Spring Grooming Tools for Pets by Patricia Simonet
Spring grooming for pets becomes more important as warmer weather returns. Pets need help removing shedded fur from their thicker heavier fur coats so they do not become over-heated in summer.
Over-heating can cause physical stress as well as stress-related behavior problems. Pet owners can help their pets stay healthy and feel more comfortable by grooming with appropriate pet grooming tools.
There are lots of different grooming tools on the market today. Obviously, some work better than others. And believe it or not, some of these grooming aids may do more harm than good. A hard bristle brush, for example, (similar to the kind humans use) will over-stimulate your cat and isn’t good for cat grooming. I’m going to tell you which grooming tools work and which ones don’t. And of course, I’m going to recommend my favorite tools and tell you why they are my favorites. Be sure to check with your vet for special advice about your individual pet.
Grooming your dog should be an enjoyable experience for both of you. Grooming stimulates the coat and spreads the oils down his back evenly insuring a luminous glow to your dog’s fur.
I use an assortment of different grooming devices for dogs, depending on the type of dog.
For short-haired dogs and double-coated dogs like Huskies, I use an undercoat rake to help them shed their winter coat. When springtime comes, most dogs need help getting rid of their winter fur. If you don’t do this, your dog will get over-heated in summer and this can be stressful. Domesticated animals are bred for thick furry coats and sometimes don’t naturally lose their fur without a little help from you. The undercoat rake is the best for getting rid of winter fur and getting a short-haired dog ready for spring and summer heat.
Another grooming device I use for huskies, labs and other short-haired dogs is a shedding blade. The tear-shaped metal blade looks more like an oil filter wrench than a brush, but your dogs will love it.
If you don’t want your dog leaving hair all over the house take him outside and groom him with a shedding blade. It’s the perfect device to help dog hair shedding in the spring.
Brushes with little rubber tips, just like
we humans use, are fine for short-coated dogs.
I like to use a slicker brush for long-coated dogs. The stiff metal tines of this scary-looking brush are spaced close enough together, so they are not sharp, nor do they hurt in any way. But they do a great job keeping your long-haired dog’s fur clean and tidy.
Finally, when bathing my dogs, I like to use a brush with little rubber tips that feels like a delicate massage to the dog.
Grooming cats as they shed their winter coats in spring is especially important. Brushing to remove your cat’s excess fur will reduce the risk of hairballs when the cat grooms himself, and will keep him cooler in warm weather.
For grooming cats, I recommend a soft boar bristle hair brush. Cats don’t like being over-stimulated and most human hair brushes are just too hard for grooming your cat for much more than a minute or two. If you want your cat to enjoy the grooming session, you need a really soft brush.
Another great grooming tool is a grooming glove. This specially designed glove collects the hair and dander when wiped in one direction and releases it when wiped in the other.
Remember if you or a family member suffers from cat allergies; wipe your cats with a damp wash cloth every day. Most people are allergic to the saliva left on the cat’s fur after he licks himself. The wet wash cloth helps to remove the traces of saliva.
Patricia Simonet is an applied animal behaviorist and cognitive ethologist. She has trained wild animals with the Zoological Society of San Diego. Her research interests are problem solving, learning, and communication in animals. She lives in Spokane, WA with her husband Bob, Trixie, Goodall, Foster (canine companions), Kimburu and Hodari (feline companions), and Max & Pierre (avian companions). You can reach Patricia at PeTalk.org or Trisha@petalk.org, for private consultation on companion animal behavior and problems.
Grooming - General Information
Grooming is good for your pet and it’s good for you, too. The extra attention a pet receives during grooming is often just what your pet needs to reduce or eliminate stress related problems from loneliness and
separation anxiety. Dogs, cats and birds love receiving attention from their owners during grooming. And studies have shown that petting your animal lowers both his blood pressure as well as yours.
Grooming is also a good way to assess your pet’s health. You can see the condition of his fur or feathers and look for signs of fur or feather loss. You can look for parasites and check his skin for dryness or flakiness. You can check for signs of over-grooming such as excessive licking, flank sucking and feather plucking.
Check with your vet first to determine if there are physical causes for questionable signs and symptoms. It is always best to rule out physical causes first. However, it is also wise to consider if stress is causing your pet’s loss of fur or feathers, excessive scratching and licking, and over-grooming.
