Fetch the 4-Legger Blog

Itchy, Biting, Chewing, Scratching - Part 4 - Thyroid!

The thyroid, a small butterfly like organ in the neck, is responsible for regulating the metabolism of your dog's cellular functions by producing hormones.  When the thyroid is unable to produce enough hormones, usually due to an autoimmune disorder, the result can be an itchy, biting, chewing, scratching dog.  

Years ago one of our own 4-Leggers was diagnosed with hypothyroidism; but not before it was late stage and over 70% of the thyroid was likely damaged.  Since the thyroid can't repair itself, it is important to catch it early.  

Not Soap or Detergent? What is it?!

The greenwashing of products REALLY upsets us! Today, we look at something that just left me feeling like a cartoon with question marks in my head. Here is what I read: 

Not Soap or Detergent? What is it?

Let's break down this bullet. It is both without soap and without detergent yet it contains "naturally derived ingredients with a proprietary blend of cleaners" (blah blah blah). Soap and detergent are not the same thing. Soaps are produced from NATURAL products while detergents are SYNTHETIC (or man-made) cleaners.

National Spoil Your Dog Day!

There are an infinite number of ways you can "spoil" your dog.

Need some ideas?

How Does Your Dog Sleep? Part 2!

Some days all it takes is to see your dog sleeping and a smile will cross your face. Everything from laying on the back with the feet in the air to curled up in a tiny ball. Have you ever moved your dog in their sleeping position because you were worried about their neck in that position? 

What does their sleeping position tell us about the dog and how does that relate to their sleep cycle?

How Does Your Dog Sleep? Part 1!

The average dog sleeps 12 - 18 hours a day and puppies sleep even longer than that! Dogs that are indoors sleep, on average, more hours a day than outdoor dogs. 

Dogs adapt better to changes in their sleeping cycles than humans.  So, they can sleep Monday - Friday from 8 am - 5 pm; but, on the weekend they can be awake from 8 am - 5 pm.  Their humans tend to do best when they go to bed at the same time every night and wake up around the same time while dogs can adapt their sleep cycle to whatever activity is happening; but, they do need to work off their energy each day to be happy dogs! 


Thunderstorms, Fireworks, & Some Scared 4-Leggers!
This year we have thunderstorms in the afternoon to be followed by fireworks this evening.  This boils down to no outdoor cookout and a lot of loud booming noises outside!  
 
Did you know that thunder is a lot different than fireworks to a dog? Fireworks are closer to the ground assaulting multiple senses at one time:  eyes, ears, nose.  Too much sensory information can be can overwhelming resulting in panting, shaking, scared dogs.  
The Greenwashing of Natural Dog Shampoo

Like many consumers, we believed if something said "natural" it was "safe". We learned that there are NO industry regulations for what can be labeled as "natural" and "organic". 

We read about "greenwashing" - making things sound healthy and natural when in reality they are far from what we have in our minds as "natural or organic". Unless a product is USDA certified to food grade standards, it is NOT organic. 

International Nomenclature of Dog Shampoo Ingredients
In case you wanted to know the INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) of our ingredients, here they are:   Essential Oils Cedarwood Essentail Oil = Cedrus virginiana Sweet Orange Essential Oil = Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil Eucalyptus Essential Oil =...
Is Jojoba Oil Safe for Dogs?

 

Name: 
Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil 

Method of Extraction
Cold pressed and unrefined (no solvents or high heat)

About Our JoJoba Oil:
We use organic, the highest grade, jojoba oil.  As an organic oil, it was grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. 

Jojoba oil comes from the beans of a shrub-like plant that grows in Mexico and the Southern regions of the United States. It is actually a liquid plant wax, not an oil. 


Non-Ingredients: What You Won't Find In 4-Legger's Organic Dog Shampoo
In 2014, as we embarked on our mission to transform the pet grooming industry, we meticulously crafted a list of ingredients that would never be in any of our all natural dog shampoos. While this list originally took shape on a humble notepad, it remains the cornerstone of our commitment to developing safe dog shampoo.