EVERYDAY DOGCARE

Its not just to keep your home free of tumbleweed. Without regular brushing, tangles and mats of hair will form. That not only can be uncomfortable for your dog but can also make it easier for skin infections to take hold. And once they do, they can prove difficult to treat without shaving the affected area, requiring time and money for visits to the vet to chart progress. Hair thats well taken care of, on the other hand, provides a good barrier against harmful bacteria and other pathogens.

No, this dog doesnt have two noses. The nostrils on some dog breeds are separated by a band of skin and fur that divide the nose in half from its center all the way to the upper lip.

Hairless dogs have been enjoying a resurgence in popularity, says Tufts veterinary dermatologist Lluis Ferrer, DVM, PhD, DECVD, because a lot of people are concerned about allergies to dogs and hair shedding. They are also beautiful. We especially see quite a number of Chinese crested dogs, although the two other hairless breeds - the Mexican and Peruvian hairless, are popular, too.

Dogs, just like people, can become uncomfortably cold in the dead of winter. Sometimes you can tell - they shiver just like we do, an action used to generate heat. Or they whine or appear anxious and perhaps look for a warm place to burrow. But sometimes there are no outward signs. A lot of dogs are stoic. With that in mind:

Okay, I admit it. Franklin has been banished from the dog-friendly park closest to my house. Or, to put it more accurately, I promised the animal control offer I wouldnt take him there off leash anymore. One too many people tired of his yelling at them when he smelled treats in their pockets. One too many people lost patience with him jumping all over their cars as they crawled to a halt. And quite frankly, one too many dog owners - me - never cottoned to writing checks to fellow park goers to have Franklins nail scratches buffed out of their vehicles. (The big, goofy - all right, obnoxious - idiot is yelling out the window downstairs as I type this, no doubt from the couch where he stands sentry. Some interloper is probably passing the house with another dog.)

Rosie hates having her harness put on before we get in the car for the drive to the dog park. I literally have to chase her around the house to get the thing around her. One of the things she probably resents most is that Franklin, my other dog, gets to roam freely once we reach the park while she must remain tethered to me the entire time. Franklin, a border collie, is a…

Dandruff is a complex topic. If you see dandruff, something is abnormal. You are not supposed to be able to observe it on your dogs body. Very mild dandruff on black dogs can be acceptable because white flecks on black hair can be a little more prominent. But thats it. In general, dandruff scales are not seen on healthy dogs.

If your dog has dandruff and the cause is not a skin condition or a nutrient deficiency but rather simply a genetic predisposition, more frequent bathing will not get rid of the problem.

Just because it's natural doesn't mean it's good for you - or your dog. For better or worse, the trend never went away. Here are some natural remedies touted as beneficial to your dog that you should run by your veterinarian before considering administering, just like any other pharmaceutical.

In certain ways, Franklin and Rosie are dainty sorts. They both hate the water and will step around even the most shallow of puddles to avoid wetting their paws. But Franklin in particular, even way past puppyhood at the age of five, still likes to roll around in God knows what. Just the other day he came back to me after running off near a cove, happy-eyed and clearly reeking of - I kid…

Heres the simple truth: dogs dont actually need to be bathed. The oils on their skin and hair help retain moisture, and the scents they accumulate in their day-to-day excursions alert other dogs to where they have been and what they have seen. Its an important aspect of the canine communication process. …

While bathing a dog with a normal, healthy coat of skin is not strictly necessary, if your dog has skin disease, bathing can be a very important part of treatment. Indeed, says Andrea Lam, DVM, a veterinary dermatologist at the Cummings School, dogs with most skin diseases absolutely do need to be bathed to help maintain healthy skin function. …