Humans literally spend billions of dollars each year on hygiene; on facial, skin, body & hair care. This covers shampoos, hair products, creams, cosmetics & treatments. Our pooches aren’t far behind when it comes to this type of spending.
Many questions have been raised about the possible health risks that might bring danger to our pooch. New players in the doggy health, dog food and dog grooming market have created products that contain natural and botanical ingredients. They are trying to replicate what dogs instinctively do to care for their skin and coats.
Over-bathing a dog can cause dry skin amongst other issues.
Shampoos contain butyl acetate – a chemical used as a foaming agent, ethyl acetate & toluene. These chemicals are not only skin irritants but they also contribute to increased rates of cancer & organ disease. Despite this, grooming is one of the dog’s defenses against skin irritation as well as infection so look for natural products when choosing a suitable wash for your pup.
As with us humans, daily brushing is a natural way to stimulate glands that produce essential oils, which are needed to maintain a healthy skin and coat. Doing this on a daily basis will help remove dead skin cells, dirt and other debris from the fur and our pooch will certainly enjoy this. Not only that, it will gives us a chance to be on a lookout for rashes and other skin irritations that might jeopardise the health of our pooch. This will also contribute to the bonding and trust that develops between our pooch and us.