4 Tips for Surviving Shedding Season

Spring means it's almost time for dog parks, sunbeam naps, and shedding. Lots of shedding. When your pet begins to shrug off his winter coat, it can be messy. Here are four handy tips for staying sane during shedding season.

Groom Your Pet Every Day

Daily brushing or combing, especially for long-haired pets, is the best way to keep your home from collapsing under the weight of all that flying fur. Use a brush that pulls out loose undercoat, and also a slicker brush to remove what’s left behind. Just a couple of minutes a day can drastically reduce the amount of hair covering every surface in your house.

Provide a High-Quality Food

The quality and texture of your pet’s coat is often a reflection of his or her diet. High-quality foods with excellent protein sources like beef or chicken are easily digestible and the healthy fats in them make your pet’s coat shiny and soft (and manageable). Also, consider adding a fatty acid supplement like Vitacoat or fish oil (break open a capsule and sprinkle on your pet’s food).

Bath Time!

Bathing your dog with an oatmeal or de-shedding shampoo helps keep his coat healthy, and keeps shedding to a minimum. Use lukewarm water to avoid drying out his skin, and give him a good brushing when he’s completely dry. Bathing is also effective for long-haired cats, but to a lesser extent that hardly justifies the hassle and blood loss.

Vacuum Frequently

This seems like a no-brainer, but it bears repeating: shedding is a fact of life. Despite your best efforts, you will still likely find pet hair around the house until early Fall, although the tips recommended here should make a considerable difference in keeping shedding to a minimum. Be vigilant and remove pet hair from clothes and furniture quickly, as it tends to weave its way into the very fabric of the thing it touches within moments. Pet hair pick-up brushes, lint rollers, and vacuums are your best line of defense against stubborn pet hair.

Looking for more ways to protect your pets?  Consider taking out an active pet insurance policy for your pets.