Top 10 Bichon Frise Care Tips

Top 5 Bichon Frise Tips

Bichon Frise Feeding

Feed your Bichon Frise all natural, top quality food. Then you’ll avoid ingredients that are hazardous to your Bichon Frise’s health.

For example: fillers that make the food plump up, making your Bichon Frise feel full faster but there’s not much nutrition. Some contain chemical preservatives that have been shown to cause allergic reactions (One called BHT is a well-known carcinogen). Coloring dyes Yellow 6, Blue 2 and Red 40 have been linked to cancers, allergies and neurological problems.

It’s important to avoid the flavor enhancer called MSG as it has been linked to a wide range of health problems that are as opposite as allergies and brain lesions, and everything in between.

Manufacturers often include it in dog food that contains no real meat or only a small amount. It gets hidden in the ingredients list under sodium, yeast extract, hydrolyzed or autolyzed yeast, calcium caseinate and more. Meats and the by-products (such as poultry, animal and meat) come from animals (disabled, diseased, dying and dead) and includes all types of zoo animals and roadkill.

So feed your Bichon Frise dog an all-natural, healthy food. For example, homecooked meals.

If you don’t feel confident in the food you’re giving your Bichon Frise, and believe a change is needed, read our detailed overview of the best dog food for Bichon Frises. They include comparisons such as: grain vs grain-free food, wet vs dry, etc. Home cooked food is the best choice for adult Bichon Frise because it’s the only way to be sure you know all the ingredients in what you feed him.

Maintain Good Bichon Frise Teeth Care

Be vigilant about your Bichon Frise’s oral health. If tartar and plaque aren’t removed regularly, they can get into your Bichon Frise tooth enamel, potentially leading to infections that are painful and periodontal disease. If ignored, the gums and jawbone can become damaged and your Bichon Frise will then find it hard to eat.

To prevent Bichon Frise teeth issues, ask the vet to inspect your dog’s teeth and gums to ensure there are no potential problems. Get the vet to teach you how to brush Bichon Frise teeth. An effective method to get your Bichon Frise teeth clean is to brush them every day with either a finger brush (less invasive) or the right size toothbrush. Then use a non-foaming, fluoride-free dog toothpaste.

Other ways to maintain his dental health in conjunction with the first options include:

supplements, dental sprays, additives added to his drinking water and last, but not least, collect raw meaty bones from your butcher.

Bichon Frise Coat Care

Use the proper equipment for brushing Bichon Frise coat and brush regularly.

A Pom has two thick coats of Bichon Frise fur and, as such, has two heavy sheds twice yearly and, during the rest of the year, he has a moderate level of shedding. Unspayed females generally blow their coat after each heat cycle.

Bichon Frise hair is mainly shed from a Bichon Frise undercoat. As each hair escapes and lands on the ground, hundreds more get caught within his coat. If that large amount of dead Bichon Frise fur isn’t removed, it will eventually prevent a good flow of air, be coated in body oil, block the pores of his skin and, if left too long, will develop a very unpleasant stink.

So, it’s crucial that you brush his coat: to stop it becoming matted (causing damage to his coat), to distribute body oils, and free all debris that gets trapped.

Using the right tools will ensure you can do the best possible job. When your Bichon Frise is shedding heavily, you should aim to brush daily.

Brushing Bichon Frise fur with the right tools is important.

For times of heavy shedding, try and brush your Bichon Frise daily, if not 2 to 3 times a week.

Bichon Frise Exercise Needs

Get your Bichon Frise dog involved in regular Bichon Frise exercise.

There are an incredible number of benefits to doing a moderate level of cardio exercises:

• It’s good for heart health, and can assist with numerous dog diseases such as certain cancers and diabetes.
• It helps with proper muscle mass and a healthy functioning of his metabolism.
• Assists in decreasing osteoarthritis (a problem that 80% of dogs over the age of 8 can face).
• Ensures regular bowel movements.
• Allows Bichon Frises to engage their senses, thus improving emotional health.
• It’s ideal for releasing plenty of pent-up energy (making him a calmer, better behaved dog later in the day).

Because walking is an excellent exercise (for both you and your dog), aim for two daily brisk walks of 15 to 20 minutes each.

Bichon Frise Vet Checks

Take your Bichon Frise to the vet for regular wellness checks. A wellness check is carried out once or twice a year, depending on the age and health of your dog. The vet screens for typical common conditions and diseases. Senior dogs must be checked twice a year.

The good news is that lots of Bichon Frise dog health problems can be identified and diagnosed a long time before major problems occur. This means successful treatment can be achieved earlier as well. Bichon Frises have specific problems on top of the ones that are faced by plenty of breeds. These Bichon Frise health problems include: hip dysplasia, Bichon Frise patella luxation, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, trachea problems, osteoarthritis, and chronic degenerative valve disease aka CVD. This is a disease in the heart and it mainly affects small breeds and toys aged 5+ years.

The vet will weigh your Bichon Frise and talk about his diet and exercise patterns, and the best plan to ensure he stays as healthy as possible. This is also the ideal time for any questions you may have about your dog.

Top 5 Bichon Frise Care Don’ts

Bichon Frise Jumping

Don’t let your Bichon Frise jump down from a height. Example include: the couch, your bed, and your arms, etc.

There are two specific worries when it comes to small dogs jumping down off sofas, beds and other furniture.

The first worry is repetitive strain injury (RSI) because of chronic stress on your Bichon Frise’s joints because his forelegs end up carrying most of his weight.

The second reason is acute injuries and includes: sprains, tears, pulls and fractures to bones. These can all happen if he lands the wrong way. The most significant risk is when the floor is hard (tiles, wood, etc). If your Bichon Frise jumps down frequently, you should find a better, safer way for him to get down when he wants to do so. Try using a ramp or pet stairs and encourage your dog to use them. This goal is often achieved through training and using treats to reward positive behavior.

Bichon Frise Collar

Do not put a collar on your Bichon Frise. You shouldn’t place a collar on your Bichon Frise. This toy breed is among the most prone of breeds to suffer from an extremely painful collapsed trachea. The cartilage’s c-shaped rings surround the windpipe (trachea) are very weak, so it’s common for a Bichon Frise to experience an inward collapse (can vary from grade 1 – grade 4). A Bichon Frise is generally around 6 years old when diagnosed with this problem.

If you use a dog collar, the amount of stress applied to his trachea will increase the rate of degeneration on the tracheal cartridge and make it worse. Never use a collar if you have a leash on your Bichon Frise.

A Bichon Frise harness is a better choice as it spreads the pressure across his back, shoulders and chest. If you assume it’s a hassle to use a Bichon Frise harness, the good news is that there are some that are incredibly simple to put on.

There’s no need to put anything over his head they’re very comfortable, and the right harness makes it simple when taking your Bichon Frise for his daily walks.

Always Bichon Frise Puppy Proof Your Home

Some people get complacent as their Bichon Frises grow older, and they neglect to ensure their home is always being puppy-proofed.

Dogs can get at all sorts of items that are dangerous to them for a few reasons:

They can eat, chew, drink and swallow human medications, household cleaners, human food considered toxic to them, insecticides, plants, and various other things, often not even thought about at times.

Then there are the unusual things swallowed that need emergency surgery. These include: coins, small batteries, sewing needles, fishing hooks, and so on. Your dog might chew through an electrical cord and the results can vary, depending on whether power is running through them.

To puppy-proof your home, think about things from his point of view. Crawl around in some areas and look under beds, tables, chairs and other furniture and get rid of anything you find. Pick up everything you find immediately. All power and computer cables should be tidied up away from prying eyes,

All harmful products need tightened lids and to be put away somewhere safe, away from his prying eyes and off the floor. These include cleaning products, garden chemicals, bathing products, etc. Use child-proof latches where needed. Ensure bin lids are secure. Wander around the garden, looking for any other hazards. Ensure wallets, purses, gym bags and other similar items are put away safely where your Bichon Frise can’t find them.

Bichon Frise Parasites

Ensure your Bichon Frise doesn’t have any parasites. Make sure that your Bichon Frise has no fleas, mites or ear mites. Use a good heartworm preventative. Worm your Bichon Frise regularly. Talk to your vet about the safest tick and flea products, and vaccinations. Using too much can be fatal to your Bichon Frise.

Use Quality Bichon Frise Shampoo

Don’t buy the cheapest, no-name shampoo. Most canine shampoos have ingredients that can cause irritations, excessive dryness and allergies. What makes them even worse is that they can have ingredients that relate to serious medical problems such as cancer and organ damage.

The main reason is that manufacturers of the pet products utilize cheap ingredients and here are some of the problems that can cause:

Phthalates (an ingredient often found in scented shampoos) instead of using natural scents such as rosemary oil.

Sulfates (that get used in soaping agents) including:

• Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) – this is linked to a toxic organ system.
• Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) – connected with organ toxicity, cancer, neurotoxicity, hormone disruption, and skin irritation.

Another issue is synthetic fragrances and coloring dyes, that are the main causes of allergic reactions; and many are related to cancers and organ damage.

There is an easy way to avoid all of these problems. Read the ingredients list on any conditioner, shampoo, coat spray or any other topical product you buy for usage on your Bichon Frise. Look for all-natural products that have zero additives.

It would be a good idea to make a list of products you will buy because they’re safe and another list of products you won’t buy because of the negative ingredients.

This list will help save you time when shopping and money because you won’t buy the wrong products.

Here’s a Quick Recap of the Top Do’s and Don’ts for your Bichon Frise:

• Do maintain good Bichon Frise oral health.
• Do feed him all-natural, top quality foods.
• Do get your Bichon Frise involved in regular exercise.
• Do use the right tools to brush your Bichon Frise’s coat regularly.
• Do visit the vet for wellness checks.
• Don’t let your Bichon Frise jump down from any height.
• Don’t use any cheap and nasty shampoos.
• Don’t let your Bichon Frise get infected with fleas, worms or anything else.
• Don’t use a collar if you have a leash on your Bichon Frise.
• Don’t ever stop puppy-proofing your home and yard.

Please note: while I do discuss health, care and behavioural issues, you should never use this information as a replacement for advice from qualified veterinarians, diagnoses or recommended treatment regimes. If you have any worries about the health of your Bichon Frise, your first contact should be your regular vet or, if you don’t yet have one, a vet that works locally. Never ignore or avoid treatment and/or advice from your vet because of a piece of information you have read on any website.