Thomas and I went into town this weekend for lunch and the Pittsburgh Auto Show at the David Lawrence Convention Center.  If you have never been to a car show, I think it is something fun to try especially if you are in the market for a new car like we are.  We don’t get into the city much but when we do, we see some sights and this weekend I saw some very colorful dogs.  I have to say that I’m one of those people that when I see a dog that has had its fur dyed, I feel sorry for it.  I don’t even think that a dog’s toenails being painted is cute.  I immediately think about the stress this can cause and the dyes being toxic to the animals.  I absolutely love seeing a beautiful collar and matching leash or an adorable vest but the dyes and the paints are something I would rather not see.  When we took Jake and Maggie to the Pittsburgh Pet Expo and watched the grooming competition, I felt incredibly sorry for those dogs.  They were obviously well manicured but I couldn’t imagine Jake and Maggie standing on a platform looking like clowns with multi-colored fur colored and cut into the design of another animal or teddy bear.  When I did my research and started asking different opinions, I received mixed reviews and opinions on what people consider cute or cruel so I thought I would put a blog post together.  Which one are you?  Do you fall into the “I would never do that to my dog!” category or do you think it is cute and fun?

Nail polish for your dog?
If you are going to use nail polish on your dog, USE PET SAFE NAIL POLISH from companies making pet safe nail polish such as Color Paw and Warren London’s Pawdicure.  Nail polish made for humans is full of harsh chemicals that could be dangerous to dogs.

Is creative dog grooming cruel?
Creative grooming is the unique styling technique where groomers use hair dyes and other products to style your pet and make them stand out in a crowd. Several people however, disagree that creative grooming is an art form. They feel as though it is cruel to the animals involved and that the products are toxic.

Safe or not safe?
Dyeing your dog can be safe and cause no harm if done right.
For starters, your dog is not a good candidate for dyeing if they hate being bathed.
Dogs that are groomed regularly are usually quite used to being bathed and it causes no unusual distress in them. If you are going to dye your dog’s fur, it is important to use the right dye.
Human dyes are not meant for ingestion and are very toxic.
Always remember that anything you put your dog is likely to be consumed when they lick their fur.
Also, their fur tends to cover their whole body, making skin exposure to the dye significantly higher than it is when you dye your own hair.

Food coloring safe?
Choose a pet-safe dye (there are some on the market) or better still use food coloring which is very safe when eaten.
You can also use Kool Aid. Be careful to avoid getting any dye in your pet’s eyes.
The first time you apply a dye, put it only on a small patch of fur and then wait 24 hours.
This is to make sure your dog is not allergic to any aspect of the dye.
A small patch of itchy skin is much kinder than a whole body itch. If your dog suffers from any type of skin disorder or condition that causes skin irritation, it is better not to try to dye their fur.

There have been no long term studies of the effects of dyes, including the pet safe dyes, on an animal’s health so use it with some caution.
Be aware of your dog’s personality as well.
Taking your shy little dog and dying him to look like a panda is going to attract a lot of attention.
He may not appreciate that and find the whole experience stressful.

Can other animals such as cats be dyed?
You should never dye pets like cats, rats, mice, and chinchillas.