Saying Good Bye to My Pet

A client received a piece of hair from her pet in the mail that I sent to her because I had a feeling her senior pet had passed away.  Princess did pass away.  She replied she doesn't ever think she could have another pet again due to the pain of the loss.  I replied to her:

Thanks for your response.  I can feel your hurt and since I hadn't seen you all and found out that you moved as well I kind of figured in my heart Princess had found her way to doggie heaven.  My website had Duke's Memorial on it.  It helped me to write it all down.  As my Dad put it, it's worth the hurt and the many years these wonderful angels are in our lives.  To give them the pain of remembering them in their afterlife is just the little we can do when they devote their little hearts to us all the years their alive.  I have to say I still have Duke's Brother whom I may lose any day now.  And one day after Duke's one year anniversary I had a wonderful angel Faith come into my life where I rescued her from being found on the streets.  She reminds me of Duke so much that when I called her Duke a few times; she responded immediately.  Her attitude is such of Dukes in many many ways.  And she was one years old whens he found me. 

I also just now adopted a puppy too.  Who has found Faith as her best friend.  They are truly angels and in time you may find room for your another puppy in your life.  Whether it's an older pet you've rescued or a new one that's a puppy.  But, no pet will replace Princess.  She will always be your baby forever.  But, there are too many days left in our life not to share it with a pet that will devote his/her heart to you in the tough times and good times, no matter what.  The pain we go through is just a little we can endure to have them by our sides I think. 

It is the most saddest days of your life to lose your furry family members.

Your Princess will forever be in my heart.  Thank you for letting me be your groomer all these years.

Always, Dede Croy

Collapsed Trachea - Response

Initial Email from a Youtube watcher

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BddFmBI9UpM&feature=channel_video_title

I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my 11 month old shih tzu with what the doctor sais is collapsed trachea. She did that reverse sneezing thew odd time, but right after she was finished, she went back intoplaying. I had no warning. I walked her fridaynight at 11. and at 4 inthe morning I woke to her squeel. I rushed her to the hgospital where she died. I dontknow how she could go downin 3hours. Do you have any advicefor me. Also, If I buy anotherloved one. what should I check for? tyfor yourinfo.. my sypathies to you intheloss of your familymember..Rick

Reponse from My Favorite Groomer:

I am so so sorry for your loss.  Was this recent!  My heart goes out to you!  I acutally am about to go through the same thing with Duke's Brother Sueii who is almost 15 years old.  His coughing has gotten severe.  Some things I would do would in clude getting a choke free harness (I sell these for 20$) they are a way to walk small breeds without pulling on the neck.  I would put the rabies tag and city tag on the choke free harness and not have my pets wear a collar.  I would let there be rambunxious play at a younger age but I would not allow it to happen for 30 minutes straight.  I would not have multiple surgeries on my pet; a couple dentals in a life time and good dental hygiene cleaning at home with rawhide bones for chewing.  I would pick up my pet when he / she gets too excited when I get home.  I would put my pet in a comfortable place while he / she is waiting for me as to not cause too much excitement.  Kennel training is optimal especially when they are seniors and you can't incorporate a kennel then. 

I hope these tips help.  I would get a shihtzu again and I would change a few things I did but they are the greatest dogs ever. 

I'm so sorry for your loss,

Your friend,
Dede Croy

http://www.myfavoritegroomer.com/

Dew Claws

Most pets have dew claws.  Which are like our thumbs.  They are a pair of nails on the inner arm of the pet higher than the paws.  Their is usually one on each forearm and sometimes even some on the rear legs.  Sometimes I've seen two or three dew claws on the rear legs of the pet.  It isn't unusual.  I see it all the time.  I had a lady ask me if she should go have them removed.  I told her I wouldn't worry too much about it if the pet is passed the puppy years.  Even as a puppy I personally wouldn't go and have them removed.  That's just my preference.  I have studied my dogs and found they use their thumb dew claws to itch their head and eyes and even remove gunk on their face.  It's definitely handy to get a better grip on things too when they are jumping up on their people family members legs and sorts.  Yikes, it does hurt though.  However, even the rear ones I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to have removed especially if the pet is older.  The sensation the pet may forever have after the surgery to that area just isn't worth it.  However, if you find your pet does have dew claws on the rear legs or more so more than one on the rear legs always let your groomers know and be aware of it yourself.  I have seen groomers take them right off when shaving a pet when there may be very little skin holding the dew claw on and or very little view of an apparent dew claw there at all.  Just let your groomer know it's there. 

MyFavoriteGroomer.com
Owner,
Dede Croy
817-676-1585

Nail Trimming Versus Nail Dremeling

The way I do nails at My Favorite Groomer allows us to clip the nail down to the vein without piercing the vein.  I have been doing toe nail trimming for so long I have my own technique to doing it this way and it works awesomely!  We can still hit a vein every once in awhile since all nails are different and grow with their own style.  But, we are very careful and try to avoid hitting the vein.  Clipping the nail down to the vein works great if the nail trimmer knows what he/she is doing.  But, dremeling the nail which runs a little higher than just a basic nail trimming bevels the nail around so that the edges are smooth and softer than a fresh cut nail.  There is a difference in the nail in the long run when you do pay for the additional dremeling service.  I see that nails grow back slower and are quicker to stay back than regular pet nails.  The overall finish on the nail is more superb than a regular nail trim. 

MyFavoriteGroomer.com
Owner,
Dede Croy
817-676-1585

Wash your pet collars today

I think that pet collars are sometimes the last thing we think about when it comes to cleaning the house or doing the laundry or grooming your pet for that matter.  But, when folks come into the groom shop and the collar for their pet is embossed in thick film that's similar to paste, I usually let them know they can wash their pets collar.  So, here is what I would do when attempting to wash my pets collar.  First, if you have an old tooth brush that will work great.  Take a small bowl of some sort fill it with water and a table spoon of laundry detergent and dip the dogs collar in it and scrub the collar clean with the toothbrush.  Then rinse well and let sit over night in water.  Then rinse the next day and hang dry.  Wala, a clean pet collar.  By the way, having a spare collar is a definite if you have a pet that is outside full time so the pet can have a clean collar on in case your pet runs away.  Also, an ID tag is ideal.  Contact me if you need a good one that won't degrade over time.  We sell the best!  Also, I personally do not leave my dogs collar on all day.  He is an inside pet and I feel the strain for an everyday isn't needed.  However, he has it on every time we go out to the dog park or social event or for a ride. 
Thank you,

MyFavoriteGroomer.com
Owner,
Dede Croy
817-676-1585

Frontline Applications

I think folks may not know it or may forget; but when you are applying Frontline or any other topical to the back of the pet make sure you give yourself at least three days before and after between baths.  When you bathe your pet you deplete essential oils from the skin that these applications need to spread all over its entire body.  Hence, if you bathe today, add three days to the day and apply Frontline thereafter.  Even though there is such a thing as Frontline Plus (waterproof) the application isn't cheap and I've found you will not have a doubt if you give some space between applying Frontline and the bath time. 

Another thing I should mention here is the way you use Frontline.  I did have a pet that would burn at the spot I applied the Frontline if I applied it all at once in the same spot.  It happened twice and then I chose to apply the Frontline in a trail but very close to one another just not all in the same spot.  And I didn't do too many different spots just one or two depending on the amount of Frontline the size of your pet calls for. 

Dede Croy
http://www.myfavoritegroomer.com/
817-676-1585

Time for blogs and Newsletters

I have to say that making time for a blog or newsletter on top of being a full time groomer / owner is HARD.  I used to send out a newsletter once a month, it had a lot of information on it.  But, it took me about two weeks to get it sent to all of over 2000 recipients.  I was about to try out constant contact when I saw what the costs would be for that amount of recipients.  It was ridiculous!  Especially being that the newsletter has brought me in no new clients it was a benefit for the current clients I do have.  So, I decided the time and money I was putting into doing the newsletter wasn't going to be feasible.  So, here is the blog that I started for a student to do for me.  When she pulled out of the task it was after I had already started the blog.  So, here it is a great trade for me to do the blog, post facts and situations for clients like you reading this instead of spending countless hours trying to beat the spam on gmail to get all 2000 emails out.  Whew.  But, still it is hard to make time to do these things :)  But, the knowledge must come out and I want my clients to know about the many things that could happen with their pets and ways to treat them and prevent them. 

Dede Croy
http://www.myfavoritegroomer.com/
817-676-1585