Normally you try to keep your dog out of the mud, especially inside your home. Yet Jacqueline Hynes has created a business around covering dogs in mud.
This is no ordinary mud, of course. Madra Mór Canine Spa Treatments are formulated to cleanse, protect and rejuvenate your dog’s skin and coat.
According to their website, “Madra Mór Muds are formulated by a Natural and Organic Chemist with a back ground in Immunology. Our goal was to make a product that cleansed, protected, and rejuvenated our canine companions. What we created is nature’s way to clean and treat with Mother Nature’s finest, time-tested ingredients.”
When asked why mud for dogs, Hynes replied, “My dogs had skin issues. My 90-pound golden retriever had a skin fold that smelled three days after a bath and a chocolate Labrador that developed hot spots often. My chocolate-Buster-was busted! He was arthritic from corrective surgeries on all limbs—both elbows and both knees.”
She went to grooming school to learn the secrets to proper bathing, with a hope of finding that miracle shampoo that would solve all her dogs’ issues. She didn’t find one and decided that maybe shampoo was not the answer for her furry companions.
“After the bathing section, I was still searching for solutions but had the highest regard for groomers,” she added. “Groomers work incredible hard with unpredictable furry clients.”
Amazing Testimonial
Kim Dudek, Founder of BellaDoggie, New Orleans, Louisiana, and her team provided two months of TLC including routine mud baths to litter mates that were abandoned and left for dead on the side of the road.
“Her team provided incredible care,” Hynes said. “Kim told me at first they bathed the puppies in the mud every three days, then every four days, and as the skin became health once a week”
As you can see by the images, the results are quite amazing.
My Test
I tested the Mobility MUD on my almost 11-year-old Shetland sheepdog. The product says to wet dog thoroughly and expose the skin to massage the mud in properly. Anyone with a long haired, undercoated breed will now how hard this is. First to get the dog truly “soaking wet” and then to expose the skin. But, I did it.
Then, I applied the product and massaged for ten minutes. The smell is incredible – very pepperminty. This mud treatment is like icy hot for your older or performance dogs with aches and pains. I could feel the “tingle” of the menthol and other ingredients on my hands and it’s quite strong. I have arthritis, however, and found it was soothing my own aches as well as my dogs – bonus!
This mud is not to be used near the face, ears or genitals of your dog due to the ingredients; I believe it would sting.
My dog really seemed to enjoy the massage. I concentrated on her joint areas – feet and hips – since she is older and that’s were her pain comes from.
After the bath I could tell she felt better. She has hot spots and some raw skin areas due to other ailments. The redness was almost completely gone and she wasn’t constantly licking or itching. Two days later, she is still not as itchy as normal or as red. Next time, I want to try their soothing mud treatment.
Overall, I do think it’s an effective product. Much better than regular shampoo and really couldn’t find any cons.
Q&A with Jacqueline Hynes
I had a few follow-up questions that that I thought others may too, so I asked Hynes the following in regards to using her treatments.
What ailments do your mud baths treats?
We offer four treatments:
Soothing Mud – a great treatment for dogs with sensitive, irritated or blemished skin. It is a soft mud that is full of ingredients to soothe and help heal: oatmeal, green tea, witch hazel, lavender, German chamomile.
Flea Relief Mud – this is a formula to detox and strengthen. This is the mud I use on my own young Labradors to keep the skin healthy and strong! It has a gritty feel from the Diatomaceous Earth, also included is apple cider vinegar, tea tree and andiroba seed oil. Many people are not familiar with the wonder oil. It absorbs quickly into the skin, an omega oil, great for hydrating the skin without a greasy feel, its anti-inflammatory, and excellent parasite repellent.
Shed Safely – great for thick double coats, from Shepherds to Corgis, releases the undercoat while nourishing and hydrating the skin. It smells sweet too!
Mobility Mud – our first mud for my older dogs. It is a cool mud bath, stimulates flow. Skin while on the front line of our defense, is the last organ to be fed. The cooling mud helps stimulate flow and release blocked energy. The refreshing scent awakens the mind and spirit.
Do dog owners need to ask their vet before using any of these?
If their dog has sensitivities, it would be advisable.
Any up and coming products in the works?
Our current line are general pet parents’ concerns. We are working on more specific conditions utilizing spa modalities treatments. We are hoping to unveil at Global Pet Expo in March.
Where are the ingredients sourced from?
We formulated using Ecocert and Natural Product Association Guidelines. We followed their guidelines and their sources for raw materials. We won the 2014 U.K. best new grooming product. Europe has stricter ingredient regulations than USA.
How often should a pet owner do treatments?
It all depends on conditions, some will need every few days, some will need once a week and some will need every time they typically bath.
About the Author
Based in Wilsonville, Ore., animal lover Kristina N. Lotz is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) and a member of the Dog Writers Association of America. She is the founder of A Fairytail House. In her spare time, she trains and competes in a variety of performance events with her Shetland Sheepdogs and caters to her two rescue kitties. She smartly married a Veterinary Technician, who helps keep the fur kids happy and healthy, and provides a quick resource for articles.
