My Pet … Naturally CLEAN

11 April 2010

SPRING CLEANING TIPS

Posted by Clean Dog under: Dog Wash Facts .

for Your Pets, their House and Yard…

There are several things to consider when you have pets and it’s time to do a routine spring cleaning. To begin with, pet grooming isn’t just about your dog or cat. Think of everything related to your furry friend’s lifestyle as something that needs a “grooming” of its own.

In addition to a bath, every pet can benefit from a thorough spring cleaning once a year. Consider asking for a conditioning treatment to moisturize the coat. Get those ears well cleaned. Have nails filed down. Brush, or have the pet brushed, until all the winter undercoat is gone. Sometimes a bath will release the undercoat, then you do a second serious brushing, and the next bath leaves the pet’s coat new penny clean. Get your pet’s teeth cleaned, and remember that a non-anesthetic tooth cleaning is the gold standard for healthy pet care.

Don’t forget to check out your dog or cat’s environment. Get those pet beds, blankets and crate pads in the washer. Clean collars, harnesses and leashes by hand washing, leather cleaner and conditioner, or even tossing them in the machine. Do the same with soft toys. You can run a cycle with a natural product that has no surfactants or scents, or even use a little of your dog’s shampoo in a hand wash. The secret is to rinse well.

To get dog and cat hair off of the furniture, there are a variety of products, but we like to use a damp sponge or small piece of high density foam and rake it over furniture and rugs. You need to keep your sponge groomed too. But that’s easy. You can rinse it off, wash it, and keep using it for a very long time, unlike tape rollers or commercial rakes that require replaceable pads. Voila, you have well groomed dog stuff.

If you have fleas in the house, we suggest using some Paraclear, which is a food grade diatomaceous earth powder. It dehydrates the fleas but is safe around pets and children although it is drying and needs to be vacuumed up shortly after being put down. And you can’t groom the house without grooming the yard. In Los Angeles, the flea season never really ends but is now ramping up. Treat your yard with Paraclear as well and keep the fleas under control.

Below are some useful pet products for your Spring Cleaning efforts from our Pet Store and Grooming Salon in West Los Angeles.

Natural Pet Products for your Dogs and Cats

A brush. We have lots in the store.

A toothbrush and some Petz Life Oral Care Spray and Gel.

A good basic shampoo like Azmira Organic Oatmeal shampoo.

A conditioner, not just for long coated dogs but also to put a shine on dogs with a natural buzz cut.

A natural flea repellant. We carry sprays from Azmira, Flying Bassett, and others. We have magnetic flea repellant by Shoo Tag. And of course flea shampoos and dips that are all natural.

And why not a new toy! Ray Bradbury, the science fiction writer, once wrote a great story about the feeling of having a new pair of sneakers every spring. We suspect dogs might have the same feeling about a new squeaky or fetch toy. Keep in mind that pets like their old things because they are deeply impregnated with familiar and beloved scent. You can scent something new by sleeping with it, sitting on it, or putting it in your bag with your other stuff.

Natural Pet Cleaning Products For the House and Yard

Paraclear by Azmira, food grade diatomaceous earth for both inside and outside.

Urine Off pet accident cleaner, because even good pets can make a mistake now and then. And maybe the Urine Off black light flashlight, to find out if your good pet has made a mistake. (In the dark, urine will glow under the light beam.)

Blankets or pads to cover furniture and give your pet a place of his own where he is always allowed. We like the Westpaw Big Sky Blanket; it’s light, washes well, and has a very soft hand.

A new bed if the old one is broken down. Consider a bed with a raised edge if you’ve never had one. Dog’s love to lean, which is one reason they love the couch. We have nice donut beds by Westpaw and Doggone Smart.

Dog Rocks, a natural mineral water additive that prevents yellow spots on grass and lawn.

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