Beverly Hills MI – Dog Groomer – Canine Couture Pet Grooming
The grooming specialists at Canine Couture Pet Grooming have been hard at work continuing to strive for excellence. Not only have we become certified in styling but now we are a certified AKC SAFETY certified.
When you leave your pet with us, we want you to know that the beloved dog or cat will be returned in healthy shape.
It’s easy to think of professional pet grooming as a luxury, but all dogs and cats require some level of regular grooming in order to stay in good health. No matter where you and your pet fall on the grooming spectrum, The Pet Experts here at Canine Couture Grooming can meet your needs with everything from basic maintenance grooming to luxurious pet spa experiences.
Our grooming services include baths, nail trims, anal gland expression, stain removal, medicated shampoos and conditioners, and more. Our special cleansing baths contain soothing agents designed to gently remove dirt and debris while leaving your pet feeling refreshed and their coat silky smooth. We also offer medicated baths for pets who suffer from allergies and other dermatological issues.
If you would like to schedule your pet’s grooming appointment along with their wellness exam, simply let our team know, and we will work around your veterinarian’s schedule.
A luxurious bath for your dog or cat can boast many health benefits. At Canine Couture Pet Grooming, we provide individualized bathing services designed to meet your pet’s every unique need, such as:
In our experience, the best way to address bath anxiety in a pet is to replace negative experiences with positive ones. If your pet is reluctant to get in the tub, our dedicated staff will be happy to talk with you about how we can accommodate his or her needs.
Remember: Good hygiene is just as important to your pet’s health as it is to yours! If you have any questions about the pet grooming services available at Canine Couture Grooming, please contact us.
Tips on Keeping your dogs teeth clean
When it comes to keeping our dogs healthy, many owners overlook the importance of oral hygiene. According to the American Veterinary Dental College, it’s estimated that the majority of dogs show signs of periodontal disease by just three years old. Since the primary sign of early dental disease is bad breath, it often goes unnoticed by owners because they simply think that bad breath is something dogs just happen to have. Sure, it’s not minty fresh, but your dog’s breath also shouldn’t be bad enough to make you gag.
Periodontal disease can cause some serious health issues for our canine companions, so it’s essential to maintain adequate oral hygiene. Untreated dental disease can cause tooth loss, and it can lead to painful abscesses and systemic infections throughout your dog’s entire body. This is always bad news, especially when it comes with an increased risk of permanent jaw damage and heart disease. Both of these things have been linked to long-term periodontal disease in our dogs. So how can we keep our dogs’ teeth clean? Here are some tips.
Brushing your dog’s teeth might sound silly, but it’s an excellent way to prevent plaque buildup. You don’t need to brush your dog’s teeth daily, although the more often the better. Most dogs aren’t too fond of the idea at first, but you can easily train your dog to have his teeth brushed the same way you would to have his nails trimmed. There are several options you can take when brushing teeth. First, you’ll want to get toothpaste that is made specifically for dogs. This is because toothpaste for humans contains ingredients that are toxic to our pets. Plus, dog toothpaste usually comes in a delicious chicken or peanut butter flavor. Second, you can use either a canine toothbrush or a brush that fits over your fingertip. Ask your veterinarian about what’s best, and see what you and your dog prefer.
For those that are unable to brush teeth or simply want to switch up their cleaning techniques, tooth wipes are a great solution. Tooth wipes are made to be rubbed against your dog’s teeth to help remove plaque. They work similarly to toothbrushes, but are not able to get into the tiny nooks and crannies that a brush does. Still, they are a great way to clean your pet’s teeth and are often easier to manage than a toothbrush with toothpaste.
Dogs love treats, and dental treats are a very good way to improve your pup’s dental health. These treats are made specifically to remove plaque buildup and often contain ingredients that freshen breath and clean your dog’s mouth. They are generally much more appreciated by our dogs than a toothbrush or tooth wipes, and they do a great job of keeping our dog’s mouth clean. These treats come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and flavors, and you are sure to find something your dog loves.
There are hundreds of different types of chews, but almost all of them have teeth-cleaning properties. The act of chewing actually benefits your dog’s oral health, in and of itself, regardless of what is being chewed on. The gnawing scrapes plaque off your dog’s teeth, and many all-natural treats made from meat contain enzymes that help promote dental health. Chews like cow ears, bully sticks, and chicken strips are a great way to keep your dog happy and healthy. If you’re looking for something without any calories, there are many long-lasting rubber or nylon chews that do the job, as well.
Perhaps the best way to ensure your dog’s oral health is to have him undergo a professional cleaning by a veterinarian. Your veterinarian knows what’s best for your dog’s teeth and will be able to address any issues she finds. Although much more expensive than the other tips we’ve mentioned, a professional dental cleaning is the best way to maintain your dog’s dental hygiene. Your veterinarian is experienced in preventing, locating, and treating any issues that might go unnoticed by even the most dedicated dog owner. If there is one option you choose to promote your dog’s dental health, we suggest visiting your veterinarian for a professional exam.
One Step At A Time – How To Trim Your Pet’s Nails
Your pet may not delight in nail trimming, but he or she unknowingly benefits from timely toenail trims. From torn nails to easing the aches of arthritis, trimming nails goes way beyond aesthetics, or even the acoustic assault of your pet’s nails on your tile floor.
You may resist keeping your pet’s nails trimmed due to your pet’s resistance, or maybe you doubt your own capabilities to give it a go at home. Let’s uncover the health advantages that this basic grooming need provides your pet, and offer some helpful tips for ensuring successful nail trims for your pet.
While your pet’s daily routine does keep his or her nails worn down a little, it’s unlikely that there is enough daily wear and tear to keep potential health problems at bay.
Untrimmed nails eventually curl beneath your pet’s foot and painfully dig into the paw pads, leading to a potential infection. Long nails can also lead to gait problems or difficulty walking as weight is shifted to the back part of the paw. Over time, this strain may stress his or her muscles and joints, possibly even causing or exacerbating arthritis.
Routine nail trims can work to eliminate these problems, effectively reducing the risk of injury or infection.
Toe The Line
Most of a pet owner’s nail trimming trepidation usually stems from not wanting to clip the quick, which is the nail’s blood and nerve supply. When cut into, the quick bleeds a great deal and (quite understandably) causes unnecessary suffering. We can show you how to effectively trim your pet’s nails without harming the quick, which would make any pet disinclined to future trimmings.
Depending on your pet’s physical activity, the average length between trimmings is one month. More active pets require less frequent trimming while pets that do not walk on rough surfaces a whole lot may need weekly attention. If you have trouble getting all of your pet’s nails clipped in one session, don’t fear. Space out the clippings between boisterous ‘atta boys, nutritious treats, and affection to keep your pet coming back for more.
Tricks of the Trade
To get the job done, you will need the right tool and a little insight into certain trimming techniques. With practice, not only will you gain confidence in your ability to not injure your beloved pet, but your pet’s trust in you will grow, too; making trimming almost enjoyable for everyone involved.
Top-Notch Grooming
If you want to give your pet a special treat (beyond the sheer pleasure of your companionship), schedule a grooming session for him or her with our grooming experts. You can add your pet’s nail trims to a soothing bath, ear cleaning, and styling, too.
Dog Grooming… In the quest to save dollars, pet parents may opt to groom their pets themselves rather than take Fido in to be professionally groomed… After all, Fido’s a lab and aren’t grooming services for fluffy dogs and pampered schnauzers?
Actually, this erroneous belief can negatively impact your dog’s overall health. The truth is; all dogs need to be groomed, and not just for aesthetic reasons. Dog grooming keeps the hair free of mats and tangles; detects fleas and other parasites that attack the skin; promotes skin, nail, and coat health; and offers a chance for your pet’s overall skin and coat condition to be assessed.
And, there’s more to dog grooming than trimming lengthy fur or bathing your pet! Grooming includes many services that the average pet parent isn’t fond of doing (Did someone mention cleaning anal glands? Eew.).
Most professional groomers and veterinarians will recommend that your dog be groomed once every 6-8 weeks. Nails may need to be trimmed more often, on average every 4 weeks (depending on how much wear and tear – i.e.: exercise – he or she gets). Pets benefit from the attention to subtle health problems most pet guardians don’t often notice, such as issues affecting the ears and eyes. In fact, sometimes it’s your groomer who is the first to discover lumps, infections, and parasites.
At Canine Couture grooming, our grooming services include:
Canine Couture Grooming also has the advantage of being directly linked to our veterinary team, so your pet’s overall dermatological health can be communicated directly to the vet. And, we will have a familiarity with any behavioral or physical challenges your pet may be facing or may notice changes since their last visit.
After your pet’s groomer has tackled the bigger, more challenging grooming tasks, does this mean you can kick back and relax for another month?
Not really…
Your pet still also needs your help in maintaining his or her shiny coat and health teeth, so enjoy quality time with your pet during daily combing and tooth brushing. The side benefit is that it is a a great way to keep your pet looking fabulous.
Here are important tips to keep in mind as you attend to your pet’s daily care.
We hope you now feel less trepidation about those daily dog grooming chores and have a sense of confidence when bringing your pet in for grooming. Daily grooming, as well as monthly or periodic professional grooming, keeps your pet looking and feeling healthy (and they love the attention!).
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment at our Canine Couture Grooming, please give us a call.
Grooming with the professionals at Canine Couture Pet Grooming of Beverly Hills, MI
Pet grooming is a profession that takes skill and training. As you start to investigate the grooming profesionals of your area you need to look for someone with the following skill set:
Canine Couture Pet grooming of Beverly Hills, MI are members of the NDGAA.
“About the NDGAA For over 45+ years the association has worked with groomers throughout the world promoting and encouraging professionalism and education in order to upgrade the image of the pet grooming profession. Our goal is to unite groomers through membership, to promote communication with colleagues, to set recognized grooming standards and to offer those seeking a higher level of professional recognition the opportunity to have their grooming skills certified. “
This organization helps us to maintain our occupational integrity and focus. We strive for a full service 5 star grooming facility and being a member of a great organization is one way we do this.
Dog Grooming TIps
Have you ever watched your dog roll on the ground, lick her coat or chew at her fur? These are her ways of keeping clean. Sometimes, though, she’ll need a little help from you to look and smell her best. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. Read on for ways to keep your dog’s fur, skin, nails, teeth, ears and paws healthy and clean.
The ASPCA recommends bathing your dog at least once every three months, but some may require more frequent baths if he or she spends a lot of time outdoors or has skin problems. Here are some steps to help you get started.
Regular grooming with a brush or comb will help keep your pet’s hair in good condition by removing dirt, spreading natural oils throughout her coat, preventing tangles and keeping her skin clean and irritant-free. Plus, grooming time is a great time to check for fleas and flea dirt—those little black specks that indicate your pet is playing host to a flea family.
Although shedding old or damaged hair is a normal process for dogs, the amount and frequency of hair shed often depends upon their health, breed type and season. Many dogs develop thick coats in the winter that are then shed in the spring. Dogs who are always kept indoors, however, are prone to smaller fluctuations in coat thickness and tend to shed fairly evenly all year.
Your dog’s skin is an indication of her overall health, so it’s important to keep it in prime shape. When a skin problem occurs, your dog may respond with excessive scratching, chewing and/or licking. A wide range of causes—including external parasites, infections, allergies, metabolic problems and stress, or a combination of these—may be to blame.
Regularly brushing your dog’s teeth, along with a healthy diet and plenty of chew toys, can go a long way toward keeping her mouth healthy. Bacteria and plaque-forming foods can cause build-up on a dog’s teeth. This can harden into tartar, potentially causing gingivitis, receding gums and tooth loss. Many pooches show signs of gum disease by the time they’re four years old because they aren’t provided with proper mouth care.
Giving your pup regular home eye exams will help keep you alert to any tearing, cloudiness or inflammation that may indicate a health problem. First, face your dog in a brightly lit area and look into his eyes. They should be clear and bright, and the area around the eyeball should be white. The pupils should be equal in size and there shouldn’t be tearing, discharge or any crust in the corners of his eyes. With your thumb, gently roll down your dog’s lower eyelid and look at the lining. It should be pink, not red or white.
Your dog’s regular grooming routine should include regular ear checks. This is especially important for dogs who produce excessive earwax or have a lot of inner-ear hair. Don’t clean your dog’s ears so frequently or deeply as to cause irritation, and take care to never insert anything into your dog’s ear canal—probing inside can cause trauma or infection!
As a rule of thumb, a dog’s nails should be trimmed when they just about touch the ground when he or she walks. If your pet’s nails are clicking or getting snagged on the floor, it’s time for a trim. For leisurely living dogs, this might mean weekly pedicures, while urban pooches who stalk rough city sidewalks can go longer between clippings.
The pads on the bottom of your pups feet provide extra cushioning to help protect bones and joints from shock, provide insulation against extreme weather, aid walking on rough ground and protect tissue deep within the paw. It’s important to check your pet’s feet regularly to make sure they’re free of wounds, infections or foreign objects that can become lodged.
Your pet doesn’t have a symbiotic relationship with another animal like the nile crocodile and egyptian plover bird, but chances are, he or she has one with you. Your pet needs you for a great deal, and the priority list should include keeping up with routine pet dental care. After all, a healthy mouth can mean a healthier pet.
Let’s explore the ways you can protect your pet from health problems related to poor dental hygiene.
Brushing your pet’s teeth can become an additional bonding experience, but it may take some time and practice getting to that point. Establishing a regular routine will diminish plaque and tartar build-up, which, when left alone, can lead to numerous oral diseases. These come with serious health risks, such as heart, kidney, or liver disease.
To help your pet’s dental health, we suggest following these tips:
If you’re maintaining your pet’s dental care, most dental signs are a result of normal usage that can be handled during your pet’s next dental cleaning. If you’re not brushing your pet’s teeth, then regular dental exams and cleaning become even more important to prevent dental disease or catch problems early.
There are more serious signs of dental disease that should never be ignored, some of which can occur despite regular dental care. Please contact us immediately if you notice any of the following:
As part of your pet’s wellness exam, we closely inspect the state of the mouth, teeth, and gums. Digital X-rays will show us what is going on beneath the gum line, which is generally where most problems fester. If it is necessary, we will schedule a treatment or cleaning under general anesthesia. We test blood levels prior to cleaning to determine if your pet can handle the procedure and monitor him or her closely while under anesthesia.
If you’ve been on the fence about whether or not pet dental care matters, we hope you have the information you need to get started. At home oral care when paired with dental exams and professional cleaning can extend your pet’s life, and keep him or her healthier during the time you have together.
Ettinger: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 7th Edition
Weight Management
Sean J. Delaney
Andrea J. Fascetti
Why does obesity occur?
Overweight and obese pets appear to be an increasing problem. The abundant supply of highly nutritious and high calorie foods and treats, coupled with a less active lifestyle in many cases, inevitably results in the storage of the excess energy as fat. Over thousands of years, dogs and cats have survived, in part, for their ability to efficiently accumulate this body fat in times of plenty in preparation for times of famine. Wen food was scarce animals with the largest fat stores had the greatest likelihood of successfully surviving. Now that these animals are pets, they no longer undergo periods of famine.
Because our pets are not adapted to the concept of constant feast they readily gain more and more fat. In fact, the excess of fat has become so commonplace that abnormally large accumulations of fat have become the accepted norm. Accumulations of fat over the ribs that prevent them from easily being felt and indistinguishable waistlines are often not recognized as cues that a pet is overweight or potentially obese.
Why is obesity a concern?
Overweight pets are at increased risk for developing many diseases such as diabetes mellitus, arthritis, and breathing problems. In dogs it has been shown that they also have a shorter lifespan by up to 2 years. Thus keeping pets lean can greatly improve both quality and quantity of life. Few medical conditions with such severe adverse consequences can be so readily treated effectively. Veterinarians have become increasingly aware of the importance of weight management as a key component of preventative veterinary medicine.
How is obesity determined (Is my pet fat)?
Prevention of obesity starts with close monitoring of every pet’s amount of body fat through the use of a body condition score (BCS). A BCS is simply a number grade that describes the amount of fat that a pet has accumulated. Some systems use a 5-point scale and others use a 9-point scale.
A BCS scale is used in the following manner:
· A BCS of 1 indicates that a dog or cat is too thin
· A BCS of 5 (5-point systems) or 9 (9-point systems) suggests that a pet is obese
· A pet that is a “3” (5-point systems) or a “4” or “5” (9-point systems) has an ideal body weight
· Each point above or below 3 for the 5-point system is 20% to 30% over- or underweight, or 10% to 15% for each point above or below 5 on the 9-point system.
Determining a pet’s body condition score is much more useful than simply using their body weight as a guide to determine whether they are overweight since there can be a large variation in appropriate body weights for different sized pets. For example, it is difficult to know if a 65-pound Labrador retriever or a 1-pound Maine coon cat is overweight, but if they are judged to have a body condition score of 6 out of 9, we know that they are each approximately 10% to 15% overweight.
How is a weight loss plan developed?
Pets that are overweight and at risk of becoming obese or pets that are already obese can benefit from a weight loss plan. Weight loss plans are designed to achieve steady weight loss while keeping the pet as comfortable as possible. It is generally recommended that pets lose no more than 2% of their body weight per week. Rates greater than 2% are associated with feeling (and acting) hungrier, a slowing of the pet’s metabolism (making weight loss even more difficult), and preferential burning of muscle for energy rather than body fat.
Surprisingly, some pets only need 50% of the calories calculated using body weight alone to maintain their weight, whereas others need up to 50% more. Because of the large amount of variation from pet to pet, a veterinarian’s best clue to the amount of calories that a specific pet needs is determining from the owner the pet’s current caloric intake. Getting an accurate and complete list of all foods and treats (a diet history) that the pet is currently fed allows the veterinarian to calculate the amount of calories the pet is receiving and helps to ensure that the weight loss plan does not excessively restrict or provide too many calories. On some occasions a diet history cannot be completed. In those cases, the veterinarian uses the pet’s current weight to create an initial recommendation.
Whichever approach is utilized, the long-term success is completely dependent on following the pet’s response to the recommendation. Even with the most accurate and complete diet history and the best calculations, the initial weight loss plan may not result in weight loss of around 2% of body weight per week and can, at times, even result in weight gain. Therefore veterinarians use regular body weight checks during the weight loss period to adjust the amount of calories fed to maintain a consistent rate of weight loss. It is common for pets just starting a program to need multiple weight checks to achieve the desired rate of loss. This period of adjustment is more common when a pet’s diet history cannot be used for initial recommendations. This is why every attempt to determine a pet’s current caloric intake is made prior to initiating a weight loss plan.
Can the current food be used if attempting weight loss?
Since the amount of calories fed inherently must be reduced to result in weight loss, the volume of food will also need to be accordingly restricted if the pet’s regular diet is to be used. Veterinarians usually do not use a pet’s current food for weight loss, in part to avoid this reduction in volume. Smaller volumes do not distend the stomach as much and can lead to the feeling of hunger. Therefore most veterinarians initially choose to feed a special low-calorie diet designed for weight loss and not the pet’s regular diet. Most of these diets contain fewer calories per cup or can than atypical maintenance diet or even an over-the-counter “light” pet food. Switching the diet allows a similar volume of food to be fed while still reducing the amount of calories that the dog or cat is receiving.
These special weight loss diets have another advantage over a typical diet – almost all have increased amounts of essential amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Pets undergoing weight loss only need fewer calories; they do not need less essential nutrients. Feeding a typical maintenance diet in an amount necessary to cause weight loss places the animal at risk of developing multiple nutrient deficiencies. Pet food manufacturers design their food to contain a specific amount of a nutrient per calorie. If the amount of calories were to be reduced by 30%, then all of the nutrients are reduced by 30% as well. Although a small excess of each nutrient is added for safety, the restriction in calories necessary for weight loss most often exceeds this safety margin, causing a standard diet to become deficient. Therefore diets designed for weight loss are often prescribed to ensure that the pets feel as full as possible, as well as to ensure their nutritional requirements are met.
A few diets designed for weight loss are not lower in calories but rather are lower in carbohydrates and higher in protein and fat to potentially change a pet’s metabolism to utilize more fat. This dietary strategy is untested for clinical efficacy and is usually used only when traditional, low-calorie weight loss diets have failed.
What about treats?
An equally important component of a pet’s diet is treats. Treats provide a pet with feedback that they are important members of the family. Accordingly, veterinarians will often strive to include some treats into a weight loss plan. Although any treat can generally be fed, treats should be limited to no more than 10% of a pet’s daily caloric intake. This decreases the potential of creating a nutrient deficiency since most treats are not complete and balanced foods.
It can be surprising how many calories some treats contain. For example, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter has the same number of calories as 3 cups of air-popped popcorn without butter. Many people with pets are equally surprised to find out that pets will often eat lower-calorie treats equally as well as those containing more calories.
Is exercise important?
An additional way to increase a pet’s sense of being appreciated is to play or walk with them. This also has the added benefit of providing the pet with much needed exercise during weight loss, which assists with the burning of fat and the increasing of muscle mass. The use of laser pointers and feather toys to encourage stalking and predatory behavior in cats can be very useful in increasing activity. For dogs, retrieving thrown objects or taking them on progressively longer walks can be an effective means of increasing their activity.
How will I know if the weight loss plan is successful?
Many people wish to know what their pet’s ultimate weight should be. Some veterinarians are reluctant to provide a weight because it focuses on a number rather than a meaningful measure of the pet’s health. Achieving an ideal body condition score and/or an improvement in a health improvement is a much more useful goal for most pets. For example, if a dog with arthritis that could barely walk around the block before weight loss is able to regain her ability to go on walks and play without as much pain, the program has been very successful regardless of the end weight. End weights can also be somewhat misleading as patients convert pounds of fat into pounds of muscle.
Weight loss plans end when the goals of the program have been achieved. That may in fact be a goal weight, but often that may be a body condition score or an improvement in a health problem. Regardless of the specific end point, success should be celebrated, and the habits and behavioral changes that achieved the weight loss should be retained for the rest of the pet’s life.
According to the AKC, the Maltese is a gentle, charming, and playful breed. The Maltese was officially noticed by the AKC in 1888 as a breed.
It is the 29th most popular breed.
The Maltese is a toy dog covered from head to foot with a mantle of long, silky, white hair. He is gentle-mannered and affectionate, eager and sprightly in action, and, despite his size, possessed of the vigor needed for the satisfactory companion. Size: Weight under 7 pounds, with from 4 to 6 pounds preferred. Overall quality is to be favored over size
Beyond regular weekly grooming the occasional bath will keep them clean and looking their best. Grooming can be a wonderful bonding experience for you and your pet. Their strong fast-growing nails should be trimmed regularly with a nail clipper or grinder to avoid overgrowth, splitting and cracking. Their ears should be checked regularly to avoid a buildup of wax and debris which can result in an infection. Teeth should be brushed regularly.
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