DIY Archives - Stylish Paws

We all know how healthy coconut oil is for us humans, but did you know that as healthy as it is for us, it is for our furry loves? It has a wide variety of benefits and uses for our furry companions, including digestion support, fur conditioner, soothes skin irritations, quick energy booster, supports heathy weight, aids in bone and joint health, improves general skin health, and disinfects cuts, wounds and bites just to name a few. I’ll be honest, I am not a huge fan of using it in my cooking but Oscar on the other hand absolutely loves it! So here are a few ways your pooch can benefit from a little coconut oil each day…

Skin and fur conditioner

We have all had skin irritations and rashes at some point in our lives, so we know exactly how itchy and sore they can be. When you notice your pup scratching and gnawing at his fur, try rubbing a handful of coconut oil onto his fur and give him a little massage to soothe his inflamed skin area. Coconut has great soothing properties to help ease skin irritations caused by dry skin, flea bites or just a general rash. Coconut oil works wonders on our own hair so why not treat your pups fur to a hydrating mask too. Simply bath him as usual and condition his fur with coconut oil instead of his usual pet conditioner. Gently massage the coconut oil into his skin-This is always Oscar’s favourite part of his bath regime. It is not necessary to rinse thoroughly but you can rinse slightly to get the greasy residue off. Your pooch will smell gorgeous too 🙂

Snout and paw protector

When your pups paws feel a little extra rough and tough, you can rub a small amount of coconut oil on them to soften them up. It will also heal any cuts he may have on his paws. You can also smear a small amount onto his snout when it looks a little dry and cracked (read all about Oscar’s schnoz and why your pups nose may be a little dry here: Oscar’s Schnoz).

A healthy coat

For a healthy and shiny coat, you can feed your furry love a small spoonful or two of coconut oil each day. You can mix it in with their kibble to make it extra delicious or you can make one of the yummy treat recipes below. Start with a teaspoon amount and slowly increase it to a tablespoon-depending on the size of your pup! If it upsets your pups tummy please don’t give him anymore. As a guideline, for a small pooch start with 1/4 teaspoon and slowly increase it over time to a full teaspoon. For a medium to large pup, start with a teaspoon and work your way up to a tablespoon.

Treats

Coconut oil drops

Ingredients

Organic coconut oil

Directions

For this recipe, the coconut oil needs to be slightly hard, not a runny consistency. Scoop some organic coconut oil into a zip lock bag and seal it tightly. Line a baking tray or any tray with grease proof paper. Cut just the tip off the zip lock bag and squeeze dollops of the coconut oil onto the baking tray. Place them into the freezer for a few hours. Remove them and store the coconut drops in an airtight container or jar in the fridge or freezer.

Frozen peanut butter, banana and coconut pops

Ingredients

1 cup organic peanut butter

1 cup organic coconut oil

1 medium banana, mashed

Directions

Mix all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl. The softer the coconut oil and peanut butter, the easier it will be to combine. You can use a spoon or an electric beater. Once completely mixed, spoon the mixture into silicone ice trays. You can also make little drops like the above recipe if you would prefer. Simply place the mixture in the fridge for 10 minutes to harden slightly then follow the steps above. Place them in the freezer for a few hours. Store them in an air tight container or jar and keep them in the fridge or freezer.

No bake peanut butter and coconut balls

Ingredients

1/3 cup coconut oil

2 tbs organic peanut butter

3 tbs apple sauce

2 cups oats

2 tsp honey

1 tsp vanilla extract

Sprinkle of cinnamon

Directions

Mix together the coconut oil, peanut butter, apple sauce, honey, vanilla and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl, then add the oats. If the mixture is too stiff to work with then add a little extra apple sauce. If it is too sticky then add a little extra oats. Scoop the mixture into meatball-sized balls and place them onto a greased baking tray or plate. Freeze them for a few hours before letting your pup enjoy. Store them in an air tight container or jar and keep them in the fridge or freezer. Warning-These are seriously delicious and I love sharing these treats with Oscar 😉

Enjoy the wonders of coconut oil!

Thank you for reading

Oscar has never been to a doggy salon. I don’t know who would experience more anxiety-him or myself! But that doesn’t mean he is not groomed at home. Oscar gets attended to on a daily basis, whether it’s a simple brush of his coat, teeth cleaning or ear cleaning. I wouldn’t say Oscar loves his scheduled bath days, but he does love the feeling of being clean and of course he gets extra kisses and cuddles when he is soft and smelling like vanilla and sweet pea. I take huge pride in the fact that Oscar is so well home groomed.

How often should your furry love get bathed? I believe it is a personal choice. Sure, it is not good for your pup to get bathed daily. They have natural skin oils just like we do and if you bath them too often you strip away those oils. I bath Oscar once a week-depending on his weekend activities. If he decides to go rolling in sand and is filthy from head to toe, he definitely gets bathed. Other times he goes two or three weeks without needing a bath.

So here are some DIY grooming tips for you and your furry love…

Brushing: I believe it’s a good idea to brush your pup daily. This allows you to check for ticks and fleas or lumps and bumps that should not be there and it’s also a little bonding session for the two of you. If you have a long haired dog, daily brushing or combing will help get knots and tangles out. Daily brushing also helps with hair shedding.

Getting Wet: Always use the best quality dog shampoo and conditioner you can afford and buy ones that suit your pooches fur (curly, long, short, dry etc). Please do not use human shampoo’s on your pup! Always rinse the product off your pups fur thoroughly. Be careful not to scold your pup either. A lukewarm bath or shower is best for your pooch.

This was Oscar’s first bath!

Drying:

Oscar hates the hair dryer, and for him getting towel dried is a bit of a game. If your pup doesn’t mind the hair dryer be careful not to burn him. Always set it on the coolest setting. Plan your pups bath times. Don’t bath him at night if he does not enjoy being blow dried. You do not want him sleeping with wet fur all night. Instead plan a mid-day bath where you can run around and have fun while he gets dry.

Teeth: Oscar doesn’t enjoy getting his teeth brushed, even after 12 years! But I insist of course. Use a properly designed toothbrush for your pooch and use special pet toothpaste. NEVER use human toothpaste! Brushing your pups teeth helps you to check for any changes in his gums too.

Ears: I never let water get into Oscar’s ears while bathing him. I am very careful around his face. I do use a cotton bud to clean the visible gunk that accumulates in his ears. I never go deep into his ear! Oscar has long Basset Hound ears which are usually prone to ear infections. I believe that as a result of my careful ear cleaning he has never had an ear infection in his life. He has had his ears syringed a few times at his vet which clean the entire ear our properly. Speak to your vet about getting your pups ears cleaned.

Nails: Oscar is pretty patient and lets me do just about anything to him-except cut his nails! This is his vets job! For some reason Oscar absolutely hates this part of his grooming schedule and it’s a rather traumatic experience for both of us. Luckily he only needs his nails cut ever three months. If you are lucky enough to cut your pooches nails, please be careful not to cut them too short and cut into the quick. Not only will you get blood everywhere, it will be painful for your pup. If you are unsure, I recommend going to your vet or doggy salon for this one.

In-between: When Oscar is in-between his baths, I usually rub him down with doggy wet wipes and spray him with doggy perfume. This keeps him smelling and looking fresh without having to bath him. Always remember to apply a good quality tick and flea repellent to your furry love! They are on the market for a reason so please use them.

Grooming your pooch is bonding time for the two of you so have fun with it.

Thank you for reading.

Stylish Paws

Category: DIY

The wonders of coconut oil.

DIY: Dog Grooming