The New Arsenal Against Skin Problems

Previously, we have discussed some of the things you can do if your pet suffers from skin problems, from healthy nutrition to supplementing their diet with digestive enzymes and probiotics. Also, if you were to visit pet grooming salons or spa centers, you might have come across micro (or nano) bubble spas. I prefer calling it nanobubble, though; sounds better, doesn’t it? But they’re the same thing because as a microbubble ascends, it will become even smaller, thus becoming a ‘nano bubble’ before it collapses.

micro-bubble-shower-1

What is a microbubble?

Microbubble isn’t your normal bubble bath or Jacuzzi. The technology that creates the microbubble produces bubbles so small, 1-50 microns to be exact, that it can penetrate pores and hair follicles that are usually 90 microns in size and remove dead skin cells, excess sebum, and bacteria. Talk about deep cleansing.

An ion Anion.

First, the microbubbles are effective in removing dirt from the pores not only because of their size. It’s also negatively charged, which allows them to bond with impurities and float them out. That’s why at the end of the spa session, you’ll find a film of gunk floating at the tub’s surface. That’s the microbubbles at work.

Secondly, due to the formation of microbubbles, enormous amounts of negative ions are also produced, which also speed up the skin’s recovery process and promote overall well-being. (No wonder I’ve been sleeping better after I started providing micro bubble spa. Imagine the number of anions I’m getting exposed to! How nice it is to be an unintended beneficiary!)

But that’s not all

Another obvious benefit is that when you have a bubble so small, it dissolves and delivers oxygen more effectively into the skin, making it healthier.

There are also claims that when the micro bubbles burst, they produce ultrasonic waves and high temperature that sterilizes harmful microorganisms. But I cannot get more information on this fact, so I shan’t comment more.

So how do I know it’s the real deal?microbubble

Luckily it’s simple to identify if your pet is benefiting from microbubbles. Because microbubbles are tiny, they bubble suspended in the water, and the smallest bubbles take up to 2 minutes to rise to the surface. As a result, once the water is filled with these tiny bubbles, it turns milky white within seconds and turns back to its transparent state only minutes after, all without the use of any chemicals.

How effective is it in treating skin problems, then?

If the equipment has been sourced from a reputable company, it should bear accreditation from independent companies attesting to its efficacy, be it the size of the bubbles, the concentration of anions produced, or sterilization effectiveness.

Of course, there’re plenty of testimonials online, but after trying it for myself, very obvious improvements can be seen after just one treatment. To be honest, I was quite impressed with the results.

As for our micro bubble generator, it has been clinically proven to improve skin conditions (DermaPro Skin & Research Centre, Inc – Seoul, Korea) and is further attested by the Korea Atopy Association.

How do we make it even better than it already is?

Recognizing that most pets with skin problems don’t just have itchy skin but rather accompanied by flaky, sometimes crusty, or oily skin, we have added natural ingredients to boost the machine’s cleaning power to remove impurities, excess buildup of sebum and keratin to allow the skin to heal naturally.

Apart from removing what we don’t want, we add in minerals that are difficult to get through food but effectively absorbed through the skin to help reduce inflammation, eliminate toxins, balance nerve functions and regulate enzymes in the body, as well as a myriad of trace minerals to improve your pet’s overall well being.

Try it at least once.

Now, I want you to try it for yourself. If you feel that it’s a worthwhile long-term investment (though I can’t guarantee how long the machine would last) for the whole family, especially if your family has issues with troubled skin, a set from Korea costs SGD$ 3,499. Another condition is that you’d need a bathtub for this.

Otherwise, in most families, their pets are usually the ones having skin problems, and it might be more economical to bring your pet in for the microbubble treatment.

Our prices start from $35 for small breeds and $45 and $55 for medium and large breeds, respectively. Please visit our webpage for our complete pricing list. Also, for a limited time, only enjoy free spa treatments with every grooming package purchased, and any additional treatments are $15 off*. 

 

*Terms & Conditions apply.

Pet Grooming: Mats, Tangles and Daily Maintenance

 

One of the biggest problems I see pets owners face when it comes to grooming their pets has to be dealing with the tangled coats of their long-coated breeds. Given everybody’s busy schedule, what can we do? While I’m in no position to teach people how to manage their time (I think even the worst time managers can teach me a thing or two), I’m able to offer some advice on how to minimize the problem and make it less painful for you and your furry ones.

But what causes those tangles in the first place? Luckily, it’s not as mysterious as how earphones play boy scout knots in your pockets, and there are only four factors:

  1. Moisture
  2. Pressure
  3. Dirt
  4. Friction

The one thing advertising is right about

dog hair under microscope

I believe you’ve seen TV commercials for shampoos and hair treatment products, and they’ll show you the difference between damaged hair and healthy hair under the microscope. If you haven’t, imagine that our hairs are covered with fish scales, all pointing towards the tip (the fish head is at the scalp, and the tail is the tip). So the dog and human hair alike, when the hair shaft is exposed to the elements, will open up, creating barbs, and with a combination of the aforementioned factors, the coat sticks to each other, very much like Velcro fasteners.

Now recall the places where tangle usually forms on your pet:

  • Is it because it has not been dried thoroughly after the coat got wet (Moisture)? e.g., The overall body, feet, beard, and paw pads.
  • Does it form in places where it has contact with resting surfaces (Pressure)? e.g., Neck, four legs.
  • Easily soiled areas (Dirt)? e.g., beards, legs, between the legs.
  • Or does it occur in places where hair rubs against each other or other objects often (Friction)?

Friction is everywhere. This is usually the main culprit that brings all the factors together and makes it worse (it’s also the main reason your earphones get tangled in your bag). Therefore, it is imperative that your pet gets a good brush every other day to prevent mats from forming, paying extra attention to the inside of the legs, armpits, behind the ears, and neck. These are usually the areas where tangles form quickly, as well as areas we tend to neglect when grooming.

It’s too late…

So, if you are reading this but your pet is already in bad shape, what can you do?

Well, if it’s really in bad shape, please, have it groomed and use this opportunity to let you and your pet get accustomed to frequent grooming. More importantly, de-matting the pet is a very uncomfortable process. Always put humanity over vanity.

But if it’s only a 2-3 knots here and there, you could do the following:

  1. I would suggest getting a bottle of de-tangling spray from your pet store.
  2. Spray the matted areas and let it sit for half an hour.
  3. Try to loosen the mat with your fingers, separating it in all directions.
  4. Use a slicker brush and brush in all directions. Use small strokes to minimize damage to the hair and skin.
  5. It’s going to take a while, so be patient.
  6. Prevention is better than cure. Brush your pet every other day.

Maintenance

With the proper technique, your pet can maintain the straight look of a magazine every day. It’s not that difficult!

What you’ll need:

  1. Brushes (Pin brush for long coats >8cm. Slicker brush for coats between 1-8cm. Any shorter, use a grooming glove or curry brush, and that’s all you need.)
  2. Metal comb (Choose a medium to wide-toothed)
  3. Spray bottle filled with water (If you feel your pet deserves better, get a grooming spray, preferably something lightly scented or fragrance-free. I use Fabulous Grooming Spray from #1 All Systems. If your pet is suffering from skin problems, you can add a little of Zymox enzymatic rinse or Rejuvenating Bath from Chitocure into filtered/distilled water and use it as a grooming spray.)

The how:

  1. Lightly spritz the coat. Making the coat slightly damp will help reduce static friction while brushing.
  2. Using one hand to control their limbs and body, hold the brush with the other hand. If you’re using a slicker brush, make sure the face of the brush is parallel to the skin to minimize abrasion. If your pet struggles, make sure you communicate what is acceptable behavior and what is not. Reward and reprimand accordingly.
  3. Brush against the lay of the coat, using short bouncy strokes rather than one long pull. This will help reduce friction and prevent you from using too much force. The section of the coat is completed when you feel no resistance from the brush.
  4. Note that you should brush the coating layer by layer, using your hand to hold down part of the coat and only moving on when one section is completed. This ensures that the whole body and the entire length of the hair are covered.
  5. If you find a sizeable mat, follow the aforementioned instructions.
  6. Finally, go through the whole body with the metal comb. If the comb gets stuck (Girls would get this. Hurts, doesn’t it?), comb out the tangle, then check with the comb again.
  7. You’re done, and great job.

Well, the whole thing sounds long because I want to get into the details of it. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll do everything like it’s second nature. Besides, it’s just brushing. It’s really not that hard.

Anyways, I’ll try to do an instructional video soon. It’s tough visualizing instructions like these, isn’t it? Everybody has their interpretation, right?

So if you have any tips, questions, or thoughts, please comment below!

Let me help you get started Four fantastic choices for your dog's allergies

You may have read all the articles and armed yourself with knowledge of how to identify a good diet. But one of the biggest problems you’re likely to face is that almost all of the food falls within your acceptable criteria.

To help you out a bit, I’ve seen an improvement in many dog’s skin condition after trying some of these brands and I believe they are great choices to start with.

What I’ve personally selected here are all grain-free and limited in ingredients, great for helping out with skin problems.

However, every dog is different and you may not see an improvement on your first try.

So to make things easier for you, if you order online we’ll give you a 25% discount on the listed products until the end of April 2017.

Furthermore, I’ve negotiated with the supplier of Kasiks to give you a Buy 1 Get 1 Free* promotion exclusively at The Grooming Table! Yup, it’s a deal that’s really hard to come by and you’ll not get the same deal anywhere else.
(*Limited to 3 sets per customer)

But act quickly, this deal is only valid till 2nd April 2017 and I’ve only got a total of 200 sets available. That means regardless of size or flavors, once I order 200 sets from my supplier, that’s the end of the promo =(

And remember, if you purchase $100 worth of merchandise, delivery will be free.

So take this opportunity to stock up a few flavors, and if you have any questions, feel free to comment below.

BrandStewart Pet FoodK9 NaturalKasiks Pet FoodFirstMate Pet Foods
Is it a raw diet?YesYesNoNo
IngredientsChicken, Ground Chicken Bone, Chicken Liver, Chicken Gizzard, Cantaloupe, Carrots, Broccoli, Lettuce, Egg, Ground Flaxseed, Inulin, Salmon Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Blueberry, Cranberry, Dried Kelp, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Whole Ginger, Whole Parsley, Whole Garlic, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Mixed Tocopherols (as preservative), Vitamin D Supplement.Lamb, Lamb Blood, Lamb Tripe, Eggs, Lamb Liver, Lamb Heart, Lamb Bone, Sunflower Oil, Brown Kelp, Flaxseed Flakes, Lamb Kidney, Cabbage, Broccoli, Swiss Chard, Carrot, Cauliflower, Dried Kelp, Calcium Carbonate, Apple, Pear, New Zealand Green Mussel, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Selenium YeastLamb Meal, Chickpeas, Red lentils, Green lentils, Green peas, Yellow Peas, Pea Starch, Chicken Fat* (Mixed Tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Sodium Chloride, DL–Methionine, Minerals: (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Cobalt Carbonate, Selenium, Yeast.) Vitamins: (Niacin, Thiamine mononitrate, D-calcium pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement.) Choline Chloride, Calcium Propionate, Yeast Extract, Taurine, Blueberries, Raspberries, Cranberries, Rosemary extract, Coconut, Kale, Glucosamine Hydrochloride.


*The chicken fat used in Kasiks Pet Foods is processed free of protein, eliminating the risk of allergies derived from chicken.*
Potato, lamb meal, tomato pomace, chicken fat* (preserved with mixed tocopherols), potassium chloride, DL-methionine, choline chloride, calcium propionate (preservative), blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, minerals: (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, iodine, cobalt carbonate, selenium yeast), vitamins: (vitamin E supplement, riboflavin, niacin, d-pantothenic acid, thiamine hydrochloride, vitamin A supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement), taurine, yeast extract (a source of prebiotics), glucosamine hydrochloride.

*The chicken fat used in FirstMate Pet Foods is processed free of protein, eliminating the risk of allergies derived from chicken.*
Nutrional AnalysisCrude Protein (minimum) 45%
Crude Fat (minimum) 26%
Crude Fiber (maximum) 6%
Moisture (maximum) 5%
**Omega 3 Fatty Acids (minimum) 3%
**Omega 6 Fatty Acids (minimum) 6%
Minimum Crude Protein: 29.1%
Minimum Crude Fat: 33.4%
Maximum Crude Fibre: 2.6%
Maximum Moisture: 8%
Calorie Content ME (kcal/kg): 4713kcal/kg
Calorie Content ME (kcal/cup): 330kcal/cup
Minimum Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 0.5%
Minimum Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 1.6%
Crude Protein (min) 25% Ash(max) 7%
Crude Fat(min) 12% Calcium (min) 0.9%
Crude Fibre (max) 8% Phosphorous (min) 0.7%
Moisture (max) 10% Glucosamine (min) 100mg/kg
Magnesium (max) 0.13% Calcium / Phosphorous ratio 1.3:1
Crude Protein (min) 24% Ash(max) 8%
Crude Fat(min) 13% Calcium (min) 2.2%
Crude Fibre (max) 7.5% Phosphorous (min) 1.2%
Moisture (max) 10% Glucosamine (min) 100mg/kg
Magnesium (max) 0.15% Calcium / Phosphorous ratio 1.8:1
VariationsTurkey
Lamb
Chicken
Lamb
Beef
Wild Pacific Ocean Fish
Free-Run Chicken
Free Range Australian Lamb
Australian Lamb
Chicken with Blueberries
Pacific Ocean Fish - Original
Discount25% Online exclusive25% Online exclusiveBuy 1 Get 1 Free25% Online exclusive