Dog Coat Health

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Keep a Happy Dog and a Healthy Dog Coat

Keeping your dog's coat healthy and clean is a very important to maintaining a healthy and happy dog. The largest organ on your dog's body is his skin and hair. Keeping your dogs' coat in good health is paramount, after, of course, letting your dog know how much you love them!

Most dog owners know to look for parasites on the skin but, what you may not know is that internal diseases such as liver disease, adrenal gland disease or thyroid gland disease can show itself through abnormal symptoms in the dogs' skin and hair. So, it is very important to examine and groom your dog so you can detect any abnormalities early.

Regular grooming will help decrease such infections like skin and ear infections. And you will be able to notice any abnormal skin discoloring or irritations.

Bathing and brushing on a regular basis can help keep your dog's skin and coat free from bacteria that can cause infection. Bathing with a 'natural' and very mildly antiseptic coat care lotion (see below) can also keep down your dogs' chance of flea infestations. Be also careful not to bath your dog too much or that could cause skin irritation, flaking and more.

If your Dog is ok (not himself, but his skin & coat!) with being bathed regularly, weekly bathing will keep down the doggie odor, encourage a healthy coat and skin, and also get your dog use to bathing. If your dog loves the outdoors and like to roam, then he may need to be bathed more than once a week. If he encounters a skunk while on his journey, he will need an immediate bath!

Why brush your dog?

Mats in the coat are the main reason! Mats can be uncomfortable, and can cause destruction of the skin, and parasites can hide in the mats.

If your dog scratches the matted areas, he will pull his skin, which will cause him to hurt and possibly bruise his skin - ouch! Help your dog stay comfortable by brushing him often.
Remember the longer the coat the more brushing that will be necessary. If you can not remove the mats by brushing, you can clip the mats very carefully by using a blunt pair of scissors and being careful not to pull the skin. The most important thing to remember is to brush often so your dog will not get mats in his coat and this problem will disappear.

Your dog will soon begin to enjoy his bath time and quality time with you. You will be able to keep a happy and healthy dog for a long time. You will enjoy bath time with your dog as you see him enjoying the attention and the attitude after he is clean and shiny... Just make sure you dry him well, and don't let him outside as he may roll in anything he can to get his preferred 'smell' back!

About the author: Matthew Seigneur
http://www.dog-pictures.co.uk A dog lovers website with plenty of dog breed information and pictures.
http://www.dog-pictures.co.uk/dog-supplements provides dog supplements and dog health care information.

Chlorhexiderm Shampoo is a full strength antiseptic shampoo which will act quickly to treat distressing skin conditions.

And it has the added bonus of keeping your pets clean & smelling nice.

What the vet says Chlorhexiderm Shampoo is a astringent, general cleaning, drying formula for topical use on cats and dogs where antimicrobial, antiseptic, cleansing and deodorizing formulation may be of benefit.

A full strength antiseptic, antimicrobial cleansing formulation with coat conditioners, ChlorhexiDerm Shampoo provides antiseptic activity and a persistent antimicrobial effect against a wide range of micro organisms, including gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Effectiveness of ChlorhexiDerm Shampoo is not reduced by presence of organic matter (such as blood). By binding to the protein of the skin, chlorhexidine provides increased residual activity.

ChlorhexiDerm Shampoo is extremely effective for those moderate to severe dermatological conditions which require a full strength antimicrobial, antiseptic cleansing formulation.

Chlorhexiderm FAQ

Brand Name
Chlorhexiderm Shampoo (DVM)

Active Ingredient(s)
Chlorhexidine Gluconate (2%)

What is Chlorhexiderm shampoo used for
Chlorhexiderm is an antiseptic shampoo combining surface-acting penetrating agents and emollients for optimal therapeutic effectiveness. It is used for dermatological conditions in dogs, cats and horses where an antiseptic, cleansing and deodorizing formulation may be of benefit.

Availability
Chlorhexiderm Shampoo is a non-prescription (OTC) medication.

How Chlorhexiderm Shampoo should be used
Wet coat thoroughly with water. Apply and lather shampoo over the entire body, allowing for 5 to 10 minutes of contact time. Rinse completely with water. Repeat procedure if necessary.

What are the side effects
If irritation develops, discontinue and consult your veterinarian.

What special precautions are there
For topical use on dogs, cats and horses. Avoid contact with the eyes. Do not use in the ears.

In the event of an overdose
If overdose is suspected contact your veterinarian or veterinary emergency room.

How should I store this medication
Store this medication at room temperature. Keep out of the reach of children and pets.

Variations of ChlorhexiDerm Shampoo include:

Chlorhexiderm Disinfectant Solution - A fragrance-free long acting antiseptic/disinfectant solution providing broad spectrum activity. For use in dogs, cats and horses.

Chlorhexiderm Flush - ChlorhexiDerm Flush is formulated for general cleansing of conditions where an antimicrobial formulation would be of benefit. Gentle and non-irritating, ChlorhexiDerm Flush may be used as often as necessary. Pleasant fragrance, non-staining, with a "safety-sized" dispensing tip.

Chlorhexiderm Scrub Plus - ChlorhexiDerm Plus Scrub adheres to the surfaces of the skin, thus creating a persistent and residual effect not seen with iodine or other antiseptics. Effective against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and yeast (example: e. coli, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, etc.), ChlorhexiDerm Plus Scrub is excellent for use as a surgical hand scrub, pre-operative patient prep, skin wound cleanser and handwash. This product is dye and fragrance free to reduce possible irritation.

Chlorhexiderm Max Spray - ChlorhexiDerm Max 4% Spray is a full strength antimicrobial leave-on spray, providing maximum effectiveness for expeditious recovery. It is ideal for the treatment of local or generalized areas of infection and can be used between bathings.