Start Early
It’s important to get your Newf accustomed to being groomed as soon as you bring it home. Don’t attempt anything to ambitious. At first, try for just a few seconds of brushing at a time just to get your puppy used to the idea. Start grooming your Newf from puppyhood. Regular grooming not only makes your dog look terrific, but it will also help keep its skin and coat clean and healthy.
Grooming Tools
You really need only six basic tools to get the job done.
Slicker Brush: This is one of the most important tools you’ll need to use. This is the best tool to get your puppy accustomed to grooming because it feels so wonderful on its body. The slicker brush is also invaluable for removing loose hair and debris from its coat.
Coarse-Toothed Comb and Rake: Once its adult coat starts to come in, you’ll also need a coarse-toothed comb to get down deep to its skin and a rake for getting rid of all that excess dead hair.
Toenail Clipper: Choose one designed for big dogs and these can be purchased with a safety guard that helps to prevent cutting the nail too deeply. They can also be purchased with sensor technology that detects the difference between the live blood of the quick, and the dead skin of the nail and claw.
Thinning Shears: Invest in a good pair with fine teeth, as these will give your Newf the best and most professional look.
Blunt-Edged Shears: These are very handy when you want to strip all the hair that collects between your Newf’s toes.
Blue Powder Ear Treatment
INGREDIENTS:
• 16 oz. Isopropyl Alcohol (Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol 70%)
• 4 Tablespoons Boric Acid Powder
• 16 Drops Gentian Violet Solution 1%
Mix together in alcohol bottle and shake well. You will also need to shake solution every time you use it, to disperse the Boric Acid Power.
To use, purchase the "Clairol" type or similar plastic bottle to dispense solution to affected ears.
Treatment: Evaluate condition of ears before treating, and if very inflamed and sore, do not attempt to clean out ear at all. Wait until inflammation has subsided, which will be about two days.
Shake the bottle each time before using. Flood the ear with solution (gently squirt bottle), massage gently to the count of 60, wipe with a tissue. Flood again on first treatment, wipe with a tissue, leave alone without massage. The dog will shake out the excess, which can be wiped with a tissue; the Gentian Violet does stain fabrics (Best to do outside).
The SCHEDULE of treatment is as follows:
• Treat 1X per day for the next 1-2 weeks.
• Treat 2X per day for the first week to two weeks, depending upon severity of ears.
• Treat 1X per month (or even less frequently, depending on the dog).
All of these ingredients should be available at a pharmacy. People have found that despite the alcohol, the dog will not object to even the first treatment. The Boric Acid Powder soothes the ear. The Gentian Violet Solution is an anti-infection agent. The solution appears to work well on any and all ear problems from mites to wax to yeast. After the 2nd and 3rd day you can clean out the ear with a Q-tip or cotton balls. The success rate for this treatment is 95-99%. Those who do not succeed have usually not done the treatment long enough, or have not been regular about it.
Dogs on the verge of ear canal surgery have been returned to normal with only the regular follow-up treatment to keep the ear healthy. If an infection seems to be remaining in the treated ear after the above course of treatment, you may also have some Pseudomonas bacteria in the site. This can be eradicated by using a gentle flush of raw apple cider vinegar and water (warm). Use 2 Tablespoons of vinegar to one cup of water, 2x per week.
They have found the Blue Power Solution to be effective for treating fungus-type infections on the feet and elsewhere on the dog, for cuts on the dogs or people, and hot spots. You may find other uses for this simple anti-infection agent. Remember it is for external use only and be careful not to get into the eyes.