It’s finally springtime, and if you’re not in a grooming routine already, spring is a great time to start. While spring cleaning is a great reminder to groom your dogs, we recommend that dogs need to be groomed all yearlong. Before heading to the groomers, here are some important spring (and year-round) grooming tips.
How Often to Brush Your Dog
After a long winter, dogs with thick winter coats will begin shedding, it’s important to brush your dog daily because it removes the dead coat and keeps circulation on the outer layer of skin, which promotes health. They also get dirt embedded underneath and if not brushed regularly can cause mats which are extremely painful. It’d be like if you had long hair and kept your hair in a ponytail the whole time. Your head starts to hurt. It’s uncomfortable, it’s painful to them, and they can’t express the pain like we can as humans.

If your dog isn’t brushed or combed regularly, they may become more sensitive to touch. The dog may start growling and cower when people try to pet them. You may also want to comb your dog instead of brushing him.

Oftentimes, brushes bought over the counter don’t have long enough bristles, especially if a dog has long hair. There are plenty of brushing products available in in our store to help make regular grooming a habit.

Bathing
We recommend bathing every 21 days because that’s the cycle of skin rejuvenation. Before giving a dog a bath, you should ensure they are recently brushed to remove dead hair and mats. If a dog is bathed with mats, it only makes their hair tighter and harder to brush out. We recommend using natural products to make bath time easier for you and the dog, like our detangle spray (our groomers love using it!), shampoo that is pH balanced for pet skin and hair, conditioning products help with skin moisture – which will help with shedding, dry, and itchy skin. All these products are available in our stores.

How to Care for your Pet’s Toenails
When Pets’ nails aren’t cared for, they get uncomfortable and it hurts to walk. Even if it’s not a ‘hair cut’ nail care is something that needs to be done for all pets regularly. How often you should get your pet’s nails trimmed depends on the several factors of the pet: their activity level, how often they go on walks, age, weight, and even breed. Typically, we recommend every 4 weeks or less for pets with long nails or nails that grow quickly, and up to 8 weeks or less for pets who are highly active. If you hear the sound of their nails clicking on the floor it's time if a dremmel!

When you take your pet to the groomer, it’s important to find a qualified groomer that takes pet safety seriously. We have a wide range of walk in services available with no appointment needed. Our skilled grooming staff is available 7 days a week. To request a booking for a grooming appointment visit us here.

​Public concerns over diet and health have grown exponentially in the past few decades and this doesn’t stop with our pets. At Bark If You’re Dirty we only offer the best for your beloved pets. While a grain-free diet may be beneficial for one dog, it could be not so good for another dog. A balanced diet is the most important factor when feeding your four-legged pal. Animals need lots of protein, healthy vegetables, and a variety of nutrients and we make healthy options a priority for your pet. The following is information on grain-free diets so that you can make better informed decisions about which natural pet food to purchase for your dog.
 
Grain / Grain Free
For overweight dogs, a low carb diet can help them shed extra pounds. If you are searching for a low-carb option, it is important not to confuse grain-free with low-carb. When grain-free foods are produced, the grains are often replaced with high carb products like sweet potatoes. Grain-free foods can therefore be even higher in carbs than typical kibble. 

While it is true that there are many low-quality grains out there, ancient and whole grains contain many beneficial nutrients. It is definitely a good idea to steer clear of low-quality kibble products that feature grains with minimal nutrients as their main ingredient. Alternatively, foods that contain high quality grains, like barley and oats, along with premium proteins and veggies are a great choice for your pet.
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A study recent study calling out foods that were grain free, stating that they lacked the taurine needed for good heart health has pushed food brands across the spectrum to reformulated their products to ensure your pet is getting the recommended amount of vitamins and minerals for a healthy heart. In most cases feeding your pet a healthy nutrient dense natural food eliminates this issue. 
 
Grains May Contribute to Allergies in Some Dogs
Just like humans, pets can also have food related allergies. The most common food related allergies in include chicken, salmon, beef, dairy, and eggs. While your furry friend may be affected by grain related allergies and gluten intolerance, these types of allergies are less common. If your pet is experiencing allergies, it is important to figure out the cause. Most of the time this can be easily remedied by switching their food to a healthier option. Environmental factors are also likely to cause allergies, so consider shampoos, dust and other allergens that they may be in contact with frequently. If this is a continuing issue for your pet always consider a visit to your vet.
 
At Bark If You’re Dirty we make healthy options a priority for your pet. That’s why we stock our shelves with only natural pet foods, including grain, grain-free, raw-food options and more. If you're unsure about which food is best for your dog, feel free to discuss it with one of our pet food experts in a purple shirt at one of our locations near you. We promise to help you find a tasty, nutrient-dense food that will make your furry friend happy!

​Dental health in dogs and cats may sometimes be overlooked by pet owners. Poor oral hygiene in dogs and cats can lead to excess tartar, swellings in the mouth, and severe wear of the teeth (or broken teeth) from chewing on inappropriate objects. In addition, neglected oral health can also lead to gum disease, which if left untreated, can make your pet more susceptible to other health complications. For example, bacteria in the mouth can spread to other parts of the body and cause infections.

Keeping your pet's mouth healthy is easier than you think. While your veterinarian can help you with routine dental check-ups and treatments, most dental hygiene issues can be prevented at home. There are so many options available for you to try for your pet, like our product PlaqueOff Powder, it's a seaweed enzyme supplement that eliminates existing plaque and prevents tartar buildup. A sprinkle a day makes the plaque go away!

It is best to begin home care when your puppy or kitten is between 8 and 12 weeks old; however, it is never too late to start. The first step is to train your pet to accept the brushing of the teeth. The best approach is to establish a routine of brushing your pet's teeth with gauze that is wrapped around your finger. It may be helpful to use beef or chicken broth with dogs and tuna water with cats to get them accustomed to the routine instead of using cleaning agents. 

Once the pet is familiar with the daily routine, you can switch out the gauze for a finger toothbrush, then you can incorporate using approved pet toothpaste, dental chews, water additives and rinses like the ones featured below.

Even if you do regularly care for your pet's teeth, you should visit the veterinarian if your pet has persistent bad breath or experiences bleeding from the mouth or tooth, a change in eating habits, or sensitivity to touch, these may be signs of a more serious dental health condition.

​Keeping your pet's mouth healthy can help them live a longer, healthier life, so as a part of pet dental month, consider making a veterinary appointment to have your pets teeth examined. Another great alternative would be to consider anesthesia-free cleaning. This is where the vet technician uses dental tools to clean plaque and tartar from the teeth and can even clean under the gum-line leaving your pet with perfect teeth.
 
Call us for more information on booking an appointment for our anesthesia-free dental cleaning clinics at both of our locations. Your pet will thank you with a smile. 

Here are some exclusive February deals available in our stores, no need to print anything, just stop by the store and the deal will be applied at checkout!