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Sticky, Prickly, Icky Grooming Solutions In A Pinch

So much to get into and so little time. Dogs get themselves into some of the stickiest predicaments. Your pooch can get into anything, anywhere, stickers, burrs, foxtails, goatheads, tar, just to mention a few.

The secret to dealing with these small disasters is to tell yourself not to panic and abruptly take out the scissors to cut out the problem, this can make things much, much worse. We do not want sutures involved here. Remain calm, take a deep breath, evaluate the situation and plan your approach appropriately. In the event the mess your pooch has gotten himself into is just too massive, you may need to call a qualified groomer.

Here are just a few household products in which a lot of people commonly keep around the house which in turn can assist with a few of these sticky, prickly, icky situations at a moments notice:


Cornstarch
Baking soda
Paper towels
Detangler solution
Electric clippers
Medium and fine-toothed comb
Rubber gloves
Vegetable oil

Tweezers or forceps
Mat rake and splitter
Grease-cutting dish washing liquid
Hydrogen peroxide

Burrs and stickers have a tendency to collect in a pet's hair faster than anything else. They originate from plant life which produce seeds that tend to latch on to an animals fur. Winds can carry these seeds and they may very easily land right on your dogs fur when he is playing outside. However the most apparent way of preventing burrs and stickers is to keep your pooch out of the dense brush where they are able to do the most damage and may get caught in paw pads, easier said then done. Unfortunately, feathery, dense, furry areas on your pooch are at risk of ticks, therefore it just makes sense to try and keep your furry little companion out of the thicket patches as best as you can. Should your pet come home with stickers or burrs in his fur or in the paw pads, get them out without delay. Working on them section by section is the most effective way to slowly but surely get them out.

Examine your dog thoroughly, if you are feeling anything prickly in his paw pad, try using tweezers or forceps to remove it. However , if not removed right away, stickers or burrs can become quite painful and sore, because they can burrow deeper within the paw pad, that might mean a veterinarian would have to be the one to remove them

.

Examine your pets legs for burrs or stickers. In the event you come across one, attempt separating it from the fur with a medium-or fine-toothed comb, sometimes using your fingers to rub a small amount of cornstarch through the fur, helps to smooth out the prickles and loosens the hair. You will be able to gently work each burr and or sticker out gradually with your fingers. This specific technique works effectively for your pets very sensitive regions as well, such as the chest and belly area. Do the same with your pets back and tail.

Check your dogs ears inside and out, burrs love to hide in the fluff behind the ears and inside the ears. Use your fingers to gently eradicate burrs or stickers from these delicate areas however it is best not to use any cornstarch whatsoever inside the ears simply because you could possibly leave residue behind. Please remember not to use cornstarch around there delicate eye areas either. Cornstarch can be a real irritant if it gets in their eyes.

If the burrs or stickers cause significant mats, do not use scissors to cut them out. Attempt to loosen them first with cornstarch and your fingers. In the event that this does not work , next try using electric clippers and gently, very carefully, shave the burrs and stickers from your dog's coat. If you believe there are simply way too many burrs and or stickers and you feel you may cut your dogs skin, please, please let a trained professional groomer take care of them.

After all the burrs and stickers are completely out, it is best to bath your pet avoiding threat of external parasites running around from all that brush your dog got himself in to. One important thing to bear in mind is that if you do not get every one of the burrs and stickers out just before bathing you dog, giving him a bath will generate large mats that will end up being even more difficult to get out.

By: Becky Long

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