Here are several tips on how to wash a big dog :-

• Rinse your dog off with water for several minutes, making sure to get under the coat.
• Once your dog is fully soaked, turn the water off and lather your dog with shampoo. Massage in the shampoo completely and either let it stand or continue to rub in for about five minutes to get rid of fleas or ticks.
• One your dog is soapy, turn the water back on and rinse your dog off. Use your hands to rub out all the watery soap.
• After your dog is soap-free and wet, use a towel to get all the surface water off. It may be hard or impossible to completely dry your dog with just a towel, especially if your dog has a thick coat. Try letting your dog shake off some of the water for a few minutes. If you can, it helps to take your dog for a walk afterward, or if you feel like it, a jog.
• Washing a big dog can be hard on your back, and may take some time. Try to have the dog turn instead of constantly having to move around it, and have the dog stand when you’re washing the back so you don’t have to bend over as far.
• It can make a pretty big mess if you’re washing a big dog in your bathroom, so it might be a bit more wise to do it outside with water hose.

Along with regular grooming and bathing, keeping your pet’s ears clean is a vital part of ensuring your pet is healthy and happy. Checking your pet’s ears at least once a week will make certain that they are kept healthy and that any infections that develop are quickly detected. Dirt and wax build up in your pet’s outer ear and ear canal can cause infections, hearing loss and discomfort. Dirty, excessive wax is also a haven for ear mites which will require a visit to your veterinarian to eradicate.

A pet’s ear is supposed to be pale pink in color and free of any foul smells. It’s ok to carefully remove wax and dirt buildup occasionally with an ear cleaning solution. Buildup can easily occur without you being aware of it, and your first sign of a problem may not become evident until your pet has difficulty hearing your call or displays excessive scratching or rubbing around the ears. Preemptive, routine measures such as using an alcohol-free ear cleaner is the best way to make sure your pet’s ears are healthy.

Oxyfresh’s Pet Ear Cleaner gently loosens dirt and wax from your pet’s ear with a unique Oxygene bacteria-neutralizing solution that’s soothing, safe, deodorizing  and alcohol free. Routine cleaning will ensure that your pet’s ears are healthy – and avoid expensive visits to the veterinarian.

Recommended use : Put 10 to 15 drops into each ear and massage the ears at the base. Let your pet shake its head, then wipe the remaining debris from the inside of the ear. You may repeat this procedure daily or weekly until no more debris is found. Use as needed.



Source : Focus on pet health by Oxyfresh

Looking for a premium product that can protect and promote your pet’s health both externally and orally? Multi-use Pet Gel has got you covered. This odorless and tasteless gel is formulated with the exclusive ingredient Oxygene® to cleanse and deodorize, as well as aloe to provide soothing relief. It’s safe and effective on open wounds and can also be used to promote healthy gums and fresh breath.

Top 5 reasons every pet owner needs Oxyfresh Pet Gel

1. You love to cuddle, but hate bad breath
As much as we adore our pets, most of us abruptly turn our heads when our furry friend emanates a big cloud of dragon-like doggie breath as they happily greet us. Fortunately, we can take the fire out of the dragon breath by rubbing Oxyfresh Pet Gel along the margin of our pet’s gums. In minutes, our odor-neutralizing ingredient Oxygene® works its magic to freshen your pet’s breath so you can snuggle to your heart’s content.

2. Preventing dental disease can extend your pet’s life
Doggie breath can be more than just an annoyance. Much more. It is often a sign of periodontal disease, the most common dental disease. An alarming 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats over age three suffer from periodontal disease. Called the “Silent Killer of Pets,” it can cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream and infect the heart, liver, and kidneys — shortening your pet’s life by up to five years! Pet Gel’s Oxygene® destroys bacteria in the mouth, helping to reduce the formation of plaque and tartar that can lead to periodontal disease.

3. Sore gums can be a real drag for your pet
Pets get sore gums just like we do. We want to give them relief but there just aren’t many products available that are safe enough to use in a pet’s mouth. These include products with dyes, unsafe chemicals and other ingredients that might prove to be toxic over time. Whether the gum irritation is from cutting baby teeth, an injury, periodontal disease, inflammation, or some other gum condition, Pet Gel safely delivers soothing relief with a powerful combination of aloe vera and chamomile.

4. Nothing’s better for skin irritations
In our pets, “hot spots” are localized moist skin irritations seen primarily during the warm moist months. These cause intense itching and discomfort. Pets with wrinkly skin — like on the faces of Bull Dogs and Pugs — are especially prone to these hot spots in deep, hidden folds of skin. This is also common around the base of the tail. Pet Gel soothes and helps dry these problem areas while dramatically improving your pet’s comfort level.

5. You never know what your pet will get into
Pet Gel is an extremely handy general purpose first aid cream that can also be used externally. You can use it for minor cuts, scratches, insect bites, minor burns, sunburns, abrasions, sore feet and more. It gives relief while promoting fast healing. Many ointments and creams made for human skin lack the safety factor of Pet Gel. These can be toxic if swallowed and have also been known to cause problems ranging from digestive upset to major organ failure. Pet Gel is completely safe and formulated to soothe, cleanse and deodorize.

Oxyfresh Pet Gel is in a class by itself. No other product is as versatile. That’s what makes it an essential product for every pet owner to have on hand. Great value, tons of uses, long shelf life, consistent results. Pet Gel has it all.

Source : Boyd Harrell, DVM (Dr. Harrell is a former multi-veterinary practice owner, an international speaker and a pet health advisor for Oxyfresh).

1. Bathing is good preventive medicine
Bath time is a perfect opportunity to get a close overall look at your pet to see
if there is anything unusual. Fleas, ticks, trapped burrs and plant parts, irritated
skin, scratches or wounds, dirty ears, weeping eyes, areas of hair loss and toe
nails in need of trimming are just some of things that might be uncovered
during a bath. When the hair is wet it parts easily and lays flat on the skin
bringing things to light that may have been hiding in your pet’s hair. It is also
a good time to run your hands over your pet’s entire body to check for any
lumps, bumps or sensitive areas.

2. A clean coat is less allergenic
A pet’s coat can act like a dust mop, picking up pollen and dust from the
air and favorite resting places. If your pet is allergic to pollen and dust then
frequent shampooing can help minimize their symptoms and improve their
comfort because you’re removing the offenders that cause itchy, reddened
skin, irritated noses and watering eyes. And if you suffer from airborne allergies
keeping your pet’s coat clean can help to control your symptoms, too.

3. It makes your pet huggably fresh
We spend a lot of time with our furry friend. A sweet-smelling, freshly bathed
pet is simply more huggable. We have all had times when we would like to be
close or hold our pet and obnoxious odors got in the way. Common sources
of pet odors are a buildup of pungent waxes and oils secreted by glands at
the base of each hair, naturally occurring yeast and bacteria living on the
skin, and odors picked up by contact during play and nosing around. Regular
shampooing can keep these odors at bay.

4. Clean pets are more beautiful
A nice clean fluffy coat looks good on any pet. Shampooing, followed by
combing, brushing and blow drying will give your pet a full, lively looking coat
while preventing uncomfortable tangles from forming. Pets know when they
look good, too! Just watch how alert and spunky they become when you tell
them how handsome they are!

5. A good bath makes your pet feel good
Just as we often feel fresh and revived after a nice shower or bath, pets also
do. Clean skin can lift your pet’s spirits and give them some added energy.
Shampoo needs contact time to dissolve oils and neutralize odors on the
skin so giving your pet a gentle massage during the bath is a great way to
work the shampoo through the coat while relaxing your pet. Massaging can
help improve skin circulation and health, relax tense muscles and positively
enhance your pet’s mood.

Source : Oxyfresh newsletter (September 2010)

Puppies, like children are meant to be playful and curious, and will sometimes get into trouble. You, the `parents’ will have to accept the fact that they can’t always be good. But accidents can be avoided. For instance, keep chemicals such as household detergents away and if the pup does ingest anything poisonous, waste no time in taking him to the vet.

Introduce a grooming routine early, to get your pup used to the process before he gets older and begins to resist. This should include a weekly or fortnightly bath – frequency depends on how muddy those paws get. If you bathe your pup too often, dry skin and a lustreless coat will result. Avoid letting water enter the ears, as this could cause ear infections. Dry the coat thoroughly after baths as a wet pup is breeding ground for bacteria. Regular brushing of the fur coat will stimulate hair follicles, keeping the fur healthy, shiny and free of knots and mats. Trim the nails just shy of the quick (this is the vein in the nail which will bleed if cut) with a pair of puppy nail trimmers. Finally, remember to clean puppy’s teeth daily, using a special toothbrush or finger-brush and dog toothpaste.  This will prevent gum infections and ensure that the teeth will last throughout his life.

Your little furball won’t be a baby forever, but with lots of love and care, he will think and behave like a puppy for life!