One of the biggest issues pet owners face is the crazy amount of unwanted hair scattered around their homes from their pets. Almost every breed dog sheds, and depending on the breed, some will shed in even greater quantities. While, it’s impossible to stop your dog from shedding, there are ways to help minimize the amount of loose hair they have and effectively remove the hair so it doesn’t accumulate and cause problems in your home.
Let’s take a look at 10 tips for controlling your dog’s shedding.
Why do animals shed?
Animals shed to rid themselves of the damaged, old and extra hair they have. Animals will grow a thicker coat in the winter to help insulate their body heat to keep warm, and will then shed this coat in the summer as temperatures rise. Dogs will also shed if their skin is irritated from allergies.
Tips for controlling your dog’s shedding:
Brushing
Brushing your pet on a daily basis is one of the best things you can do to keep your home pet hair free. Brushing your dog’s hair will also give them a cleaner and softer coat, while making it less likely to shed. Think about how matted your hair would be if you didn’t brush daily – the same goes for your dog.
Fatty Acid Supplement
A fatty acid supplement will keep your dog’s coat healthy, reducing shedding and excess hair.
Control Allergies and Fleas
Is your pet getting the proper allergy and flea relief? To prevent your dog from itching and scratching from fleas, see your veterinarian to get your dog medicine that will prevent and control infestations.
Schedule Regular Checkups
Many different diseases can affect your dog’s skin and hair. Schedule regular visits to your vet to help identify and fix problems early on, to ensure a more effective treatment.
Feed Appropriate Food
Your dog’s coat is a direct reflection of what they eat and how they eat. Feed your dog a healthy, high quality food with good digestible protein to help them maintain a beautiful and healthy coat that won’t shed too often.
Cover Furniture
Upholstery and furniture is a magnet for pet hair and trying to remove this hair from your furniture and car seats can be a daunting and time consuming task. If you let your dog on your furniture or bed, you should think about investing in furniture throws to keep your furniture looking and smelling new and to make your home comfortable to guests who may have pet allergies. You should also invest in car seat covers to keep your car hair-free and clean.
Vacuum
If you have pets, you will need to vacuum more often to get rid of the excess hair around your home. The more often you can vacuum, the better. Vacuuming is a sure-fire way to keep your home hair-free.
Bathe
Bathe your dog occasionally during the hot summer months. A clean dog will have a healthy and clean coat. Use a gentle oatmeal shampoo once a week to clean your dog without drying their skin out. The oatmeal shampoo will also bring a lackluster coat back to being shiny and soft.
Remove Hair ASAP
Hair that has recently shed is much easier to remove before it embeds itself into the upholstery fabric. Use a pet hair roller to remove this hair as soon as possible.
Use the Correct Type of Brush
Different brushes have specific functions and work best on specific types of coats. Many dogs need more than one type of brush to remove all of the excess hair. Some dogs may have a soft coat on their head, but a rougher coat on their bodies, making it necessary to use two different brushes.
Brushing and grooming are important aspects of your pet’s healthcare. Pay attention to what you are feeding your pet and make sure to follow these tips to minimize the pet hair in your home and in your car. Here is a list of the dog grooming services we offer at Bubbles Pet Spa – we hope you bring in your fur baby for a spa-like pampering. Contact us today to set up an appointment.
For more tips and tricks on keeping your pets looking and feeling healthy, check out our blog 8 Reasons Why Grooming is Good for Your Dog.