Shedding season is upon us. The same way you swap your parka for a light rain coat when the temperature rises, your dog prepares for warmer weather by getting rid of his extra warm winter undercoat.
Own a hypoallergenic dog? You don’t have too much to worry about. However, if you own an akita, German shepherd, or labrador, it’s about to get hairy.
There are a few things you can do to stay on top of shedding so it doesn’t completely take over your house.
Bathe. Brush. Brush. Repeat.
You can’t stop the natural shedding process, but you can speed it up. Add a few more baths to your dog’s routine, but don’t overdo it. While bathing your dog will help hair fall out more quickly, bathing them too much will cause skin irritation.
Before and after bathing your dog, take them outside and brush them thoroughly. Don’t stop there, though. Brush them every single day until you notice shedding has decreased. Frequent brushing will help get rid of excess hair faster, but will also evenly distribute oils for an overall healthier coat. Brushing in the yard will save your house from piles of fuzz while also giving the birds plenty of padding to build their spring nests.
Get the right grooming tools
If you have a long-haired dog, invest in a shedding rake. This type of tool will get to the loose hairs in the undercoat without affecting the top coat more than necessary. Find a shedding rake with two rows of teeth to brush hair away faster. Here’s a link to a popular one.
Have a short-haired dog? Use a stiff bristle brush to free trapped fur, then a slicker brush to effectively collect and remove that fur. Here’s a link to a stiff bristle brush and to a slicker brush. We also use human hair brushes like this one when our dogs have tangles in their hair.
Keep the vacuum handy
Set a timer every day or every other day to speed vacuum for 5-10 minutes. Staying on top of it from the beginning will keep hair from embedding itself into your carpet and building up in piles all over the house. If vacuuming alone isn’t picking everything up, buy a pet lint roller to clean up clothes and other pet hair magnets.
Stick with brushing, bathing, and cleaning early to enjoy less hairy days sooner!
Optimize your pet’s nutrition
People are often surprised at the results that high quality nutrition brings to their pets. One of these is with excessive shedding. So many of us with shedding dogs have seen dramatic decreases in the amount of shedding simply by adding Wild Alaskan Salmon and Pollock oil to their dog/cat’s diet. Omega 3 fatty acids are found in high concentrations in this oil. Many pets are lacking in this essential nutrient because it is not easy to provide optimal levels in dry dog food. Since it is not shelf stable in dry kibble, I like to add it right before I feed our dogs. Supplementation with this oil is nourishing so many organ systems that we cannot see but what we do see are shiny coats, reduced shedding and less itching and flaky skin. Here’s a link to the most potent Wild Alaskan Salmon and Pollock oil on the market.
Here’s to a less fur covered floor!
Kristi
ABOUT KRISTI DIAZ
Dr. Diaz’s nurturing nature led her into medicine where she became a Board Certified Anesthesiologist. While she loved her career and her patients, she also wanted to be a stay-at-home mother. After retiring from her practice and achieving her goal of being a home-based parent, Kristi began looking for ways to give back to her community. At the same time, she and her husband were looking for home-based business opportunities.
Kristi knew she found the perfect opportunity when she discovered pawTree. The value Kristi placed on diet and nutrition for health and wellness, coupled with her family’s love of animals, aligned with pawTree’s company values.
Dr. Diaz’s philosophy is that diet, genetics, and luck all work together to create the quality of a pet's life. We can't control the genetics and we can't control the luck, but their diet is something we can control. Pets count on us their entire lives for their nutrition. Feeding them high-quality food and supplements will give your pet the best chance to live healthy, vibrant lives.
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