Tender Touch Pet Salon

06/06/2026

06/05/2026

Good morning. Happy Friday, everybody! Wishing you a great day.

06/05/2026

Ticks are exploding across the U.S. this year, and they’re much more than a creepy nuisance. These parasites are incredibly efficient at attaching, feeding, and transmitting disease, without you ever noticing. The longer a tick stays attached, the greater the risk of exposure to Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and several other serious infections. But just because your dog has had exposure doesn’t mean they’re infected; discerning the difference is crucial, and smart medicine.
In my latest article, I cover where ticks like to hide, how to perform a thorough full-body tick check, the safest way to remove a tick, and why monitoring your pet afterward is just as important as removing the parasite itself. I also explain the differences between 4DX, Accuplex, and QC6 testing, and why early detection makes all the difference, regardless of what parasite control program you are using.
When you combine proactive screening with consistent parasite checks and a parasite protocol that make sense for your lifestyle and location, you can dramatically reduce the chances that a tick bite turns into a much bigger problem. Link to my article is in the comments. 🐾🕷️

05/31/2026

🐱🧡🐶

05/25/2026

Thank you for our freedom!

05/09/2026

Dogs that eat too quickly might be more susceptible to bloat and digestive issues 🧐 To help minimise these risks and make mealtimes calmer and more rewarding, consider using slow feeders and enrichment techniques.

Here are some ways to slow down their eating:

✅️ Use slow feeding bowls. These have raised ridges and sections that encourage your dog to work around the bowl.
✅️ Try lick mats. They promote slow licking and encourage calm behavior.
✅️ Use snuffle mats. These support natural foraging and sniffing instincts.
✅️ Incorporate interactive games. Transform meals into problem-solving play.

For more information on Why do dogs eat fast, check out our article https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-feeding-tips/why-do-dogs-eat-so-fast/

04/05/2026

Keep your pets safe this weekend, especially if hiding plastics eggs stuffed with chocolate candies. Take pics. Make a map. Keep dogs inside until after the egg hunt to ensure all hidden goodies are accounted for.

In case of ingestion, save our number, 865-584-1588.

Open 10am to 10pm Easter Sunday for your urgent care needs.

02/01/2026

Do you know what the “feels like” temperature will be this week? It is so much more dangerous when wet. Bring pets inside! Call animal control if you see pets without proper protection.

02/01/2026

Towels are Wicks. Why Blankets Freeze Dogs. ❄️🐕

We treat them like humans. "It's cold, I'll give him a blanket." In a heated house, that's fine. In an unheated dog house, that blanket is a death trap. The physics of Capillary Action turns comfort into a freezing hazard.

🧽 1. The Sponge Effect Fabric is hygroscopic (water-loving). Even if the floor is only slightly damp, a towel or blanket acts as a Wick. It pulls moisture up from the floor and absorbs the humidity from the dog's breath. Within hours, the fabric is damp. When the temperature drops, that damp fabric freezes solid.

🥶 2. The Thermal Heatsink A dry blanket insulates because it traps air. A wet blanket insulates nothing. Water conducts heat 25 times faster than air. A wet towel sucks the body heat out of the dog and transfers it to the ground. The dog is essentially sleeping on a sheet of ice that is actively cooling them down.

🌾 3. Straw: The Hollow Insulator The solution is Straw (or Cedar Shavings). Straw is hollow. It traps dead air inside its stems (insulation). Crucially, it is Hydrophobic. It doesn't wick water. Moisture sinks to the bottom, away from the dog, while the top layer stays dry and warm. The dog can burrow into it, creating a "nest" that retains heat.

The Rule: If there is no heater: No Fabric. Fill the shelter with Straw (not Hay!) so the dog can burrow.



📌 QUICK FAQ
Q: Why not Hay? R: Hay is food. 🐴 Hay (green grass) absorbs moisture, rots, grows mold, and freezes into a brick. Straw (yellow stalks) is bedding. It repels moisture and stays fluffy. Straw = Sleep. Hay = Eat.

Q: Are Cedar Shavings safe? R: Yes, with a caveat. 🌲 Cedar is excellent because it repels fleas and smells good. However, for extreme cold, long-stem Straw is better because it allows the dog to "nest" (burrow and cover their nose/paws). Shavings tend to pack down flat.

Q: What if I change the blankets every day? R: Risky. ⚠️ Unless you change them every few hours, a wet snowstorm or high humidity can freeze the blanket in the middle of the night. Straw is a passive safety system that works for weeks without intervention.