Absolute Yorkies

I still don't like baths, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  It’s the first day of March break!  We’re away this week so we’re revisiting a few of our favourite posts.  Feel free to root around in our archives and read some posts that you might have missed!

Is Your Yorkie Having A Bad Hair Day?
(originally posted December 7, 2009)
TODAY’S TIDBIT:  You wouldn’t let just anyone do your hair would you? So what about your Yorkie’s hair? Choosing the right groomer is just as important as choosing the right vet!  Here in Canada, many groomers have taken specific courses to become certified by the Groomers Institute of Canada. Take some time to do a little research before you choose a groomer for your little Yorkie. Believe me, it’s worth the extra effort!

1. Ask your vet or breeder for a referral to a groomer that they know and respect. Our vet has business cards at the reception desk and on the bulletin board with the names of several groomers in our area.
2. Do they have experience grooming Yorkies? Grooming a toy breed is a lot different than grooming a larger sized breed.
3. How do they support your Yorkie’s neck during the grooming process? Very important question here! Yorkies have extremely delicate windpipes. Some groomers use a loop to hold the dog’s head in place while they’re being groomed. Be sure to ask the groomer if she’s careful not to put unnecessary tension on the loop around your Yorkie’s little neck.
4. Is the facility clean or is there dog hair all over the floor? Is it warm enough? A cold draftee room is the last place you want a wet little Yorkie.
5. Would you feel comfortable leaving your little Yorkie with this person for several hours? IF IN DOUBT, DON’T!!!

Groomers play a huge part in the overall well being of your dog.  Take your time, and choose wisely!  Come back on Wednesday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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I like my hair short, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  My hands are shrivelling up like prunes?  Do you suffer from dry skin in the winter?  I’m sure I’m not the only one who has hands that feel like sandpaper!  Your Yorkie’s skin could be getting dry too. 

Here are a few tips to help your Yorkie’s dry skin:

• Bathing your Yorkie too frequently can contribute to dry skin.  My Yorkies are inside during the winter so they don’t need to be bathed as often as they do in the summer when they’re rolling around outside.
• Make sure the water is not too hot.  Your Yorkie won’t be soaking in the bath so make the water temperature comfortable and get the job done so your Yorkie doesn’t get cold.
• We keep our Yorkies in a puppy cut because the hair is much shorter.  Shorter hair in the winter helps prevent tangles from rain or snow.  If you prefer to keep your Yorkie’s hair long which is lovely too, you’ll need to be diligent about grooming if you’re going to be taking your Yorkie outside. 
• Make sure the hair between your Yorkie’s pads on her paws is cut short and if you are taking your Yorkie out for a walk, rinse her feet when she comes in to remove any sand or de-icing products.
• Use an oatmeal and aloe vera shampoo to soothe and moisturize the skin.  Using a conditioner after shampooing is a good idea. 
• If you notice your Yorkie constantly biting or scratching his skin, he may have an allergy or has irritated a dry spot.  A visit to the vet to find out what’s causing the itching and to treat the spot is necessary so the skin doesn’t get infected and to ease your dog’s discomfort.
• Rub a little vaseline petroleum jelly on any rough areas on the pads of your Yorkie’s paws to help soften and soothe them.

Well my friends, I think I’ll go and put some more hand cream on my “sand paper” hands!  See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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My toenails are so tiny, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Trimming your Yorkie’s toenails can be tricky!  Sometimes you may accidentally cut a toenail too short and it bleeds.  Blood vessels run down the centre of your dog’s nails.  So the quickest way to stop the bleeding is to press a little bit of styptic powder into the tip of the bleeding nail.

Styptic powder is an antiseptic clotting agent.  It stops the bleeding by constricting the blood vessels and helps stop bacteria from entering the affected nail. 

We suggest keeping styptic powder right beside you when you’re trimming your Yorkie’s nails, but if you haven’t got it yet, you can use flour or cornstarch on the nail to stop the bleeding.  Styptic powder is available at pharmacies or pet retailers.

Because our Yorkies’ nails are so tiny, we use cat clippers to trim their nails.  We find cat clippers easier to handle and gentler for our Yorkies.

Cat clippers like JW Pet Nail Clippers for Cats

Have a fantastic weekend everyone and see you on Monday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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I love bathtime, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  It’s the last day of our holidays!  They’ve gone so fast!  Today we’re revisiting our post about Yorkie hair and shampoo choices.  Share with us what shampoo works best for your Yorkie.

Love Me. Love My Hair
(originally posted November 16, 2009)
TODAY’S TIDBIT: “Hair. Long beautiful hair. Shining, gleaming, streaming.” Just like the song from the theatre production Hair, Yorkies have amazing hair! Each strand has it’s own follicle just like human hair. And because they don’t shed like some other breeds, Yorkies are great for pet owners who have allergies. But how do you take care of such a majestic mane?

Use a shampoo with aloe or an essential fatty acid in it as a moisturizer to preserve the natural oils in your Yorkie’s skin. My skin absolutely shrivels up in a Canadian winter and your Yorkie’s skin can get really dry too. We use a shampoo by Plush Puppy that contains evening primrose oil. We’re not here to endorse any particular brand, but we do find that the shampoo is an awesome product. We finish our bathing routine with a good conditioner, preferably one with a protein base.

Try and avoid shampoos that are a combination of shampoo and conditioner. They don’t seem to clean the dog’s coat very well. We discourage the use of people shampoo because the composition of our shampoos is different than doggie shampoos and the additives can really irritate your little Yorkie’s skin.

Do you have a shampoo or conditioner that really works for your Yorkie?  Tell us about it.

Have an amazing weekend everybody and see you on Monday for TODAY’S TIDBIT!

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I love Mackenzie mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT: We’ve all had our nostrils assaulted by the acrid smell of skunk. But how do we rid our unsuspecting dogs of the offensive odour if they have the misfortune of being sprayed by a skunk?

The oily spray from a skunk contains smelly sulphur compounds called thiols. Our noses are very sensitive to chemicals like thiols that make the skunk’s spray so stinky. The old remedy of using tomato juice to neutralize the odour just doesn’t work. It only masks the smell for a short while but doesn’t actually get rid of it.

Through our research, we’ve found information about an Illinois chemist named Paul Krebaum who’s developed “The Skunk Remedy Recipe” that actually changes the chemistry of the skunk spray. He recommends mixing 1 quart of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, ¼ cup of baking soda and 1 to 2 teaspoons of liquid soap and bathing your dog with it.

WE RECOMMEND YOU CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR THE SKUNK REMEDY RECIPE AND FOLLOW MR. KREBAUM’S DIRECTIONS IF YOU’RE GOING TO TRY THIS REMEDY.  You might want to read the Frequently Asked Questions section about this remedy on his website before you “de-skunk” your dog.

NEVER store mixed solution in a closed bottle or sprayer. Pressure can build up and cause the container to burst. You could be seriously hurt if the container bursts.

Check with your vet to discuss these and other suggestions to help you rid your dog of the nasty smell of skunk spray.

See you on Wednesday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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I like it when you brush my teeth mommy!

Brighten Your Yorkie’s Smile
(Originally posted March 05, 2010)
TODAY’S TIDBIT: Brushing your Yorkie’s teeth can be a bit challenging at first but clean teeth and gums are important to her overall health. Start examining your Yorkie’s teeth with your fingers while he’s a puppy so that he gets used to having his gums touched.

The next step is to put a little doggie toothpaste on a piece of gauze and rub your Yorkie’s teeth and gums. You can purchase specially formulated toothpaste for dogs at your local pet store. We don’t recommend using toothpaste or toothbrushes designed for humans.

Once you’ve tackled the gauze, try using a little doggie toothbrush that fits over the end of your finger with toothpaste or if you’re a bit more adventurous, a toothbrush designed for dogs.

If you’re unsuccessful at brushing your Yorkie’s teeth, you could try an herbal dental cleaner like Leba III that you spray right on the dog’s teeth. It’s quite expensive but you can buy it online at Ren’s Pets Depot.  If you’re concerned about your Yorkie’s teeth, talk to your vet.

Persevere and you’ll get the hang of it! Your Yorkie will thank you.

See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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I promise to stay away from the paint mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT: It’s springtime and everybody wants to get outside and fix up their lawns and houses!  People are bringing out the paint to repair winter’s wrath. Driveways are being resurfaced. We’re taking our Yorkies for longer walks on the city sidewalks. Why is it that Yorkies’ coats seem to me magnets for all this “sticky stuff?”

Here are a few “undesirable” substances our Yorkies have encountered and what we’ve done for “damage control”:

Tree sap: Almost hardens right away and makes a tangled mess. You can try and wash it out and then rub a little mink oil on the hair while you’re brushing your Yorkie’s coat.

Paint: If your dog isn’t going into the show ring, just let the paint wear out. A few baths over time should do the trick. NEVER use paint remover or solvent on your Yorkie! It’s poisonous if ingested by your dog and will really irritate their skin.

Tar: Cutting it out is your best bet. If the dog has a lot of tar in his coat, try rubbing the tar with petroleum jelly and wiping it off with a rag. Watch your Yorkie to make sure he doesn’t eat the tar.

Gum: It’s disgusting when people discard their chewed up gum on the sidewalk! Try rubbing the gum with ice cubes and then cutting it out. Be careful not to let your Yorkie eat the gum because it could get lodged in her throat.

To make life easier for you and your Yorkie, make sure the hair between and around the paddy paws is clipped away so if they do walk in some “junk” off the ground it won’t get stuck between the pads.

Enjoy the weather this weekend and we’ll see you back on Monday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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Is it time to brush our teeth mommy?

The next step is to put a little doggie toothpaste on a piece of gauze and rub your Yorkie’s teeth and gums. You can purchase specially formulated toothpaste for dogs at your local pet store. We don’t recommend using toothpaste or toothbrushes designed for humans.

Once you’ve tackled the gauze, try using a little doggie toothbrush that fits over the end of your finger with toothpaste or if you’re a bit more adventurous, a toothbrush designed for dogs.

If you’re unsuccessful at brushing your Yorkie’s teeth, you could try an herbal dental cleaner like Leba III that you spray right on the dog’s teeth. It’s quite expensive but you can buy it online at Ren’s Pets Depot.  If you’re concerned about your Yorkie’s teeth, talk to your vet.

Persevere and you’ll get the hang of it! Your Yorkie will thank you. Have a great weekend everybody and see you on Monday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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I love my purple bow mommy!

To tie a Yorkie Top Knot:

• Make sure the hair on her head is clean.
• Gently gather the hair from her forehead and around her eyes.
• Comb it up onto the top of her head into a ponytail. 
• Secure the hair with a tiny rubber band designed for dogs that you can buy online or at the pet store.
• Don’t pull the ponytail too tightly.
• Finish with a cute little bow.

When you remove the elastic band, carefully cut it with scissors.  Don’t pull it out as the tugging could hurt your Yorkie and break the hair.  Have fun shopping for little bows!  See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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We don't like the cold mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Winter has just begun and so has my dry and itchy skin!  The harsh Canadian weather has not been kind to me.  If my skin is suffering in this weather, what about my poor little Yorkie’s skin?  Dogs can suffer from dry, flaky skin in the cold winter months. 

To prevent your Yorkie’s skin from getting dry, Boston area veterinarian Dr. Michael Levine suggests, “Avoid frequent bathing for dogs and small animals. During the dry, cold winter months, pets should only get a once-monthly bath.”  We use a shampoo with oatmeal or aloe to help soothe the skin.

Your vet may prescribe an Omega-3 fatty acid vitamin supplement for your Yorkie. Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids.  Veterinarian Dr. Holly Nash, from Drs. Foster & Smith Pet Supply Company says, “For many years, pet owners have given fatty acids to their dogs and cats to change a dull, dry hair coat into a more glossy one.”

Springtime can’t come fast enough for me!  Join us again on Monday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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