Removing Sticky and Stinky Stuff Out

Your dog loves your child and your child loves your dog. One day they decide to "share" some chewing gum, which ends up in the vicinity of the small of her back. Yuck! Your dog loves to run in your fenced yard. One day she discovers the pile of pellets a rabbit left behind. When you let her in you are greeted with the aroma of "Eau du Bunny". Euuuwwwww. The truth is, our dogs surprise us with more grooming challenges than we ever might have thought of when we saw that tiny little puppy face gazing winsomely in our direction. What do you do when faced with these things?

First of all, don't panic. Almost anything can be undone, with just the right kind of attention. Whether your dog has a short, hard, glossy coat or a long and wispy hairdo, you should be able to remove all but the most firmly lodged debris.

Sticky Stuff

Sticky stuff can ranged from debris that gets lodged in your dog's coat due to grasping edges, like burrs, to things like chewing gum or tar. Sticky stuff is easiest to remove when it is still soft or wet, or before it has gotten deeply entwined into the pile of his coat.

Chewing gum: recommendations for removing chewing gum from dog coats are similar to those for removing it from human hair. Use ice to freeze chewing gum on short coats and peel it off. Several applications of ice might be necessary. Use an oil-based natural product, such as peanut butter, butter, or mayonnaise to loosen the hair from the chewing gum. It should come out with just a little coaxing.

Paint: Latex wall paint is the easiest paint to remove. Water-based latex should come free with the application of warm water. If necessary, use your dog's regular shampoo to remove the paint residue from his coat. Do not allow your dog to lick or chew any areas that have been contaminated by paint. If you can not remove pigment left behind in the coat by paint, then cut the affected hair away and bathe the area to be certain that no residue remains. Oil-based paints can not be safely removed from your dog's coat except by cutting it out. Do not use any solvent, turpentine, or any other chemical on your dog. You may poison him if you do so.

Tangled debris: use baby oil or other mineral oil to help loosen the grip that the hair has on the debris. Gently rub the fur back and forth on the tangle with one thumb and forefinger, while picking the loosened hairs free with your other hand. If you absolutely must, use a mat splitter, a grooming knife, or a pair of scissors to cut into the mat caused by the debris, cutting along, not across, the hair. Try to preserve as much of your dog's coat as possible, if you must do any cutting.

Tar: petroleum jelly is an effective softening agent for both tar and pine sap. Once these sticky items have been softened, they can easily be washed away with a gentle shampoo.

Most sticky things can be removed from your dog's coat if you first soften them or lubricate the coat hairs that are holding them in place. Always use a safe, non-toxic, non-flammable product to loosen the bond between the sticky item and your dog's coat. Once loosened or softened, most sticky items can easily be peeled away or washed away using a mild shampoo.

Stinky Things

Many stinky things are fairly easy to remove. The main problem with these things is that they smell so bad. If your dog is just slightly smelly and you don't want to give him a bath, freshen him with a "dry shampoo" by sprinkling baking soda in his coat and giving him a vigorous brushing to remove the excess powder. If you want to spend $10 or more per bottle, you can purchase a waterless shampoo containing whiteners or a conditioner from your pet supply store, instead of using baking soda.

The tried and true method for removing skunk odor is still the best. Apply tomato juice or canned tomatoes directly to your dog's coat and massage the solution into the fur. Rinse his coat thoroughly and use a gentle shampoo if needed.

For other odiferous things that go into your dog's fur, a simple bath may be all that's needed. If the bath does not completely remove the odor, then rub some baby powder or baking soda into the fur and vigorously brush it out. You may also use some baby wipes to freshen your dog without bathing.

If your dog has a persistent foul odor coming from his skin, from his head, or from his rump, he might have an allergy, an infection, or impacted anal glands. A trip to the vet for a diagnosis is in order.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you are a business owner get listed at Best Dog Care Site, part of Localwin Network.