Ever since pets moved from living strictly outdoors to occupying our homes, animal lovers have been grappling with pet hair on our clothes, couches, beds, and pretty much everywhere. Depending on a pet’s shedding habits, this can be a serious nuisance. But short of shaving him or her (which won’t cut down on the hair anyway), what’s a pet owner to do?
Start From the Source
Every hair you manage to remove from your pet is one less you’ll have to remove from your home. This makes daily grooming the single best way to mitigate a furry problem. By committing to just a few minutes of brushing each day, you’ll see a noticeable decrease in the amount of furries and fuzzies floating around your house. Thanks to some wonderful products, such as the FURminator, getting rid of excess fur on your pet has never been easier.
Pets (including cats) should also be bathed on a regular basis to cut down on dander and pet hair. Your veterinarian can help you determine the optimal grooming schedule for your pet.
Managing Pet Hair in the Home
Unless you own a hairless pet, pet hair is destined to be a part of your life. You can keep it from completely taking over your personal space (and your sanity) with our cleaning tips:
- Vacuum carpets weekly, and use a dust mop to pick up fur on hard floors.
- Use a vacuum, lint roller, damp sponge, or rubber glove to remove hair from upholstered furniture.
- Launder pet bedding and any blankets used by pets on a weekly basis. Shake out and lint roll clothing before placing it in the wash, as the agitation of the machine will only work the hair deeper into the fibers of your garments.
- Change the air filter in your furnace frequently, and have the air ducts cleaned at least once per year to remove accumulated pet hair and dander.
From the Inside Out
Providing your pet with a high quality, nutrient balanced diet is key to keeping hair loss at a reasonable level. Shedding is a natural part of your pet’s life, but losing too much fur can signal deeper health issues. If you’re concerned about your pet’s fur loss, please contact the team at West Park Animal Hospital.
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