Shedding season is here. Are you struggling with fluffy tumbleweeds rolling around your house?
Want to know the secrets to effectively manage your pet’s shedding?
If you’re tired of your home being covered in pet hair, you’re not alone. Managing shedding is a common concern for many pet parents, but you can reduce the mess with the right strategies and equipment.
Let’s explore some tips and strategies for tackling shedding including the best grooming tools and practical tips to reduce it.
Understanding Pet Shedding
Shedding is a natural process for most cats and dogs. It allows them to eliminate old, damaged, or excess fur. The amount and frequency of shedding can vary drastically depending on the animal’s breed, health, and diet.
Key Strategies for Managing Shedding in Pets
1. Regular Grooming
Regular brushing and combing can drastically reduce the hair your pets leave around your home. Use the right tool for the job, like deshedding brushes or grooming gloves that help capture loose fur before it can get scattered all over your furniture.
Different types of coats will require different brushes, so it’s important to look into what’s most appropriate for your particular cat or dog. For instance, pets with long or curly hair may require a detangler like a wide-toothed comb to avoid painfully pulling at tangled knots.
2. Appropriate Nutrition
Feeding your pet a balanced diet rich in essential fatty acids can help improve their coat’s health and reduce excessive shedding. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in particular nourish skin and hair follicles, promoting strength and reducing shedding.
Dog and cat fur is composed of approximately 90% protein, mostly keratin, just like nails, claws, and human hair. Since your fluffy friend’s fur is almost entirely protein, it should come as no surprise that protein is important for strengthening their hair follicles. Hair growth and skin maintenance consumes as much as 30 percent of a cat or dog’s protein.
When figuring out the right balance, it’s important to understand that proteins are broken down into different amino acid combinations and getting the right amount of each amino acid is the goal. It should also be noted that dogs and cats have different needs than us, and even each other! In addition to the 9 amino acids humans require, dogs and cats required a 10th, arginine, and cats require an 11th, taurine.
And just like how we need to be reminded to keep hydrated, your four-legged shedding machines need to have fresh water available at all times to prevent their fur from becoming brittle and prone to breaking or falling out.
3. Natural Solutions for Pet Shedding
Natural supplements that support your fur baby’s skin and coat health can provide the nutrients they need to reduce shedding. Topical creams and balms that repair and protect their skin can also contribute to mitigating excessive shedding by keep their skin from becoming dry, flaky, irritated or inflamed, which would lead to hair loss. Even some shampoos can help by nourishing their fur and promote healthy oil production for stronger hair follicles.
If you’re in need of one (or more!) of them, we have you covered. Explore our Skin & Coat Collection to find the right product for your little furball.
When to Seek Help from Experts
Sometimes the answers don’t come easy. If nothing seems to be working, it might be time to consider consulting with a vet a or groomer who may have better insight into your pet’s particular needs. Just like us, every fur baby is different, and occasionally what might work in most situations won’t address your specific dog or cat’s issues.
You should see a vet if you believe the cause of the excessive shed is due to an underlying health issue. This may be because you’ve noticed bald spots, patchy hair loss, inflamed or scaly skin, excessive scratching or licking, changes in fur texture, or sudden, unseasonal increases in shedding. These could be symptoms of infections, allergies, or nutritional deficiencies that need to be addressed.
On the other hand, if you think it’s a matter of external maintenance needs, it may be better to speak with a groomer. Some breeds of dog, for instance, have a double coat that needs regular deshedding treatments. Groomers can also thin out your pet’s coat and recommend products and techniques that are tailored to your particular cat or dog.
While managing your pet’s shedding can seem a daunting task, we’re confident that with the right approach and the right gear, you can conquer the mountain of fluff and reclaim your home from the hairy scourge!
