Bathing Beauty

By Camp Bow Wow Staff

You might fluff your Doodle, shave your Golden or trim your Shih-Tzu, but even a mixed-breed All American Dog needs a groom at least occasionally to look and feel his best.

Grooming actually entails more than just a bath. Just like humans, your furry family member needs regular physical maintenance to keep him healthy.

Start with brushing, which dogs often enjoy, and which helps stimulate their coats and remove dirt or lose hair. This is a great opportunity for you to spend time with your pup, especially as most love the attention they get with a good brushing. Their healthy coat should be relatively soft, even on short or wirehaired breeds, and it should look shiny, not greasy and shouldn't smell unpleasant.

Speaking of dog odor, although your pup will be perfectly happy without a bath, a good wash will eliminate oil and dirt that builds up and causes that stink. You can bathe your pup at home in the tub, sink or shower using mild baby shampoo or suds specially formulated for tougher doggie dirt. Professional grooming usually includes a bath and blow out. Some establishments offer DIY washing stations for those who’d like to contribute the sweat equity but skip the post-bath clean up.

Overly long, tangled hair can mat and cause skin problems, so at some point Fido will probably need a trim. You can call your vet, look online or check out social media for recommendations for a reputable groomer. Make sure the groomer is experienced and familiar with your furry family member’s breed and hairstyle. If your pup is scratching or showing signs of trouble with their coat or skin, talk to your vet about what you can do to resolve the problem.

Your Pup’s Grooming Needs

Regular trims keep nails from curling under and causing sore paws. An additional benefit, shorter claws will cause less damage to your floors and keep Fido from scratching his humans. If your pup is compliant, you can use a nail trimmer and/ or Dremel tool to smooth the rough edges and handle his mani-pedi at home. Otherwise, seek help from the professionals. Pet stores often offer drop-in nail service at low cost. Your veterinarian can include a nail trim as part of an exam. Mobile groomers also may add a trim to a grooming session. Prices vary widely, so ask about costs before scheduling.

The AKC also recommends hygienic practices such as teeth brushing and ear cleaning as essential aspects of regular dog care, regardless of the breed. Once again, you can tackle these yourself or enlist professionals. Your vet will keep you abreast of any oral health needs and may even recommend professional cleaning if tooth plaque build up becomes extensive. In the meantime, keep your pup groomed, trimmed and clean as part of his happy, healthy lifestyle.

By Amy Morgan

You may remember the headlines when celebrities Sonny Bono and Natasha

Richardson died after sustaining head injuries while skiing. Although our hill country slopes are not snowy enough to support the sport, recent ice storms reminded us that a small slippery patch can easily cause us to lose our footing and make it feel like we’re on skis …. until we land with a thump.

If that thump includes a head bump, consider going to Physicians Premier free-standing emergency room to make certain you are not seriously injured. Physicians Premier is located just west of Highway 281 on Highway 46 near the HEB Plus. The facility is staffed with trained professionals equipped with all the diagnostic tools available in a hospital emergency room ready to rule out or treat injuries and illnesses without the wait or the crowd.

Accidents can easily happen. You could hit your head on a windshield, be struck in the head by a high-impact object (like a baseball) or fall off a horse. In fact, any fall from a height of more than five feet (three feet for infants or small children) should be treated as suspect, and especially if you are on blood thinners like coumadin, Xarelto or Eliquis, said Gregory Yu, M.D., Pharm.D., M.P.H.

Dr. Yu has worked with Physicians Premier for three years and has six years’ experience as an emergency room physician. He trained at Georgetown after practicing as a pharmacist for seven years and earning a master’s degree in Public Health from Harvard University. Blood thinners make it more likely that head trauma could cause an intracranial bleed, which may result in severe neurological symptoms or, as in the case of the above-mentioned celebrities, death, he said.

After a head trauma you might notice symptoms like severe headache, ringing in the ears, nausea or vomiting, fatigue or drowsiness, blurry vision, confusion, amnesia, inability to move a part of the body, dizziness or blacking out. Dr. Yu noted it is difficult to evaluate those who are non-verbal, especially small children, so if behavior is “off,” that’s also a sign to bring someone in.

Dr. Yu and his colleagues will conduct a full physical and neurological examination as well as potentially order a CT scan of the head to see what’s going on inside. If indicated, they can transfer a patient to the hospital or a neurosurgeon to surgically repair a bleed with no treatment delay.

Dr. Yu noted the question parents ask him the most frequently is if their child has a concussion, and if so, how can they obtain documentation both to prove it, and to clear the child to return to activity later. Unfortunately, concussion does not show up on a CT or X-Ray, he said, but Physicians Premier can complete a post-concussion exam to clear a student if their symptoms have resolved.

Physicians Premier allows patients to access the care they need when they need it, saving time, money, alleviating concern and allowing for a healthier patient and community. Find them at MDpremier.com.