Dr. Libby Guise

It seems like allergies are more common these days, and not just for humans. Our furbabies seem to be spending more time licking, biting, and scratching dry, irritated skin. Fortunately for many pups, we can provide some relief by bathing them with oatmeal shampoo. Itchy skin was a common complaint from dog owners in our … Read more

It’s spring, and you want to include your furbaby in your spring cleaning routine. But you know Fido has sensitive skin. You don’t want to use anything that will make him break out in hives or develop dry, itchy skin. How can you find a shampoo that won’t irritate him? When dog parents came to … Read more

Some dogs seem to get dirty all the time, and others stink constantly because they’re active outdoor pups. When your pooch picks up grime and odor, it’s time for a bath. But frequently shampooing Fido might dry out his skin. When I was in practice and pup parents asked me for advice about how to … Read more

You’re a good dog owner. You give your pup plenty of attention, take him for daily walks, and you make sure he gets enough sleep. But when it comes to bath time, you might be making one big mistake: using the wrong shampoo on your pooch. The chemicals in shampoo with soap can be too … Read more

You want the best for your furbaby, and that includes their shampoo. While many people believe that all dog shampoos are the same, it’s not true. Some shampoos contain toxic chemicals that can harm your pooch’s skin and irritate his eyes, and that’s no fun at bath time. On occasion, I would get a call … Read more

You choose a dog-safe shampoo to protect your pooch. But what happens if you accidentally get some of the soap in your pal’s eyes when you’re bathing her? Is shampoo also safe for your dog’s eyes? Sometimes in practice, I’d get a call from pet parents who were concerned because shampoo got in their pups’ … Read more

You just brought home a new puppy as a companion for your older dog. After playing and wrestling in the yard, your furbabies come inside caked with dirt. All you have is regular dog shampoo. Does it really matter if you wash your puppy with your older pal’s formula? When I counseled new puppy owners … Read more

It’s a beautiful spring day, and you decide to go hiking through the woods with your furbaby. Naturally, she finds a dead animal in the underbrush. Doing what comes naturally, your pooch rolls in the remains to mask her own scent. Eww! When you return home, you remember you’re out of dog shampoo. Now what? … Read more

Nobody likes fleas. They make your dog miserable and can transmit diseases. What’s more, sometimes they jump on and bite you! When you find fleas on your furbaby, you want to get rid of them as soon as possible. But what if you discover the pesky pests on Fido and only have cat flea shampoo … Read more

It’s 4:00 pm, and your guests should arrive around 5:00. Your dog comes in from the yard smeared with something that smells like death warmed over. There’s not enough time to draw a bath, lather, rinse, and dry Fido. What should you do? Most human dry shampoos aren’t safe for dogs, as they might contain … Read more

It was a great day at the dog park, and your furbaby came home caked with mud. As you prepare a bath, you reach for the dog shampoo. Looking at the label, you discover it’s past the product’s expiration date. Does it really matter that much? Sadly, using expired grooming products is one reason we … Read more

You just spent time at the dog park, and your furbaby splashed through muddy water and needs a bath now. But when you get home, all you have on the shelf is your cat’s shampoo. Is it safe to use on your dog or not? In practice, we had many pet parents with dogs and … Read more

Baby shampoos might seem handy, especially if you ran out of dog shampoo and your dog has been a naughty boy and needs an immediate shower. But is it safe? In my 12 years of veterinary practice, I had my share of dogs with dry, irritated skin. Some problems could be directly traced to the … Read more

You come home from a restful vacation and retrieve your precious Maltese pooch from the kennel. When you get home, you notice her coat is dingy and has grass stains. The groomer is booked out for weeks. What do you do? When owners called me with this type of dilemma, I would point them to … Read more

Occasionally in my 12 years of veterinary experience, I’d see a dog with an overpowering odor that troubled the pet parent. After ruling out common issues like abscesses, sores, and flatulence, my focus would turn to pet grooming issues.  Sometimes I would learn the owner was bathing their pooch either too often, not often enough, … Read more