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Oh Mats! No matter how much a parent brushes their pet’s fur, mats can happen. There’s no shame in this. It's more common than you would think, especially for breeds with curly hair, long hair, thin hair and double coat types.  What is a Mat? A clumping of hair that can contain tangles, dirt and dead skin.  Why does Matting happen? Tangled hair- when the hair wraps around itself and becomes tangled Dirty skin and fur- when dead skin cells build up on the skin and gets caught in the fur  Seasonal shedding- when excess undercoat grows out and causes over shedding  Friction - when the hair rubs with other parts of the body (under the arms, on the legs, behind the ears, around the neck, and at base of the tail) Moisture- when the fur gets wet from bathing, swimming, rain and it isn't dried properly Parasites and insects- when hair is exposed to bugs that bite and/or infest on the skin and fur (particularly fleas) Allergies- when dogs chronically lick and itch  Lack of brushing- when loose hair isn't regularly brushed out According to preventivevet.com , “In extreme cases, the dog's coat will become "pelted" — when matting is very tight to the skin, preventing proper airflow…Matting and pelting prevent proper temperature regulation, cause skin irritation, hide parasites like fleas or other nasties, and cause extreme discomfort and pain for the dog.” How to Prevent Matting?  Mats can be extremely painful, and if ignored, can lead to skin irritation and more serious skin and coat conditions. Mats should be addressed immediately before they grow and become too hard to remove without shaving.  At Pets On The Bay, our Pet Stylists recommend the following in mat prevention: 1- Combing & Brushing Regular at home combing and brushing (at least every few days). This is absolutely necessary for dogs with coat types that have hair that is prone to matting; curly, thin, long hair and double coated. These breeds include all Poodles, Doodles, Bishon, Yorkies, ShihTzu and Cocker Spaniels. Recommended At Home Grooming Tools:  Combs Andis 68550 Stainless-Steel Comb for Knots, Mats & Loose Hair Removal - Effective Dematting Tool – Silver, 7-1/2-Inch /Amazon / $9 Chris Christensen 000 7.5 in. Greyhound Style Fine/Coarse Colored Butter Comb  / Amazon  $39.99 Slicker Brushes Miracle Coat Slicker Dog Brush, Small / Amazon  Small $14.64 Large $18.99 Chris Christensen Big K Dog Slicker Brush for Dogs / Amazon Small $56.99 Medium $62.99 Large $65.99 Pin Brushes OodelLife Pet Grooming Detangler Pin Dog Brush For Shedding and Removing Loose Fur / Amazon / $12.99  Chris Christensen Dog Brush, 27 mm Oval Pin Brush, Original Series  Amazon / $37 Read more about how to brush your Goldendoodle properly to prevent matting 2- Professional Grooming Services Mat prone dog breeds and pets with loose and/or shedding undercoat hair are more likely to form mats especially when not brushed or bathed regularly. Our Pet Stylists recommend the following professional grooming services:  Furry Baby Deshed Brushing & Shampoo Treatment  During our signature Bliss Bath, a deshedding shampoo is used with an exfoliating scrubber that helps release the undercoat of your dog. Followed by an extra nourishing conditioner and an additional, thorough brushing of the coat. Then, a final brushing during the blow dry and blow out with finishing spray.   Unfortunately, if a dog gets bathed or wet after the matting has begun, moisture to the fur only causes mats to get tighter and therefore harder to remove. In this case, an alternative treatment would be suggested.  Furry Baby Dematting Brushing & Shampoo Treatment  Before our signature Bliss Bath, a gentle de-matting is done with a breed specific comb and brush.  During the bath, a nourishing shampoo is used for both shampoo rinses, followed by an extra moisturizing conditioner. The coat is treated with a detangling spray for the blow dry and blow out, and then a soothing finishing spray. Recommended for dogs with mild to moderate matting.   In a nutshell, to properly care for your dog’s skin and coat, regular bathing and brushing is always recommended. Breeds with curly hair, long hair, thin hair and double coat types need specific care and our Pet Stylists suggest regular at home brushing and combing. Professional grooming services at least every 4-8 weeks, depending on coat growth and matting tendency, is also recommended in keeping your pup’s fur healthy.  Reserve your spa treatment online

By instinct, kittens are taught by their moms to self-groom.  According to Hillspet.com , cats groom themselves not only to keep clean, but for several other health reasons: To regulate body temperature To keep their coat clean and smooth by distributing natural skin oils To stimulate circulation To cool themselves down through evaporation of saliva To eliminate parasites, infection, and allergies To prevent hairballs  Displacement behavior: If your cat feels embarrassed, anxious, or as though she’s in a conflict, she may lick to calm herself. Healthy felines should have a shiny, smooth coat with clear skin underneath. But some cats can’t properly clean themselves and have dry, brittle fur with flaky skin.  In an article from petslovetoknow.com , they state that fur and skin conditions may be caused by allergies, fleas, mites, fungus (ringworm), acne, wounds and abscesses, dermatitis, ulcers, excessive shedding and furballs.   Common signs that your cat might have a skin condition or allergy are fur loss, rashes and irritations on the skin, fleas, and poor health in general. Professional grooming can be a preventative solution to managing cat fur and skin conditions. A Professional Feline Groomer can help keep a cat’s fur consistently brushed, free of mats and their skin clean and nourished. A regular grooming schedule reduces hairballs that can cause dangerous blockages in a cat’s intestinal tract, which in some cases, requires surgery.  Whitney Bullock of The Charleston Cat Groomer in Charleston, SC says,  “When they lick themselves, they’re just licking. They’re not cleaning themselves, but they are ingesting fur.” When is grooming necessary?  Writer Paul White and Certified Veterinarian Marissa Morton from Petsleaf.com recommend seeking professional cat grooming services when your cat: has long or thick fur, and it may require regular maintenance to keep it healthy and free from tangles and matting has matting, tangles, or excessive shedding is senior and/or has mobility issues At Pets On The Bay, Emily is our Professional Feline Groomer. She has been grooming for over 20+ years and even has three cats of her own. To book a cat grooming service with Emily, she is available mornings starting at 7am Tuesday to Friday. Contact 386-690-1288 or request online at petsonthebay.com

Why Are Some Pets Afraid of Fireworks?   “It can be the smell. It can be the noise and the flashes of the light,” says Woodstown, New Jersey-based Dr. Judy Morgan, DVM,  Your dog may “tremble, shake, shiver, howl, and bark — some of them get frantic.” How to know if your pup is stressed?  There are a number of warning signs to indicate that your pet has fear or anxiety towards fireworks: Trembling or shaking Restlessness, such as pacing Destructiveness Hiding Panting or lip smacking Attention seeking behavior Whining or barking Trying to escape Loss of house training Unwilling to go outside after hearing fireworks Vomiting or diarrhea Many cats are afraid of the loud noises that fireworks make. The sudden bangs, whooshes and flashes of light can feel like a threat that might cause them harm, and their natural response is to run away and hide somewhere safe.   How to prevent a stressful fireworks experience for your pets? Keep them away from fireworks events Don’t leave them outside during fireworks shows Make a safe haven for them to chill in before, during and after  Create a SAFE  haven with alternate sounds, anti-anxiety tools, a feel good environment, and exercise.  S ound Turn on a fan, TV, sound machine  or some music to help mask the sounds of the fireworks.  “There’s some classical music called ‘Through a Dog’s Ear’ that has been shown to have calming effects for dogs,” says Jenn Stanley, certified behavior consultant and professional dog trainer. To help them desensitize to the sound of fireworks, get them used to listening to that particular sound. Download a recording of fireworks and play it slowly over time in preparation for the event. Simulate the sound and play it at different levels of volumes, then taking breaks with intermittent moments of silence.  “One of the best ways to keep your cat calm during fireworks is to get them used to the sound – from a young age, if possible,” says Dr Julie Ashton, veterinary behaviorist. A nti- anxiety Tools Dress them in a snug fitting shirt or anxiety vest. Veterinarian Lindsay Butzer, DVM, says that by applying constant pressure, anxiety vests are able to relieve anxiety and induce a calming effect for nervous pups. View 5 vet approved anxiety vests for cats and dogs here F eel good environment Provide a feel-good space for your pet away from windows and doors. Make this space in an interior room, if possible and stay close to them and/or check on them to keep them feeling comforted. If not possible, keep the curtains and blinds closed.  If your pet is regularly crated or uses a carrier to sleep, placing a blanket over the crate or carrier can keep the space dimly lit and more calming. Surround them with their favorite toys, blankets and comfort objects.    “If you make a feel-good space for your cat, but they choose not to be there, don’t force it. They might have chosen their own space, and that’s absolutely fine to do,” says Dr. Julie. Make sure your cat’s space has easy access to their food, water and litter box.  Give your pets their favorite treats in moderation. CBD Chews and treats help relieve excess anxiety and give them something else to focus on. Make sure to feed them prior to the event so they have plenty of time to digest.  At Pets On The Bay, we recommend Penelope’s Bloom CBD treats and chews for anxiety and stress. Our family shop dog, Daisy, loves the CBD infused peanut butter! Browse all our CBD products here   E xercise Walk them before the event to make sure they relieve themselves and get plenty of exercise to help them feel sleepy and content.  This 4th of July, here’s to creating a stress-free fireworks night for you and your pets!   Some information for this blog courtesy of American Kennel Association, ASPCA, Guidedogs.org.uk , and 24petwatch.com

Dogs love to chew.  Chewing has many positive benefits to a pup’s health too- it exercises jaw muscles, cleans their teeth, and can help relieve anxiety or frustration by giving them something enjoyable to focus on. What they chew is what matters. But what chew to choose? Soft chew, hard chew, bone, or dental stick? Before knowing what chew to choose, first understand your dog’s chewing style, preferences and what best suits their dental health needs. What to look for in an edible dog chew? hardness, durability, long-lasting, size, and natural ingredients. Types of Edible Dog Chews Bully Sticks Unlike rawhide, bully sticks, sometimes known as pizzle sticks, are easily digestible. Single-ingredient chews made from beef and lamb muscle, bully sticks range in thicknesses and lengths. They also come braided and shaped for an extra-long chew. They do not splinter. Instead, the end of the stick becomes soft and acts like a toothbrush as your dog chews. Other varieties include beef and lamb tripe, oxtail, beef and lamb collagen sticks, and hare sausages. Antlers Antlers are all-natural chews that can come from a variety of animals, including deer or elk. Antlers for dogs come in a range of sizes and shapes and are incredibly long-lasting because they are so hard. However, their hardness can also make them a risky choice. Always supervise your dog while they chew. Yak Cheese Chews These are hard blocks of dried cheese made with yak or cow milk, salt, and lime juice. The lactose content is low, so dogs generally digest them well, and they are hard enough to be long-lasting. As with other chews, only give your dog a block large enough that they can’t eat whole. Take away the yak chew as soon as it gets small enough to pose a hazard. Did you know? Small pieces of yak cheese chews can be put into the microwave for short bursts of time until they “puff” and can be easily crunched up as a treat once cooled. Tendons and Other Animal Parts From beef trachea to lamb tripe, hare burgers and chicken feet, different animal parts are also a more natural dog chew. Tendon chews are a safer choice, since they’re low in fat and high in protein and collagen. Fish skin chews, such as salmon twists and freeze-dried sardines smell fishy, but they are a great source of omega three fatty acids. What chew to choose? Chews Wild! All our chews at Pets On The Bay are sourced locally from Chews Wild LLC and made with only farm fresh, all natural ingredients. Thanks, Chews Wild for helping us care for our community pets together! Visit our online boutique to browse all our edible dog chews! The content for this blog was adapted from a post on The American Kennel Club website.