Seriously? This Dog Fur Is Out of Control!

Dogs can shed their coats all year round, although certain times of the year are worse than others. Your dog might shed more often when he’s getting his winter or summer coat, for example. All of this fur tends to end up covering various surfaces around your home, which can be a challenge to clean up. Use the following tips to help you get rid of dog fur in your home throughout the year.

Carpeting and Floors

As your dog walks around your home and lies on the floor, you’re bound to have carpeting or floors that are covered in fur. If you have carpeting, you should be vacuuming frequently to pick up as much fur as possible. Otherwise, dog fur can build up in your carpet and affect its condition overall. If you have bare floors, you should sweep them often and vacuum from time to time as needed. You should also vacuum your curtains in rooms your dog likes to spend time in since fur can stick to this material as well.

Bedding and Upholstered Furniture

If you let your dog jump up on your bed and living room furniture, don’t be surprised at how quickly fur accumulates on these materials. You’ll need to wash bedding frequently, but you can remove fur in other ways as well. Run a lint roller over bed linens and upholstery to eliminate fur, or put on a damp pair of rubber gloves and slide them over these items. The rubber gloves should pick up loose fur, but keep in mind that you’ll have to wash them often.

Wood Furniture

Dog fur can end up on bookshelves and other wood furniture items easily. This fur can build up over time, resulting in a dusty appearance. You can get rid of this fur by wiping a cloth over the surfaces. If you do this frequently, your dog’s fur won’t have a chance to accumulate all over these surfaces.

If you need professional dog grooming in the Chicago area to help control shedding, please contact DoGone Fun. We offer a shed management program that is designed to help your dog maintain a healthy coat and skin while also reducing shedding as much as possible. In fact, this program can reduce shedding by up to 80 percent. Give us a call for more details on this program.

This article was previously published at: https://www.dogonefunchicago.com/grooming-a-dog/seriously-this-dog-fur-is-out-of-control/

I have to Leave my Dog Alone A Lot- Is That Ok?

When you need to work during the day, is it ok to leave your dog alone? How long is too long when it comes to having dogs stay home alone? If you’re worried about the effects of leaving your dog alone, keep the following in mind and work out an alternative if needed.

Amount of Time Alone

Some dogs seem to do fine when they’re on their own for eight or more hours per day while their owners work. However, other dogs don’t do so well. These dogs can exhibit typical dog behavioral issues, such as separation anxiety, or damage items in the home out of boredom or frustration. The amount of time your dog should spend alone each day depends on how well she handles it and how often she needs to eliminate. If she’s acting up or having accidents, you should look into other options for her, so that she won’t be left alone all day when you’re at work.

Crating Dogs

If you tend to crate your dog when you leave for work, you should be aware that this can make behavioral problems worse. While some dogs don’t seem to mind being in a crate for a few or more hours, other dogs can bark excessively, have accidents or display other behavioral issues from being cooped up all day. In general, you should avoid crating your dog for more than a few hours at a time, especially on a regular basis.

Other Options

If you need to look into other options for your dog or if you’re uncomfortable with leaving her alone so long each day, there are different services to consider. Dog walkers can stop by your home a couple of times a day to take your dog for a walk and spend time with her. You can also look into using a dog daycare center for socialization and physical activity. These facilities give your dog a chance to run around playing with other dogs, which can help reduce behavioral issues that result from boredom or frustration at home.

If you’re looking for a way to keep your dog busy when you’re not home, consider dog daycare. At DoGone Fun, your dog can play with a lot of other dogs for several hours a day when you’re at work. Contact us for more information on our dog daycare services in the Chicago area.

This article was previously published at: https://www.dogonefunchicago.com/daycare-for-dogs/is-it-ok-leave-my-dog-alone-a-lot/

How Good Are Grain-Free Diets for dogs?

Grain-free diets have been on the market for a while, but a recent scare has some pet owners wondering how safe they are. The FDA published an advisory that listed several grain-free dog foods associated with cases of fatal dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. While this advisory prompted pet owners to take a closer look at the food they give their dogs, it’s important to determine whether or not grain-free foods are to blame.

DCM and Grain-Free Foods

The FDA advisory implies a link between certain grain-free dog foods and DCM cases. However, the agency admits that the exact cause of these DCM cases is not known. The FDA’s advisory is based on the list of foods pet owners reported feeding dogs who ended up with DCM, but the association between these is not fully understood. Other factors, such as other ingredients or the presence of other medical conditions in these dogs, could also play a role in why they developed DCM. In fact, a high number of these cases also involved dog foods that contained peas or lentils.

Should You Feed Your Dog Grain-Free Food?

Since the association between grain-free foods and DCM isn’t completely understood, you should consider only feeding your dog this type of food if she doesn’t tolerate foods that contain grains. Talk to your vet about dog foods that are safe for your dog based on her health and nutritional needs. This helps ensure your dog gets the nutrients she needs while lowering the risk of health issues linked to certain foods. While some dog food companies state that grain-free foods are healthier for dogs overall, there is no evidence for this claim.

Signs of DCM

It’s important to know the signs of DCM, especially if you plan on changing your dog’s food. DCM is a serious condition that requires prompt care. The signs and symptoms of DCM include reduced energy, trouble breathing, a cough, collapsing episodes. If your dog exhibits any of these signs, you should see your vet as soon as possible.

A healthy diet, along with regular grooming, helps keep your dog’s coat in good condition. If your dog needs professional grooming services, please contact DoGone Fun. We offer a number of dog grooming services in Chicago, including paw care, coat, and skincare, ear care and teeth care.

This article was previously published at: https://www.dogonefunchicago.com/owning-a-dog/how-good-are-grain-free-diets-for-dogs/