Shedding is one of the biggest concerns pet owners have. It causes cleanliness issues and health problems for the pet owners, sometimes making pet ownership a real challenge. The good news is there are steps you can take to dramatically reduce the shedding, which will make your dog or cat happier and you very happy as well.
Probably the most important step towards getting shedding under control is regular grooming. It sounds logical, but we see many people that wait too long between grooming appointments. If you have regular grooming, including a bath and brushing, you will notice much less hair in your house. In our mobile grooming business, we tell customers that all the hair you see in our van is hair that would otherwise be in their house. The husky in the picture was done using the FURminator, not shaving. Look how much hair is on the table!
Besides a professional grooming, you should be brushing your dog or cat at least twice a week. Use this as a way to bond with your pet, and to check out their skin and general condition. It’s a good way to see if there are any skin problems or other issues needing attention. Fleas and ticks, for example, will cause scratching which will increase the loss of hair. For long coated breeds with a heavy undercoat, make sure you are using a brush that has long enough bristles to get down into the coat. For short haired breeds, which can also shed a lot, use a shorter bristle brush so you can just brush the top of the coat.
If you want to go the extra mile, get a FURminator brush or other de-shedding tool. These are rake-type brushes that really get out a lot of the undercoat. We use the complete system from FURminator, which includes their special shampoo and conditioner, the rake, and the use of forced air to blow the loose hair out of the coat after the brushing. We have found if a customer uses this system on a regular basis, say every six to eight weeks, the pet’s shedding is dramatically reduced. We even have customers with allergies that get this done monthly in order to enable them to live comfortably with their pets.
If you are able to give your dog a bath between professional grooming appointments, make sure you use a shampoo specifically made for pets. You want to keep their skin moist, because dry skin will increase shedding. Human shampoos are not properly balanced and will dry out your dog’s skin. If you dry your dog after the bath, make sure the dryer setting is not hot. We use room temperature air in our blowers because hot air will dry out the skin. Dogs can also get burned from hot dryers.
If your pet is still shedding a lot, you may also want to talk to your veterinarian about any food supplements you might want to use, or if you need to alter the diet. Eating the wrong type of food can have an effect on the pet’s shedding, and on overall health. A healthy, happy pet will shed less.
There are many different breeds of dogs, and some shed more or less than others. Almost all dogs shed at least to some extent. However, many breeds have minimal shedding that is much easier on people with allergies. Also, some dogs, especially those living outdoors, will have a heavy seasonal shedding rather than a constant shedding. More grooming may be necessary at those times to keep shedding under control. Some of our customers sometimes have their dogs and cats shaved because of shedding. However, shaving doesn’t eliminate shedding, it just makes the hair shorter.
Remember, regular grooming is the most effective way to reduce shedding. Getting hair on the brush or in the grooming van is much better than having to get it off your furniture, clothes, and floors. We recommend your groomer use a de-shedding process, and if shedding is a problem, make sure to get the grooming done on a regular basis.
