Posts Tagged ‘coat care’

How having a dog can actually protect you from sneezing fits!

Friday, July 6th, 2012
dog allergies

Dog bless you!

We already know that pets calm and soothe us, reducing stress levels, lowering our blood pressure, and also keeping us in good shape (as long as we don’t keep couch-potatoes). As if passionate pet owners need additional convincing that dogs are good for our health, new research has found even more evidence that dogs contribute to better physical health, in the form of protection from asthma and other kinds of respiratory viruses.

Researchers from UC San Francisco and the University of Michigan have found that dust from houses where dogs are present may actually provide protection from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a respiratory virus that is associated with a higher risk of developing childhood asthma. There has already been some research to show that children who grow up with house pets show increased protection from developing asthma, and this is the latest lab research to provide even stronger evidence to support this claim.

To test whether dogs in fact do provide added protection against developing asthma, the researchers conducted a study using three groups of mice (the scientific lab stand-ins for children, I suppose). They exposed one group of mice to house dust collected from homes that also had one or more dogs as a pet, and then exposed this group of mice to RSV. Another group of mice was not exposed to house dust but was also exposed to the virus. A final group of mice was exposed neither to the house dust or the RSV.

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Top 5 cool earthbath refreshers for hot dogs

Friday, June 22nd, 2012

Dog on Ice? — There’s more than one way to cool off a hot dog!

If your dog is looking a little “hangdog” from the heat, we’ve got some solutions for you… that don’t involve putting him on ice! Keep your favorite Fido fresh in the blistering summer weather with our top five choices for the summer months, designed to tame itchies, soothe hot spots, moisturize, deodorize, clean, and refresh!

1) Tea Tree and Aloe Shampoo: The soothing combination of tea tree oil and aloe is a recipe for “ahhhh” — Tea Tree Oil has long been recognized as an effective and beneficial ointment for skin irritations, insect bites and itching while aloe vera is widely known as one of nature’s finest soothing emollients, from American desert plants. These pure, natural ingredients soothe and relieve hot spots and itchy, dried or chafed skin caused by flea bites, dandruff or other dermatitis. And as one of our earthbath fans says, “The Tea Tree & Aloe is our fave during the summer! Works great on those ‘hot spots!’” We agree!

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Keep clean! Answers to 5 common questions about pet skin and coat care

Friday, June 8th, 2012
dog bathing grooming

earthbath lives for cute and clean dogs, but these suds aren't good for your dog... read on to find out why!

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to hear that we’re frequently asked for tips on how to bathe our four-legged friends and which products are best for which ailments. Fortunately, we have a lot of answers!

Here are our answers to five questions we’re commonly asked about pet hygiene:

How often should I bathe my dog?
The ASPCA gives a blanket recommendation that dogs need a good bath at least once every three months. However, as with most things, one size does NOT fit all… we’re more inclined to say: “It depends!” As in, it depends on what breed of dog you have, if your dog has any specific skin sensitivities and allergies, your dog’s coat type, what season it is, your dog’s activity level (which may vary based on climate, season, breed, and your lifestyle…), how dirty your dog is (duh!) and of course, the kind of shampoo you use! You can be confident in bathing your dog much more frequently if you know the shampoo contains only the most gentle and pure ingredients, and has nothing in it that will irritate your dog’s skin… i.e. earthbath shampoos! For even more detail on this topic, see our blog post: “How often should I bathe my dog?”

Can’t I just use baby shampoo or some other kind of “gentle” human shampoo on my dog?
You could… but your dog won’t be happy about it, and you’ll end up regretting it! Here’s the thing: A dog’s skin has a pH that is almost as neutral as the pH of pure water. Human skin is much more acidic than a dog’s skin, so the kinds of “pH balanced” shampoos for human hair, while balanced for our more acidic skin, are very irritating to a dog’s coat and skin. In addition, the soap ingredients in human shampoos, responsible for those fluffy, bubbly suds, are also responsible for a triple skin whammy of drying, irritating, and stripping.  Over time, the soap and acidic pH of human shampoos will strip away the hair’s protective qualities, removing valuable oil from the coat and skin, resulting in dry, irritated skin and a dull coat. Bottom line is: Never use human shampoo on your dog. For more on what makes a quality dog shampoo, check out our article that addresses this issue in detail.

My dog has dry, flaky skin. What is the best remedy?
All natural oatmeal and aloe is recommended by veterinarians to effectively soothe skin irritation, promote healing, and re-moisturize sensitive, dry skin. So earthbath came to the rescue by specially formulating our top selling Oatmeal & Aloe itch relief shampoo to address the needs of our four legged friends with dry, flaky skin. For even more itchiness, try our Tea Tree & Aloe shampoo: Tea Tree Oil has long been recognized as an effective and beneficial ointment for skin irritations, insect bites and itching and aloe vera is widely known as one of nature’s finest soothing emollients. Together, these pure, natural ingredients soothe and relieve hot spots and itchy, dried or chafed skin caused by flea bites, dandruff or other dermatitis.

How can I brighten my dog’s white coat?
A beautiful gleaming white dog is a stunning sight to behold – but unfortunately, these white coats can go from snowy white to “yellow snow” very quickly. To prevent this, or to bring back your dog’s snow-white coat, use earthbath’s Light Color Coat Brightener shampoo, containing a special selection of natural minerals (known as optical brighteners) blended with the essence of lavender to naturally brighten your dog’s white coat! In fact, this wonderfully aromatic and mild shampoo naturally brightens the coats of any dog or cat and will leave your best friend’s coat shiny, soft, plush, and smelling naturally fresh. You might be surprised to hear that some of our most devoted light coat shampoo fans are actually black dogs and multi-colored dogs! As with all of our shampoos, it’s soap-free, and won’t wash off topical flea applications.

How can I help my dog ward off fleas, mosquitoes and ticks?
Great question, no matter where you live! As we head into the summer season, it’s smart to protect your pet from these pests. Bathing your dogs and cats regularly with a good, natural shampoo is your best first line of defense against fleas and ticks. earthbath’s Orange Peel Oil Shampoo is great for flea prevention due to its concentrated citrus oil, and it also calms & relieves the itching that comes from insect bites, including mosquito bites and flea bites. In addition to thoroughly cleaning your pet, the concentrated citrus oil in this shampoo will bring out the coat’s natural highlights and generate a brilliant sheen. Orange Peel Oil is the natural oil rendered from oranges, and is very effective at killing fleas. More questions? See these comprehensive blog posts on everything you want to know about fleas, ticks, and check out our guide to natural remedies for flea prevention and flea control!casino aussie

Spring Shedding = ‘Tis Grooming Season!

Monday, March 5th, 2012
grooming shedding blowing coat

The end result of blowing out that winter coat!

Are you noticing a lot more pet hair clinging to your clothes or tufting around the corners of your rooms? Don’t worry: you’re not alone! This just means spring is here!  And hand in hand with the rising temperatures comes the shedding of those winter coats.

It may surprise you to learn that short-haired dogs like labradors and pugs actually shed the most often and most continuously! And dogs with double coats, like a Siberian husky or Alaskan malamute usually shed once a year in the springtime (and sometimes also in the autumn) by “blowing” their coat with nature’s anticipation of the changing temperatures, which means that their fur will come out in huge chunks.

We’ve combed through (pun intended!) our library of grooming tips to help you get a handle on the flying fur this season. Read on to find out how:

1) Regular grooming: Our first tip is really a tip for the whole year: If you brush your dog regularly (which can mean anything from twice a week to every day, depending on the kind of coat your dog has and how much s/he sheds) you’ll notice much less shedding, and will also see the added benefit of a shinier coat and less matting. Brushing spreads the natural oils throughout the coat, removes dead hair that can cause mats, and makes the coat silky.

There is a huge variety of brush types available, each with special characteristics and attributes that may be more appropriate for one breed and coat-type over another. It’s up to you and perhaps some trial-and-error or the advice of your groomer or vet to find the best brush for your dog’s coat, but finding one (or a few) that you love will definitely making the grooming process more fun.

2) Bathe your dog with earthbath! You can really get a lot of dead hair out of the coat with a bath, but if you’re using harsh shampoos that contain soap, sulfates and petroleum-based parabens, you’ll run the risk of drying the coat and skin. That NEVER happens with earthbath! And the reason is that all of earthbath products contain renewable gentle coconut-based cleansers, and never contain parabens, stripping phosphates, harsh pthalates, DEA, or the synthetic dyes or perfumes that can cause irritation. Our shine-enhancing crème rinse and conditioner contains colloidal oatmeal which helps to remoisturize and soothe skin, while bringing out the coat’s natural luster and brilliance. This also won’t wash away topical flea control applications. Shampooing approximately every 6-8 weeks is a good schedule for most dogs. In addition, conditioning is critical in order to detangle and moisturize.

To ensure that your pup isn’t getting too many water-based baths, earthbath also offers waterless grooming foams that ensure easy and irritation-free grooming. Gentle sucrose-based cleansers whisk away dander, dirt, dead hair, and residual saliva, helping control shedding between baths.

3) Consider a trip to a professional groomers. Even if you typically groom your dogs yourselves, if your dog is blowing coat, or for once or twice a year “touch-ups”, a trip to the groomers could be just what you need! The professional bathing which also includes a shampoo massage and conditioning followed by drying equipment loosens a lot of hair, which then gets left behind – on the grooming table – not on your furniture (or in your bathtub)!

4) Now is the time to start a prevention program to protect your pet against fleas and ticks! Consult with your vet on finding the best product for your pet.

All of us pet owners are familiar with the sacrifices that come with the privilege of allowing a dog or cat (or a few) to share our lives. And I think we’d all agree: liberal use of the lint roller and vacuum are a small price to pay for the unconditional love and daily rewards our animal companions offer us.casino aussie

Does waterless grooming really work?

Monday, February 27th, 2012
earthbath waterless grooming foam

Layla, an earthbath fan, says: "Don't even think about taking my earthbath away!"

The short answer is… YES! And especially for those times in-between baths where it’s not so convenient to give a full bath. And how do our waterless grooming foams work?

earthbath Totally Natural Grooming Foams contain all natural ingredients that are paraben-free, phosphate free, biodegradable and pH-balanced for sensitive skin. They contain gentle cleansers that whisk away dander and dirt, without the need for water, simply leaving the coat with a plush, show-quality shine. Just rub in, and towel off! Good stuff like shea butter, colloidal oatmeal, meadow foam seed oil and aloe vera condition and nourish both coats and skin. Another extra benefit is that the waterless nature of our grooming foams means that the natural oils in the skin are retained, making this a great product for dogs with sensitive skin!

Our awesome  fans agree:

“The Waterless Grooming Foam is great as it is: safe enough to just rub on their coat and then towel it dry. His coat was soft, smelled great and he looked good too! I think he even liked it! There are no ingredients in it to bother his skin and his itching was greatly reduced. YAY!”

“I keep earthbath grooming wipes, as well as the Waterless Grooming Foam, on hand for those 4am mornings when I’m too tired to full out bathe a smelly dog who just had an accident!”

“My puppy is a lab, and labs are known for their oil in their fur, which is to keep off dirt. so they dont necessarily need many baths because this washes away their natural oils. Thats where foam comes in :)! don’t always need to bathe him when he’s stinky!”

“Our greyhound girls and Bart the Great Dane LOVE it!!! Of course they have very short hair, they have not had an actual real bath with water and shampoo since last summer, they honestly stay that clean. Of course they are totally house dogs. I love the ear wipes too, Bart especially loves to have his giant upright ears wiped, he feels so good after his treatments. I was a professional groomer/vet tech/dog show breeder exhibitor, etc. for years before retiring so this is coming from experience with lots of products, no bs:))”

“I gave my dog Shelly waterless bath with the “Earthbath Grooming Foam” earlier today (see pic*!). I didn’t feel like spending two hours giving her a real bath so I used the grooming foam that I use for my cats. It was easy, breezy, and we didn’t need any water. I love the fresh green tea smell, too.”casino aussie