From the Artful Groomer

Greetings! As your dogs groomer, I encourage ou to contact me anytime, should any issue arise regarding the grooming or care of your dog. It doesn't have to wait until the next grooming appointment!

New! Nail Grinding Service

A nail grinder works well to smooth the sharp edges of a freshly clipped nail; touch up nails that aren't long enough for a regular clip (but need touch up), or use on long nails that you want to get as short as possible without cutting the quick and making a dog uncomfortable.

I tested the Pedipaws for this, and found that it works pretty well. Some dogs don't like their paws handled, and for those dogs, clipping may still be the better way to go because it is quicker. If your dog is OK with nail clipping, the benefits to you are smoother, shorter nails. The benefits to your dog are comfortable and healthy feet.

Of course, grinding nails takes more time than clipping them, so this service is available as a grooming option for an additional $2.

February Feature: How do I keep my dogs Eyes Clear?

When I discover that I can't remove the discoloration from what is otherwise a beautiful pair of eyes, I feel badly for for the dog and owner. I do my best to get out tear stains. I trim the surrounding hair that is stained and use my eye cleaner solution, but sometimes that just isn't enough.

Why do our dog's eyes stain like this? Well, it's a condition called epiphora, and is caused when hair gets wet from excess tearing and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast. The staining may also emit a moderate to noticeably strong odor. This can be traced to health and diet, as well as genetics. But there is something you can do about it.

Have your pet checked at least twice a year by your veterinarian for common yeast or bacterial infections of the eye (especially Red Yeast) and for clogged tear ducts.

Know what is in the food that you give your dog, and if possible, eliminate foods with artificial additives, preservatives and coloring. Cereals with processed wheat, corn and soy can cause allergies in dogs, and these allergies can also cause tear stains. If your dog has been licking his/her paws, that's another sign that he/she is experiencing some form of an allergy. Water minerals can also add to tear staining, and Florida water is very hard, so use bottled or filtered water in a stainless steel bowl whever possible.

Keep your dog's eyes clean. Hair in the eyes can cause infections and irritation. Eyelashes can grow at abnormal angles and rub on the eye. Any foreign matter in the eye is likely to lead to tear stains. And of course, bath your dog in between grooming's. Be sure to keep the shampoo out of their eyes to avoid irritation.

If you are doing all of the above, you should see results. There are also products on the market that can be purchased to help maintain your efforts. The product that is the most popular (and used by many of my clients) is Angel Eyes. I am currently looking into carrying this for resale in my shop, and will offer it at the same price (or less) than is offered online or elsewhere.

All Artful Canine collars are worn, washed and are personally put to the test by Max & Tilde. East assured that you are getting a quality product for your dog when you buy one of our collars.

There's nothing more beautiful than an Artfully Dressed Canine!

win an artful canine collar & leash set!

As many of you know, I also make and sell dog collars and leashes. Your opinion means a lot to me, and to demonstrate this, I am raffling off a free collar and leash set to one lucky winner.

To enter the raffle:

1) Browse my Collars and Leashes section,

2) Email me with the name of the collar you like best, along with the top 3 features you look for when selecting a collar or leash for your dog.

All entrants will be entered in a raffle of which one name will be randomly drawn as the winner. Incomplete submissions will not be accepted. Deadline for this raffle is February 28th, 2009 at 11:59 PM. The winner will be announced in the March Newsletter. Raffle is open to all email subscribers, so feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends and encourage them to sign up for this newsletter!

Keeping your dog healthy in a tough economy

We all know how hard it is keep our dogs healthy when the going gets tough. Here are some ways you can save money without sacrificing your dogs well-being:

Get your dogs annual shots at a "Luv my Pet" vaccination clinic instead of going to your vet. These are done by licensed veterinarians, usually at your local Petco. You'll save on the office visit charge, and often on the vaccinations too.

Switch from soft, canned dog food products to a healthy dry kibble (e.g., Science Diet, Iams, etc.) and mix in a little carrots, brown rice and ground turkey and/or chicken. Although a little more work, the cost should be less, and the bonus is that your dog will be getting a higher quality diet.

Walk your dog! Keeping your dog healthy through regular exercise minimizes your visits to the vet due to problems associated with obesity and the heart - both which can be keep healthy through everyday walking. And of course, the benefits to your personal health will help save you money too!

Got a money-saving tip you want to share? Email it to: The Artful Canine Times