If you’re reading this article, chances are your pet is shedding quite a bit, and you’re trying to figure out how to manage all of their pet hair. For dogs, there are two shedding seasons: one during the months leading into summer and the other leading into the fall. However, your pet’s shedding cycle can vary based on the weather in your area. From knowing how to groom your dog properly to knowing when to go to the vet for excessive shedding, here are eight tips for surviving shedding season.
Keep in Mind That All Pets Shed — First of all, reframe the issue and remember that all pets shed. Unless you have a completely hairless cat or dog, your pets will shed. Have patience with yourself and your pet as they shed. It might be during those peak shedding seasons. It might be all year round. No matter how often or intensely your pet sheds, just keep in mind that it’s all very normal.
Be Ready to Take Your Dog to the Vet — With that in mind, sometimes shedding is actually more than just routine shedding. Once you’ve bathed your dog and groomed your pet with a portable pet hair remover tool, take note if something seems unusual with your dog. Signs that your dog may be shedding excessively can include symmetrical hair loss on specific parts of their body, hair loss in patches and additional skin problems.
Understand Shedding Seasons — According to MetLife Pet Insurance, when springtime comes around, it’s time for dog parks and lots of naps under the sun with your dog at the park. It’s also time for shedding. Lots of shedding. However, while shedding seasons are normally around spring and the late summer months leading into fall, it can vary significantly depending on the climate in your area. It can also vary depending on how much time your dog or cat spends indoors. If your cat or dog is spending most of the time indoors, your pet is very likely to shed more steadily all year round because of that steady, predictable indoor temperature.
Brush and Groom Your Pet Daily — One way to help prevent excess shedding is by brushing and grooming your pet daily. It’s a nice way to bond with your pet. They’ll love the feeling of you stroking their fur. They’ll love the snuggles as you take care of them. Use an effective yet gentle tool such as the Uproot Cleaner Pro™. This multipurpose brush can not only easily groom your pet, but it can also be used to help remove fur from furniture, carpets, clothing and more.
Bathe Your Dog — In addition to combing and brushing your dog’s fur, you should also give them a routine bath. A bath can help your pet smell nice and fresh. A bath can also help with reducing the amount of shedding your dog does. Use a deshedding shampoo and lukewarm water when you’re bathing your dog. Don’t brush your dog until they’re completely dry. Once your dog is dry, you can use a pet hair removal tool to brush your dog’s fur. If you’re having trouble drying your dog with just a towel, consider a blow dryer on low to medium heat to help dry your dog and brush their hair neatly.
Try an Automatic Cleaner at Home — There are going to be days when you simply don’t have time to clean. Consider getting a robot cleaner to help out at home. These automatic cleaners can help get pet hair and other debris out of your carpets and hardwood floors. Even then, the handy robot might not be able to get into all the nooks and crannies in your home. After all, you don’t exactly want a vacuum cleaner on your clothing, and it doesn’t make sense for it to jump on top of your couch cushions. These are the places and things where you’ll want to use a small, portable pet hair removal tool.
Give Them High-Quality Food — You are what you eat. That goes for your pet, too. If your pet has a poor diet, it’ll reflect in their coat. Give them high-quality foods with healthy protein sources. Think of beef or chicken meals that are easily digestible. Healthy fats will help keep your pet’s coat soft, shiny and manageable. Speak with your vet regarding the best advice on the kind of diet you should give your pet to help keep their hair nice and shiny. They may also advise that you use fatty acid supplements like fish oils or Vitacoat.
Use a Pet Hair Removal Tool on Furniture and Clothing — You can’t get your pet to stop shedding. The best you can do is help reduce the amount they shed by cleaning around your home and making sure they have a healthy balanced diet. To ensure that they’re not rolling over and over again in the same fur at home, use a pet hair removal tool at home to remove their hair from clothing and furniture. You can also use this same tool to groom them, which, in turn, helps reduce the amount of shedding.