In autumn the leaves are falling, but in spring and summer, for our dogs and cats, the hair is falling, often in large tufts.  For a pet owner that means lots of extra work keeping the house vacuumed and dusted of all the hair, not to mention the extra hair on our clothes.  Fortunately, there are some things that we can do to reduce our pet’s shedding.

Regular brushings, preferable weekly, will help to remove excess hair before it gets spread around the house.  A good time to groom your pet is after it has had an exercise period.  The animal will be calmer, having just expended lots of extra energy.  At this time you can also check for burrs, fleas and ticks as well as dry, flakey skin, sores and lumps.  Skin condition, sores and lumps should be discussed with your vet, since they indicate something is wrong with your pet.

Depending upon the length and thickness of the pet’s coat, you may need a brush, a regular metal comb and perhaps a de-matting comb.  The latter tool works wonders on longhaired dogs and cats to remove tangles and loose hair.  The latest gadget to serve this purpose is the FURminator.  It is fantastic.  If you would like a demonstration, bring your pet in or just stop in and we will show you.

Approximately once per month, after a good brushing, bathe your pet.  Always use a pet shampoo, never a human shampoo, and do not bathe more than one or at most two times per month to avoid drying out the skin.  If you want to bathe more frequently, use a hypoallergenic shampoo like Hylyt, which is soap free.  Warm water will be preferred by your pet and should make him or her more cooperative.  Try not to get water down into the ear canal.  This can lead to ear infections if all the water is not removed.  Instead, you should clean your pet’s ears with cotton balls soaked in rubbing alcohol.  It is important to keep the ears clean; otherwise bacteria can grow, especially in dogs that have ears with long flaps.

After the bath, you should trim your pet’s nails.  Some animals really do not like to have this done, but it is very important.  If the nails are allowed to get too long, there is a greater chance that the animal will tear a nail.  A torn nail creates a risk of infection and is very painful to your pet.  You should take your pet to the veterinarian to have the nail repaired.  Your vet can also show you how to properly trim your pet’s nails.

There are some internal things you can do to encourage a healthy coat for your dog or cat.  We recommend Science Diet dog and cat food.  Science Diet products contain significant amounts of fish oils, flaxseed and other fatty acids, which help to keep the coat in good condition.  We also sell a vitamin and mineral supplement called Palatech that has lots of omega fatty acids known to promote healthy skin and hair.

Finally, if all else fails, on certain longhaired dogs and even cats, during the very hot months, you can have the pet’s hair shaved off.  While you and your pet may feel self-conscious for a few days, you will have eliminated the source of the hair for the season and both you and your pet should feel much more comfortable.

If you have questions, need to purchase such products, or suspect a more serious skin or ear problem, please contact us.