and made with moisturizing oatmeal and aloe vera, this shampoo helps counter common issues such as dryness, flaky skin, and removes environmental allergens from the haircoat. Fresh ‘n Clean Scented Dog Shampoo is a great choice for dogs that have problems with mats and tangles.
  • Fresh ‘n Clean Scented Dog Shampoo: Mats are a very common and frustrating grooming problem. When bathing, water causes the mats to tighten and brings them closer to a dog’s skin. The result is a very uncomfortable, potentially dangerous coat. Fresh ‘n Clean Scented Dog Shampoo contains anti-static agents that stop matting and it also has a long-lasting, popular scent – a scent that can be refreshed by the wipe of a damp towel. As a bonus, it is also the cheapest of all these shampoos!
  • Furminator deShedding Ultra Premium Shampoo: Works well for owners who struggle with heavy shedding. Infused with omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, calendula extract, and papaya leaf, this shampoo promotes a healthy coat, which prevents excess shedding.
  • Burt’s Bees Dog Shampoo for Puppies: Effectively cleans and protects the smallest of fur babies. A 4 in 1 calming shampoo, this pH-balanced buttermilk, and linseed oil formula is extra gentle on dog skin; the result is reduced irritation and itch relief. Puppies are notorious for the trouble they find; knocking over houseplants, digging in the yard, and having potty accidents leading to frequent baths. A gentle shampoo is essential since you’ll be reaching for it often!

While fleas and ticks are best treated with medications prescribed by your veterinarian, some over-the-counter shampoos contain ingredients that help kill hitchhiking pests on contact. Because these products aren’t safe for all pets and fleas and ticks require a multi-pronged approach to eliminate them from the household, check with your vet before application.

No matter which shampoo you try, the most important takeaway is to monitor your pet’s skin after bathing. Redness, hair loss, bumps, and scale are all signs of a potentially bad reaction to a product. If any of these symptoms occur, do not panic and do not bathe your dog – it can dry out the skin and cause further complications. Check with your veterinarian for appropriate pharmaceutical shampoos or remedies; luckily, there are many ways to address skin-related issues.

 

At Pet Butler, we understand what it means to want to provide the best possible care to your clients. That is why when you hire Pet Butler, we remove all your pet’s waste from your yard everything – guaranteed. Learn more about the services we offer here!

The Evolution Of Dogs

Dog Behavior

Pet Butler - Evolution of Dogs

Man’s best friend, the dog, has been our greatest companion for generations. Our mutualistic relationship is unrivaled in the natural world, and it’s something that humans should continue to cherish for as long as we can. But where did they come from, and how did we domesticate them? How are there so many breeds and how did history complicate our relationship? These are just a few questions about the evolution of dogs.

What Is the Origin of Man’s Best Friend?

Based on various discovered fossils, most researchers believe that the evolution of dogs began as puppies diverged from the gray wolf’s genetic makeup. Over the process of several thousand years, one species of wolf grew more splotchy coats, curly tails, and floppy ears to become a generic, wild version of the pooches we recognize today. Because of their less threatening demeanor and attitude, we instinctively started domesticating them – or, in a way, they started domesticating themselves. Instead of competing against humans for similar prey, the kindest, softest, and cutest wolfdogs survived by roaming alongside us. In a transformation that has been described as the “survival of the friendliest,” humans unwittingly began caring for and feeding them. By around 8,000 B.C.E., it became common for canines to travel among packs of hunter-gatherers and nomadic tribes.

Pet Butler - Evolution 

When Did Dogs Start Becoming Pets?

The next big step in the dog evolution was taken far closer to the present. In the early 1800s, once civilization progressed beyond the industrial revolution, high society in Victorian Britain introduced household pets to the mainstream. While dogs had been enjoyed by royalty in the past, pets had never been so available to the masses. Normalizing ownership of puppies had a large impact around the globe, but this practice was most strongly felt in Europe, where it immediately evolved into a competition. A prize-winning mutt symbolized both wealth and power, so pride-driven aristocrats created breeding techniques to standardize dog attributes. Yes, humans are the ones responsible for the modern breeds we see today. Some features for molding dogs was based on color, size, and physical conditions.

Why Where Specific Dog Breeds Made?

Dogs were bred for certain activities inducing:

  • High-class owners preferred fashionable and luxurious breeds.
  • Lower class opted for cheaper dogs like bulldogs, whippets, and terriers.
  • Fighting dogs were bred for hunting or for being “Gun dogs”.
  • Sprinter dogs were created for hunting, herding, and racing.

This idealistic standardization was taken so seriously that countries would even argue over a breed’s origin/evolution – claiming the Newfoundlands, Great Danes, and basset hounds, among its various other dogs, was a source of national pride for Great Britain. However, they didn’t exist there naturally – that’s just where their breeds were created. At the end of the day, over the last couple of centuries, 23 clades have been developed into over 400 breeds of dog.

Pet Butler Dog Breeds

What Are Some Fun Facts About Dog Evolution & Development?

  • Since joining human tribes’ dogs have lost some of their more primitive tendencies. Unlike wolves, dogs fare far worse in the pack lifestyle, as opposed to before in nature. To these ends, they usually look for their owner’s assistance to guide the way.
  • George Augustus Graham brought the legendary Irish wolfhound, a formally extinct dog breed, back to life in the 1800s. By crossing the Scottish deerhound with the greyhound, he made the Irish wolfhound as we know it today.
  • Our interspecies connection has grown so strong that, when our gaze meets eye to eye, both humans and dogs’ brains secrete oxytocin – a hormone indicating maternal bonding and trust. This is the only interspecies example of this kind of bonding that we know of!

Veterinary Visits During These Unprecedented Times

Pet Health

Puppy going to the vet

This year has been profound for many reasons, although one stands out among the rest; the Coronavirus pandemic, which exploded in early spring, has led to the end of modern-day economic stability. While responsibilities can sometimes be difficult to recognize, especially right now, it’s important to do what we can for ourselves and each other on a day to day basis. For practicing veterinarians and their clientele, it means there will be many changes in a place like:

  • In face-to-face interactions
  • Sanitation requirements
  • Hospital procedures
  • New appointment guidelines
  • Overall safety measures

It is imperative to acknowledge why the following new protocols are so essential for you, your pet and your veterinarian. There are so many people involved in the healthcare system, and we all need to be careful with correct social distancing, protective gear, and sanitization to protect them.

When is the right time to take your pet to the vet?

The first step in making good decisions as a thoughtful pet owner is realizing whether a hospital visit is worthwhile. Below are a few things to think about when thinking about scheduling an appointment:

  • If your animal isn’t facing pressing health issues, try not to demand an appointment. Many times, a simple call with your veterinarian can be enough to treat your pet for basic complications.
  • Avoiding the hassle of an increasingly troublesome hospital visit is often safer and easier than the opposite.
  • Monthly checkups and other non-vital procedures should be pushed to a later date, if possible. The more time we spend away from clogged waiting rooms and avoidable physical contact, the better.

Hospitals are or should be operating under strict sanitation rules. They may utilize different barrier systems or even a non-entry pickup process – where a technician comes out to the parking lot to retrieve your pet. Oftentimes, veterinary offices will request online forms and observed senior hour timeslots, too. Whatever specifications they call for, follow suit as best as possible and make sure you know what to expect. As long as you call ahead or make some efforts to comply, you’ll usually be okay.

Dog getting a check up in these unprecedented times.

 

How to Maintain your pet’s schedule to prevent health risks?

Lastly, keep your pet’s health at the lowest risk possible. Maintain as much of their regular schedule as you can and minimize fluctuations in established habits. Keep them on the same diet and sleep schedule, keep up a good level of play and attention, and keep loving them the way you have for the past couple of months. If work starts back up again, make sure to give them extra focus on the weekends to make up for lost time – they’re probably used to spending most of the day around you, so they’ll miss you all that much more now. Also, because it’s summer, read up on heatstroke, hot pavement, and other dangerous weather-related ailments. Stay more alert than ever regarding your pet’s health – stay out of the clinic.

Find a Pet Butler 800-Pet-Butler