You know it’s shedding season when you find pet hair everywhere-on the couch, on the carpet and on your clothes. Most dogs shed their winter coats in the spring, although some indoor pets continue light shedding all year. Even if your pet is short haired, expect some shedding to occur. You can’t stop the fur from falling out, but you can stop it from flying around the house. A regular routine of brushing and combing will go a long way toward promoting a healthy shedding process, as well as cleaner carpets and upholstery.
Brushing is probably the best way to promote a healthy shedding process. Brushing not only removes loose hair, but it also stimulates the skin and enhances the natural shine of your pet’s coat. If your pet has a normal coat and skin that’s not sensitive, you’ll probably want to use a wire or slicker brush. Especially if your pup is long haired, try to brush the animal every day, or at least twice per week. The more you brush, the less often you’ll find clumps of fur clinging to your couch or clothes.
If your dog has sensitive skin or short hair, or if he just seems bothered by brushing during shedding season, try using a brush with soft, nylon or boar bristles instead of the slicker or wire type. A soft brush is good only for removing loose hair on the surface of the coat-it doesn’t help the skin or shine the animals coat-but it’s better than not brushing at all.
When you brush your dog start at the surface-the tip of the fur-and gently work deeper as you go, much as you would when de-tangling your own hair. This will prevent the brush from getting caught in the tangles or clumps and tugging at the skin. If you hurt your pet with your grooming attempts, the animal won’t like the brushing process. And that means it will be tougher to catch your pet-let alone get her to hold still-on future occasions.
For longer haired dogs such as golden retrievers and collies, try using a shedding tool to remove excess hair from the surface of the coat. Rake the serrated edges of the tool gently along your pet’s coat in the direction it grows. Shedding tools have serrated edges to help catch excess fur in long haired pets.
For both short and long haired dogs, try using an undercoat rake. It rakes out the loose hair from the thick undercoat of your shedding pet. My favorite tool!
Rubber currycombs also work well for short haired dogs. This will groom your pet’s coat with rubber nubs, effectively removing loose hair while massaging the skin. Currycombs are available in several sizes at horse supply shops for far less than they cost at pet supply stores. When you use a currycomb, rub in a circular motion, starting in the direction that the hair grows.
Once you’ve brushed your way through the bulk of your pet’s shedding season, take her to be groomed professionally. The groomer can finish off the job, readying your pet’s coat to look and feel it’s summer best. This is also a nice way to pamper your pet.
Use a pet shampoo with aloe or lanolin to restore moisture to your pet’s skin and coat during shedding season. The Furminator shampoos and conditioners work well for shedding dogs and they smell nice too! You can even use your currycomb during the shampoo process. It removes the loose hair while massaging the skin.
Some pet owners prefer to have their pets clipped down for the hot, summer months. I never recommend shaving dogs so close that the skin is exposed. This can lead to sunburn, skin irritation and even cancer.
Always be sure your pet is eating the best dog food possible. You are what you eat applies to your dog as well. Low quality food contributes to the ill health of your dog’s coat causing it to shed and look dull. Fish oil combined with vitamin E works wonders for bringing a dog’s coat back to life. For a luxurious coat, give 1000 mg of fish oil per 10 pounds of your dog’s weight and 100 iu of vitamin E daily or every other day. People supplements are acceptable , however they do sell fish oils and vitamin E specifically for dogs. If your dog won’t take the pills, they do come in liquid form or you can just open up the capsule and put in your dog’s food.
Practical Pet Solutions
