Ways to control shedding

For most dog owners, fighting excess hair loss is quite a challenging task. ‘Shedding’, however, is a natural process in which old, excess and damaged hair is lost. So, there is absolutely no reason to believe that they are suffering from any grave ailment, unless of course you see bald patches on their bodies due to the loss.

The hair lost during shedding again grows back to give our pets a healthy, glistening coat. In winter the growth increases since dogs need to insulate themselves. But in summer, the extra hair is lost. Sometimes, allergies and infections also trigger hair loss. So, the bottom line is that we cannot prevent them from shedding completely. But we can of course reduce the amount by adopting certain measures like:

• Brushing our pets’ coat regularly- We should brush their hair as often as once daily. This will not only remove the unwanted hair, but will also keep the coat clean and supple.
• Using the right brush- There are a variety of brushes available in the market like slicker brush, dematting comb, and shed blades meant for different types of hair coat. So, we should choose the brush wisely.
• Giving your pet a hair cut- Longer the hair, greater is the chance of matting. So it is always better to keep their hair trimmed, since, this will keep them cool in summer and also prevent loss of hair.
• Controlling fleas and ticks- If you find your pet scratching his body, consult your vet. He will give the correct medicines and supplements that will control skin irritations and give him relief.

This is actually part of a daily cleaning regimen that we should implement on a regular basis to keep our pets in good spirits.

Are you brushing your pet?