Your feet Hurt...What about your dog's?

You’re on your feet all day long, after walking all day, they hurt and are sore.  You take your shower, trim your nails, rub your feet and suddenly it hits you….What about Fido?  He has 4 feet, his nails are thick and long and he has no shoes for protection from salt, gravel or anything sharp.  Here are some tips for foot care for your dogs from Dames and Sires Beauty Spa.

Dog’s nails grow quickly and if left untrimmed for too long, can give them difficulty with traction, let alone causing severe pain, which could lead to medical issues, like walking irregular, which can lead to skeletal problems.  “Nails typically should be trimmed every two to four weeks, and we highly recommend filing,” says Michelle Michael from Dames and Sires Beauty Spa.

Don’t feel bad if you didn’t know there was a difference or even an option, neither did I, but the ladies at Dames and Sires have explained and showed me the differences.

Trimming-Trimming is basically is cutting off the sharp, long tips and making the nails shorter again, while avoiding cutting the quick, which is the blood vessel supply and the nerve in your dogs nail.

Filing-Filing follows trimming, and is done with a filer. “It allows us to get closer to the quick, making the nail as short as possible, without causing pain or bleeding of the nail.  It also helps the quick recede, making it possible for us to get the nails shorter in subsequent visits.  It also smoothes the rough edges of the nail after trimming,” says Michelle.

Long nails cause many issues such as allowing the quick to grow with the nail, which if left untrimmed for too long of a time can make the nail become frail and easy to fracture, and in some cases allow the quick to grow to the total length of the nail, making trimming both dangerous and painful.  (Remember, there’s a blood vessel and nerve in it.)  It is important to not try to trim a long nail short all at once, as it will take time for the quick to recede.

Trimming the hair in the paw pad area can help your dog feel better too.  The hair traps dirt, debris, burrs and many other unwanted objects which can not only make your house dirty and muddy, but can cause other problems for your dog.

Also make sure you check their paw pads, even though the pads are a thick, tough skin, they still can become cut from sharp objects like rocks or salt, they can also become irritated from chemicals in yards, ice melt and a variety of other conditions.

To help prevent these things from occurring, we recommend a regular grooming schedule for your dog.

Although the basic treatment packages include nail trimming and removal of paw pad hair,  the groomers  at Dames & Sires Beauty Spa also offer nail filing, paw butter and/or  Paw Spaw treatments as an add on service.  Call them at 217-361-5733 to ask about their new amazing Spaw treatments which include soaking their paws in a luxurious, anti-fungal and anti-septic fizzy treatment, trimming, filing and Paw Butter to lock in moisture.

Samantha Hudgins owns and operates Dames and Sires Beauty Spa, located at Tails to Remember in Springfield, IL.  Michelle Michael has been an Academy Instructor and groomer for many years.  Together, Sam and Michelle have over 28 years of experience in grooming a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and guinea pigs.  

Dames and Sires Beauty Spa is available for all your pet grooming needs, they are now open Tuesday-Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and can be contacted by calling 217-361-5733 or by
booking online at DamesandSires.com.

They are located at Tails to Remember Pet Services, 3036 Peoria Road, Springfield, IL 62702.

So...How do I properly brush my dog?

So…How do I properly brush my dog?

Have you ever been brushing your dog and thought, “Why am I not getting more hair off of him,” “Why are there knots and tangles,” or, “Why is she still shedding so much?”  It could be you’re not doing it quite the right way.  Often times I will hear people tell Sam and Michelle, “Her coat looks so much better after you’ve done it.”  So, they have decided to share a few secrets on how to properly and thoroughly brush your dog.

First of all, you need to know that there are different types of coats.  In fact many types of coats, including Natural Long Hair, Silky, Heavy, Double Coated, Combination, Smooth and Short Coated, Curly and Wavy Coated, Long Coats and the list goes on.  Michelle explained some of the differences in coats and how to brush them to me.  

To make things easier to understand, we combined some of the technical classes of coats into three main groups-Short Coated, Long Coated and Curly, Double or Heavily Coated.

We started with an easy one, Short Coats, which includes smooth coated dogs as well.   A Short Coat is exactly what it sounds like, short, close to the body, usually straight and doesn’t require trimming.  “Short coats shed the most, but because of the hair size, people don’t realize it.  Keeping the dog washed regularly with a high quality pet grade shampoo, using conditioner and weekly brushing helps with the shedding,” according to Michelle.  The use of a “Zoom Groom” brush every few days, and a de-shedding tool once a week is what she recommends.  Brush from the head to the tail in gentle, short strokes.  Slicker brushes are not effective.   Some examples of short coated dogs are Bassetts, Beagles, Pit Bulls, Labradors, Pugs, Rottweilers, Boxers, Great Danes and Bulldogs.

Long Coats-Guess what, they are just what they sound like, long hair.  Some common examples of dogs with this coat type are:  Shih Tzu,  Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Yorkies, full coated Cocker Spaniels and full coated Schnauzers.   Michelle recommends regular bathing with a high quality pet grade shampoo and also recommends using conditioner.  “I start with a slicker brush, going with and against the grain of the hair in short strokes from the head to the tail, followed up with a medium/fine tooth comb to ensure all the tangles are combed out,” says Michelle.  If there are heavy matts or tangles present, you may want to consider taking your dog to a professional groomer, as they have other tools available that they can use to safely remove them. Matts can be dangerous and painfully to your dog, which we will explain more about in a future post, and, if allowed to get to severe, will have to be shaved out.

Curly, Double or Heavily Coated dogs.  Some examples of these types of dogs are Bichon Frise, Poodles, some Doodles, Husky, Golden Retrievers, Shelties, St. Bernard, German Shepherds and Chows.  Again, Michelle recommends regular bathing with a high quality pet grade shampoo and also recommends using conditioner.  She prefers to start with a slicker brush, going with and against the grain of the hair in short strokes from head to tail.  Try to get as close to the skin as possible by parting the hair with one hand and brushing with the other.  Then, follow up with a medium/fine tooth comb to ensure all tangles and undercoat is removed.  The undercoat is the finer hair closest to the skin which is where matts tend to form.  For a Double and Heavy coated dog, use the “Zoom Groom” and deshedding tool as well, there is no need to use them on a curly coated dog as they will not be effective.

Of course, each dog is unique and individual, and there are too many types of coats to explain in this blog, so Sam and Michelle invite you to stop in and bring your dog, so they can evaluate their coat and teach you some “tricks” to make brushing easier, more enjoyable for you and your pet and to give them a beautiful, less shedding coat.  You may also want to consider signing up for the Pristine Program offered at Dames and Sires Beauty Spa which is a regular maintenance program, designed to keep you and your furry friend on a regular schedule at a discounted rate.  Please ask Sam and Michelle for more information on this program and to see how it can help you keep your dogs coat in the best condition possible.

Here are some other tips to help maintain your dogs coat and make brushing easier:  -Make sure the coat is completely dry before beginning any brushing.

-Diet is important and plays a big role in your dog’s coat.

-Use a high quality pet grade shampoo, human shampoo is not ph balanced for pets and can dry out their skin.

Samantha Hudgins owns and operates Dames and Sires Beauty Spa, located at Tails to Remember in Springfield, IL.  Michelle Michael has been an Academy Instructor and groomer for many years.  Together, Sam and Michelle have over 28 years of experience in grooming a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and guinea pigs.  Dames and Sires Beauty Spa is available for all your pet grooming needs, they are now open Tuesday-Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and can be contacted by calling 217-361-5733 or by booking online at DamesandSires.com.  They are located at Tails to Remember Pet Services, 3036 Peoria Road, Springfield, IL 62702.

Why is brushing your pet so important?

We are beginning a series of blog post about grooming and caring for your pets.  Today’s topic is, “Why is Brushing your Pet Important?”

When I first started  thinking about topics for my Blog Post, I wanted to tackle some of the common issues we hear from Pet owners, so I sat down with Sam and Michelle from Dames and Sires Beauty Spa and asked them what are some of the issues they see and what are some of the questions they get asked? 

First of all, I asked, “Why is Brushing so Important?”  Both of them responded, “Do you think we want to shave a dog or cat who has a perfectly healthy coat of hair, except they are knotted, tangled and matted?”  I then asked, what are the benefits of brushing, besides the obvious of making them look great?  “Brushing helps remove dead hair and helps with the natural shedding process and prevents matting,” said Samantha Hudgins, owner of Dames and Sires Beauty Spa.  Michelle chimed in and mentioned that it’s also a great way to look at the overall health of their skin and coat.  “When brushing, look at their skin, see if there are any fleas, hot spots, burrs or inflammation,” said Michelle Michael, a canine stylist at Dames and Sires.  Both agreed that regular daily brushing helps promote your pet’s coats natural sheen, and who doesn’t like a massage, which is what brushing is like to most pets.  I think the response that left me the most compelled to brush Scotch is what both Sam and Michelle said, “It’s great bonding time.”  And after all, who doesn’t like to bond with their pet.  Proper brushing doesn’t take long and we’ll explore ways to properly brush your pet(s) in future posts, but for now, give your pet a “brushing massage” and bond with them for awhile.

Samantha Hudgins owns and operates Dames and Sires Beauty Spa, located at Tails to Remember in Springfield, IL.  Together, Sam and Michelle have over 28 years of experience in grooming a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and guinea pigs.  Dames and Sires Beauty Spa is available for all your grooming needs, they are open Wednesday-Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and  can be contacted by calling 217-361-5733 or book online at DamesandSires.com.  They are located at Tails to Remember Pet Services, 3036 Peoria Road, Springfield, IL 62702.

Are Your Pets Messing with Your Sex Life? - Pet360 Pet Parenting Simplified

This is the final post on our pets in bed series.  If you missed the first two, check out our blog post to catch up.  We have offered opposing views on the subject, but thought, this one is important as well.  After you've read the articles, please visit our facebook page and let us know what you think, do you let your pets sleep with you, or banish them to another room?.  We are just curious how many people let their pets sleep with them.

Are Your Pets Messing with Your Sex Life?

by Dorri Olds

There are times you want that warm, sweet, furry body nuzzled against yours in bed. (Sorry, guys, we’re talking about the pets.) And there are times (now, gents, we’re talking about you) that you don’t.

Should pets exit the room when it's sex time, or hunker down with you, in full view, until it's over? 

In a random sampling of pet-owning couples, all said they allow their pets to sleep with them in bed. But when they try to use that bed for another pastime that didn’t involve sleep, respondents were evenly split on whether their other love mates should continue their bedroom privileges – or be temporarily banished. Among the comments in both camps:

Let ‘em Stay

Prying eyes: “When we have sex, the cat sits there and stares at us,” says one interviewee. “When she starts sniffing around, my husband pushes her away. We made it work. Now, we have a second cat in the bed and he snores. Does it put a damper on things? Not really. I tell myself that cats do it in front of the whole world, so from their perspective what we are doing is perfectly normal.”

Exploring new terrority: “We got our first Yorkie two months after we moved into our house. She lasted one night in a crate and then became a permanent fixture in our bed. She has been spooning my husband for 14 years now and sighs when she can't get next to him. So, yes, it puts a damper on spontaneous sex in the bedroom. But there are other rooms in the house to sneak off to.”

Speaking in (wagging) tongues: “The dogs just look at us like, ‘Here they go again’ and slowly move to the end of the bed. Then, every few minutes they do a quick glance as if to say, ‘Enough already.’ When they’ve had all they can take they retreat to the living room and slowly work their way back, checking to see if all is quiet again. If not, they go back to the living room as if to say, ‘Can’t you two get a room?’”

Animal magnetism = well-groomed canines: “Yes, they do put a damper on sex. There’s nothing like a cold dog nose against my rear end to break the mood. We have tried a crate and shutting the bedroom door, but both without success. They whine and cry because they want to be with us. Or maybe with just me — I have that animal magnetism thing going on. Our solution? We accept it and laugh it off and we live for the days they go to the groomer!”

Keep ‘em Out

Taking cover: “The first dog we let sleep in our bed was a dachshund and there is no negotiating with them. They make themselves right at home, under the covers, whether you want them to or not. Yes, it sometimes puts a damper on things. So we put the dogs outside of the bedroom and lock the door and they’re pretty good.”

Happy reunions. “We have to kick our dog out. He’s okay in the beginning but when one of us gets vocal he doesn't like that. Not only do we have to shut the door but we have a piece of baby gate we set up in front of it because he kept scratching the door. When we let him back in, it's always a joyful doggie kissy fest on the bed, so we’re all happy.”

No fuss when we frolic: “It was never a question about them sleeping with us, that was a given. When we are getting our groove on we make sure to put the ‘kids’ in another room so it doesn’t disrupt us and make anything feel weird. It’s almost like they understand not to cause a fuss.”

So what do the experts say?

“There is nothing wrong with pets sleeping in the bed unless they use that position to the owner’s disadvantage,” says animal behaviorist and author Darlene Arden. “Then they should lose the privilege until they can behave in a more generous manner.”

Adds Marty Klein, PhD, author of Sexual Intelligence and other books about sexuality: “Pet owners can arrange almost anything they want. If you can’t train your pet to do what, you need to (teach them) to behave better. People use the uncontrollability of their pet as an excuse. When a couple says to me, ‘We have no choice, we don’t want to make the pet uncomfortable or we can’t make the pet do what we want them to do,’ what I hear is, ‘We’d rather discomfort ourselves than discomfort the animal.’”

When you want to keep both species happy, it may help to ensure the four-legged variety is too tired to be a distraction:

“For cats, I suggest playtime for the pets before bedtime,” says Arden. “Take out an interactive wand toy to play with the cat, and tire her enough to fall asleep. Give her a treat and put her in another room with her scratching post, food, water, a bed, and a couple of safe toys to play with. And of course, a litter box.

“For dogs,” she adds, “I suggest a long walk and some play before bedtime. Give him a treat, put him in a separate room with a bed or a crate with the door open, water and toys. You want him to be happy and tired enough not to care because he’d rather sleep.”

Sleeping With Your Pet Can Be Good For Your Health: Safety Tips When Sharing Bed With Your Dogs, Cats

15 February 2016, 4:25 am EST By Rina Marie Doctor Tech Times

Experts said sleeping with pets may be good for health. Here are some helpful tips to ensure sharing bed with dogs or cats become a beneficial and safe experience.  

Previous studies and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agree that sleeping with pets may be good for the health.  Despite this, it is still important to practice certain measures to ensure that the unconventional sharing of bed with dogs or cats remain beneficial and ultimately, safe.

In a study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings in 2015, 41 percent of pet owners reported that sleeping with pets does not create negative issues and is in fact, advantageous.  Study subjects said that sleeping with pets allows them to feel a sense of companionship, security and relaxation. Such reports cannot be ignored because quality sleep is defined by relaxation of both the physical and mental states.

CDC also said that having pets in the household have an array of benefits. This includes lowering blood pressure, cholesterol levels and feelings of loneliness. Aside from that, it can also increase opportunities for physical activity and socialization.

Although pets are recognized to have an overall positive effect, these furry animals may carry germs that cause what experts call zoonotic diseases. Spotting pets that carry these germs is hard, especially because carriers typically look normal and healthy. People may allow these pets to sleep on their beds without knowing the risks. Therefore, it is very important to take caution.

Here are some safety tips when sharing bed with dogs and cats.

• Take pets to the veterinarian for regular check-up to ensure that it is free of diseases.
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• Subject pets to monthly preventive interventions against fleas and other parasites.
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• Ensure that pets' vaccination is up-to-date.
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• Always practice good hygiene to prevent transmission of germs that owners may acquire from pets.
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• Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and running water every after contact with pet's saliva.
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• Contact veterinarian if pets exhibit unusual signs and symptoms of illness.
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• Clean up stool, urine or vomit on bed or in the bedroom immediately. Disinfect the area and be sure to don gloves and wash hands thoroughly afterwards.
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Not all pets are meant to sleep with its owners on bed. In fact, not all pets for adoption or for sale are suitable for every family. CDC recommends checking the breed and the type of dog or cat before getting one. Most importantly, it is a must to consider household members who have weak immune systems, very young, very old and those with diseases such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS.

Knowledge is key hence, pet owners must ask their pet's veterinarian about the type of environment, food and specific care that their pets need. Some dogs are better left outside of the house while cats are typically more suitable inside. Those specific pet needs and wants are important to consider before owning a pet, and ultimately, before letting them sleep on the bed.

- See more at: http://www.techtimes.com/articles/133573/20160215/sleeping-with-your-pet-can-be-good-for-your-health-safety-tips-when-sharing-bed-with-your-dogs-cats.htm#sthash.QjMy3MHC.dpuf

Dogs and Cats in Bed?

Does your Dog and Cat sleep with you?  There are many of us who wouldn't think of going to bed without our furry friends, usually they get more of the bed than we do!  But...


In the next few posts, we're going to look at the pros and cons of letting your pets sleep with you. We're going to present different views and let you decide.  Today's article comes from Ceaser's Way. We hope you'll take a few minutes to read it, it's short I promise!  Follow the link to the article,  To Cuddle or Not?

While I have been doing research for this blog, I have been amazed on how many studies have been done, and also, that there doesn't seem to be a right answer.  After we post a few stories and studies, we are going to do a poll on facebook.  Follow along here and on our facebook page

 Dames and Sires Beauty Spa is happy to announce the addition of a second groomer.

Samantha, the owner of Dames and Sires Beauty Spa, which is located at Tails to Remember Pet Services, is pleased to announce the addition of a second groomer, Michelle.  Combined, the two have over 26 years of grooming experience. In fact, Michelle was very instrumental in training Samantha when she first began grooming.

"With the addition of a second groomer, we will be able to bathe and groom an increased number of animals, while maintaining our relaxed, caring, safe and clean environment for your pet," says Samantha.

I have been very impressed with the work I have seen from both groomers.  It really is fun to watch them work together, they both really care for you and your pets.  They make sure your furbabies have an enjoyable time while visiting.  Many times you catch them playing fetch (with the dogs, not each other) and keeping your "kids" comfortable.

Samantha and Michelle will be answering grooming questions for you here on our blog.  If there are any particular questions you would like to ask, let us know here or send us an e-mail at info@tailstoremember.com.   

Please call 217-361-5733 to schedule your appointment with Dames and Sires Beauty Spa, or book online at damesandsires.com.  Their regular hours are Wednesday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., but you can call anytime and they will get back with you as soon as possible.

Dames and Sires Beauty Spa opened in March of 2016.  They can be found inside Tails to Remember Pet Services, 3036 Peoria Road, Springfield, IL 62702.  They care for a variety of animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs and certain reptiles. Regular hours are Wednesday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.