• Remove all the dead winter undercoat from your pet(s); this will allow air to reach the skin keeping them cooler and the skin healthier.
• Have your pet’s hair cut shorter for the summer months.
• Consider an "Air Conditioning" cut, in which all the hair on the belly is shaved off. When your pet(s) lie on the AC vent or linoleum floor it will help keep them a little cooler.
• Keep plenty of fresh water available.
• Be sure outside dogs have access to a shaded area.
• Never leave your pet inside a car, even with the windows rolled down.
• Feed your outdoor pets in the morning when it is cooler.

• The first step in checking whether your dog or cat has fleas: part its hair around the base of the tail, and below the ears and belly, look for tiny black specks attached to the hair & skin. Rub some of the black specks onto a wet paper towel. If it turns a reddish color, your dog has fleas.  The specks are digested blood excreted by the fleas.
• Matted hair can conceal or worsen hot spots or other skin problems.  This is especially important with longer haired dogs or cats, or dogs with thick coats.
• Without regular flea control your dog or cat  is at risk of developing flea allergies, anemia and tapeworms.  Although rare, humans can acquire a tapeworm infection from fleas.
• Make clipping your dog or cat's toenails a routine, which reduces the likelihood of a nail growing into the foot pad or into the leg tissue at the dew claw area.  A sharp claw can cause damage to you or your possessions. Long nails cause great discomfort to your companion. He can no longer lay his foot flat without the nails curling to the sides, which will often cause them to split at the base of the toe and can become infected.

The photo on the left is the ear of a standard poodle that came into our shop.  This poodle had been groomed at another grooming shop just 3 weeks prior.  The hair in the ear canal had not been removed; this should be a standard practice whenever your dog is groomed.  When the ear is left full of hair it increases the chance for ear infections.  When the ear is carefully cleaned and the hair is removed, the ear canal has better air circulation, and will help keep the ear from staying moist. The photo on the right is the same ear after cleaning and removing the hair.  It is important to have this done on a regular bases.  We recommend having your pet groomed at least once a month, in doing this the ear hair is kept at a minimum, avoiding a moist, damp ear, and the hair removal process is less painful on your pet.

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