Written by Hunter Wyman
If you are like me, everything you own is covered in pet hair. As
hard as it can be to keep it off your clothes, there is something
almost cozy about a home with pet hair floating around. This
can get out of control when floating around becomes tumble
weeds rolling across the living room floor. With six dogs, this
has happened at my house. Luckily there is a tried and true
method to help reduce fur overload.
Brushing your dog’s hair is a great way to create a closer bond
with your fur baby. It gives you an opportunity to prepare them
for grooming and vets visits by becoming accustomed to being
handled. It’s also a great time to examine them for any changes
in their physical condition such as hair loss, scabs, bumps, or
pain in joints. Catching skin and other issues early can greatly
reduce healing time. Brushing your fur babies coat helps to
distribute the natural oils throughout their coat. This works to
promote a healthier shine and condition.
Fur babies with long coats that tend to mat (poodles, doodles,
yorkies, and etc.) and ones with double coats (huskies, corgis,
golden retrievers, and etc.) should be brushed daily to reduce
the likelihood of mats and allow proper air flow to the skin. Mats
occur when bunches of hair pull together and knot up. This is
usually painful for the animal which causes them to scratch and
lick the mat. That, in turn, can cause the mat to get worse. If
left unchecked long enough it will cut off the circulation to the
affected area which leads to skin damage. Double coated dogs
shed their undercoat which then gets caught in the top-coat
and can get packed up. This creates a greenhouse effect for the
animal and doesn’t allow proper air circulation to the skin. With
proper air circulation these animal’s coats are designed to keep
them warm in the winter and cool in the summer. When brushing
a coat that is half an inch or longer, use one hand to lift the
coat up and the other to brush down. This will insure you are
getting all the way down to the skin. Brushing across the top will
not get all the dead coat or mats out regardless of what kind of
brush you use. With a little bit of time and effort we can greatly
increase the comfort and health of our fur babies.
Looks can be deceiving. Out of the many fur babies I have had
the privilege to be a parent to through the years, my jack russell
terrier, Pilgrim, shed more hair than the other six fur babies.
For slick coated babies there is a brush called a zoom groom.
Basically, it is a soft rubber brush that will grab the loose and
dead coat and pull it out. Most fur babies view this as a massage
and enjoy the extra rubbing. To keep shedding down in your
home, a few minutes with a zoom groom 2-3 days a week will
help dramatically.
As I venture out around town with that extra layer of fur protection
on my clothes this fall, I look forward to seeing all of
you out, furry and proud. If you would like more information
on breed or pet specific skin and coat care feel free to swing by
The Dog House.
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TRIED AND TRUE METHOD
TO HELP REDUCE FUR OVERLOAD