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Dog "beauty" question.
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Back in Septemeber I adopted a dog from a shelter. Her name is Minnie. I call her Minnie The Moocher after the Cab Calloway song, mom calls her Minnie Mae. She's a minature maltipoo. Minnie was rescued from a puppy mill where she was a breeder dog. Because of this she's only got five teeth and her white fur is discolored. Especially her feet, ears (which suffered fly strike), and hips where she would lick/chew on herself.
I bought a whitening shampoo from WalMart which helps a little. I've also had her groomed and asked the groomers to shave her paws (the fur bothers her and she chews on her feet a lot) and try to cut the other discolored fur down a lot. But they won't do it. Claiming that it's "too much for her."
I was wondering if there was a safe way to sort of "dye" her fur back to white. It's just discolored from her own salvia and years in a cage with no care. I think it could eventually grow in white again. But in the meantime I'd like to help it along. Would straight peroxcide be safe? Does anyone know of any sort of "Clarol for dogs"? A better whitening shampoo? -
Well I'm glad that little Minnie found a good home. I am a dog lover and it warms my heart to hear stories like that. I'm not sure about anything that could lighten her fur but I have had somewhat of a similiar experience with my dog. He licks his feet incessantly and was starting to develop infected sores on them from licking and keeping them moist all the time. He's been to the vet and was prescribed an allergy pill in case they were itchy from an allergy. Those didn't really help, they just made him drowsy so he'd fall asleep and not lick. I tried getting some 'hot spot' spray that is supposed to taste bitter to deter them from licking. That didn't work either. He liked licking more than he hated the taste of the spray. I'm beginning to think that it's just a comforting habit for him that will be very hard to break. So, eventually I ended up going to Petco and buying him booties. These have been the only thing to really work since they create a barrier between his tongue and feet. He sometimes will lick the bootie itself but that's no big deal. Maybe you could try booties? They hate them at first and walk funny but it only takes about a day for the dog to adapt.
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I suppose I could, but I think it's the long hair between her toes and the pads of her feet Minnie hates. Audrey, my cocker spaniel whom died back in February, was the same way. If her paws were shaved down to where they were almost bald, Audrey wouldn't lick. I'm hoping it'll be the same for Minnie. I think the long hairs irritate. If I could just get the groomers to see that. Otherwise I'll have to buy a set of dog clippers with one really small one and start shaving her paws myself!
Minnie might actually like the booties. I mean, she LOVES the clothing items I bought for her. Put her dress on and she prances about so proud. I think she knows "This is MINE." She's never had anything that's only her's before. Now she has two beds - one upstairs and one downstairs - and a blanket, a couple of outfits, and toys. It took awhile but she's learning how to play with them. She's got a few favorites. A monkey, a frog, and a lion.
When I'm not looking I'm sure she plays with the purse too. Because I'll find little bits of that black stuff scattered around the room. -
Great news that you have rescued. Minnie is really cute. We have five rescued dogs, and they all love and appreciate their home. Our latest rescue was found at eight weeks of age in a freezing garage with her mom and seven dead puppies. Since our lovely girl was the only puppy survivor, you can imagine what a special and spunky girl she is.
Most shampoos gave Cricket bad bumps, which caused her hair to fall out. Then I found Isle of Dogs. It is very soothing. There is a shampoo, conditioner, and a conditioning mist, all with soothing evening primrose oil. When I read about Minnie, I checked the Isle of Dogs website, and they have a formula for white dogs. This might be a great option for you.
Congratulations for joining the world of rescue. Minnie looks like a very special girl. -
Thanks for the suggestion. I just took a look and the fact it's good for itchy skin is tempting. I have to admit the price gives me pause. I won't even spend $24 on shampoo for me! But if nothing else works I will do that. The vet wants her washed with something with oatmeal in it. I wonder if there's a whitening oatmeal shampoo.
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I found a good oatmeal shampoo called FuzzYard Organic Sensitive. It's got oatmeal and aloe vera. It caused no bumps on Cricket. They recommend the matching conditioner, which helps sooth as well. I found it a TrixieandPeanut.com. You can get the set, shampoo and conditioner, for $30.00. Again, it's spendy. But when your helping your pet, cost doesn't matter much.
With five rescues, you can imagine how much I spend. I can use any shampoo on my other dogs, but Cricket requires a gentle formula. She still has bald patches from the bumps caused by a previous shampoo. Cheaper shampoos seem to be harsher.
Best to you! -
Yeah but if you get shampoo and condictioner then it's techincally $15 apiece. Which is about what I spend for myself. (I get Panteen from CostCo in those huge bottles for about $14 a bottle.) Where the other is $24 for just one bottle.
In the meantime I wonder if there isn't some sort of at-home thing I can do that will help that isn't harmful to her. Like how people can lighten their hair with lemon juice or peroxcide. But again, not harmful to Minnie. -
I just Googled "dog hair lightening" and found a site called showdogs-l.com/whitecoatsurvey.htm. There a tons of suggestions from people who show dogs. Some ideas are for homemade products.
I'm sure you will find something on that site that will help you. -
Thanks, Nitika. Minnie went to the groomer today so she's cut nice and short. I might try some of the home made stuff on her if it's fesible, since her fur is nice and short and easier to get to the discolored stuff.
Hopefully having her fur all nice and short will keep her from itching a whole lot. The vet said the long fur on her paws was trapping irritants and that's why she chews on her feet a lot. -
Congrats on Minnie! She looks super cute and girly in her big pink bed. I'm so glad she found you to give her a good home.
I have a rescue myself, but we don't know about his back story aside from him being a stray. And he's a mutt of a mutt, so everyone classifies him as a terrier mix. Thing is, his hair grows out both long and coarse AND smooth and short. He literally has a faux-hawk growing down his back. He also has a white mustache that makes him look like a grandpa. AND, in the past couple of months, his all-black ear grew out white tips. It's as if I attached white hair extensions at the tip of his ear.
I'm not sure what I want to do. The funky mis-matched hair growth is kind of "special" for the lack of a better word, so I don't really want it trimmed. But then it looks so odd?
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